MTV News: MxPx and the Rise of Christian Punk

[@jamesfraenkel4467]

🙋‍♂️hey all… I’m the guy who produced this piece. I’m the one asking questions and holding the mic in the middle of the prayer circle at the end. thanks to whoever uploaded this. It was kind of a career-defining piece for me. Does anyone by any chance know the identity of the main girl in the piece, the one that pops up again at the end and leads the prayer?

[@thepickinpreacher]

hey brother thats cool to see you here. I used to be in a punk band that played at cornerstone fest.. My problem with alot of the christian punk scene is that we tended to shy away from holiness and just say "DONT JUDGE" Look at what it led to.. It led to compromise and that whole JCHC scene just crumbled.. There needed to be more boldness and firmness in truths instead of mixing with the world.. This is why I pulled away from it because our band too started becoming more loose in our beliefs. I strayed from Christ. I then went into false holiness and just now God is bringing me back to the first works. Hence why im here looking at a punk video and selling video games haha

[@thepickinpreacher]

also were the kids wrong? Have you seen MXPX? They went into the world and now they are shouting GD in their music. smoking weed and even turned from the faith

[@rockmanafb]

@@thepickinpreachernot yuri

[@ghb2513]

@@rockmanafbthat’s good for Yuri. Maybe he can bring the other 2 back 👍

[@HighSocietyDrumLabs]

Jesus Christ is Lord. New breed of Christian metal bringing the 🔥 Can't compromise your morals and can't condone sin.

[@chrismacal3342]

90s christians are a whole different kind of christians lol

[@TimBurVlogs]

Having been in the middle of all that, I can confirm you are right lol

[@cthulhuchaos]

All of us growing up in church in the 90s we're the youth on fire. We were taught to do the "God count" to decide if a band was Christian enough and if they didn't reference god/Jesus enough, or worse, at all, then it couldn't be allowed. We were part of something and it was cult-like in that we wanted the bands we liked to be part of it so bad that we labeled them and held them to a standard they never agreed to. MxPx, Chevelle, POD- all examples of bands that had Christian themes and some songs about their faith that were pigeonholed into the Christian umbrella when they were just bands that sang about what they believed, felt, or were interested in. This video reminds me of being a young Christian punk in the 90s and I always wondered why people got so mad when "Christian bands/artists" went mainstream when at the same time they would sit in church and claim Gods great commission. So God commands Christians to go out into the world to make believers and when these bands do that, these shit-don't-stink Christians judged them.

[@Pdubbcooking]

Agreed but POD was definitely on the Rock for Life tip back in the day.

[@morganhymancomedy]

Almost like they tried to brainwash us! I got rid of a few secular cds back in HS because they had four-letter words. I had friends that threw away thousands of dollars worth of cds and VHS tapes that ‘weren’t glorifying God’. I was just listening to Nirvana’s In Utero the other day. I can’t remember the last time I listened to dc Talk’s Jesus Freak album. I still will rock the title track ironically and laugh my agnostic ass off!

[@williamz7011]

​@morganhymancomedy every now and then I'll play that DC talk album just to cringe at at that one song about "colors"

[@MrVisde]

I don’t ever remember MxPx presenting themselves as a Christian punk band. They were a punk band that happened to be Christian.

[@blake3606]

​@@user-rw2dr5my1s they are agnostic now. They dropped the whole Christian thing.

[@thursday315]

Watched an interview with them, and yeah they basically were just excited about the career growth and didn't even know about tooth and nails reputation when they got on. Said it took a couple years to understand.

[@juliancantdrum]

ending took a turn

[@whoami7721]

I had this pop into my head randomly when I read some thing about Marilyn Manson. I remembered there was an MTV News thing about Christian rock and there was this girl who was acting all grossed out just by his picture. This reminded me that there was a guy just wearing a shirt that says "Pray for Marilyn Manson". That's what Jesus said for his followers to do, to pray for sinners. I don't listen to Marilyn Manson, but I certainly listen to stuff not considered "Godly". I went to a Pentecostal youth group as a teen in the '90s (actually I was forced to go by a well-meaning stepmother). I did enjoy the music and the message of Jesus' love resonated with me. But, when the youth pastor gave us a lecture about rock music, I was holding back my laughter. Apparently, no band was wholesome enough, and the "evil bands" he mention as examples were hilariously dated. AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and KISS? They were like dinosaurs to most '90s youth. Of course, Ozzy Osbourne was always the Devil Incarnate (probably still is, despite being elderly and infirm). I can totally see Marilyn Manson being a prize for youth pastors everywhere to hold as a scapegoat. He declared himself "Anti-Christ Superstar", after all, plus was actually a former church kid himself. Thanks for posting this! I think the best part is when, instead of throwing hands, the Christian kids get in a prayer circle and pray it out!

[@datamouth]

"god told me i had to get rid of it." lol

[@TWOnly666]

I need to know what happened to glasses girl.

[@nicoFCST]

Overdose

[@sfiche]

MAGA

[@a.champagne6238]

Came out of the closet.

[@EsotericSyncretism]

Glasses girl is something else

[@20rileybob]

Got laid out of wedlock, started taking the lords name in vain... prolly the same thing that happened to a lot of them

[@ikirizki9185]

it sounds just really weird to hear such "christian punk". Punk should be anti establishment, politics, rebellion. I like mxpx, i just like their catchy melody songs. And mike has good voice too. But i didnt know that they were christian punk. But i did notice something, they sing so clean, clean means no swearing lyrics at all on their songs.

[@squidbobtanglepants1921]

I didn't even notice that. Definitely paradoxical

[@billmarshall268]

I was a teenager in the 90s. my father told Me something and now I understand it now. There is nothing more anti establishment than christianity!

[@eastmaggie]

Gotta love that Jeff Suffering makes a little cameo in this video

[@MicahAnointed]

Jesus in the Bible clearly said he came to divide NOT unite the world. He separates his sheep from the goats and separate the wheat from the chaff. Jesus is the only way to the Father and if you are not for him you are against him. God bless anyone who reads this and is not offended because the truth is within you only granted by the Holy Spirit. Be blessed today brothers and sisters in Christ. ❤️

[@billmarshall268]

Right on! It's amazing how many people are trashing a bunch of fourteen year old kids in the comments section.

[@brianmartel4127]

You don’t have to say on record "we are a Christian band” to be a Christian band. If you are constantly singing about you’re walk with Jesus in your music, you are a Christian band. It only takes the slightest bit of common sense to understand that. I don’t think Hillsong or Bethel ever said they were a Christian band either. MXPX was a Christian band and turned secular once they gained popularity. It’s pretty simple.

[@Pdubbcooking]

Lmao. They made a few references to God or Jesus but were definitely never a ‘Christian band’. I don’t think it’s ok for you to think you can define them differently than they ever defined themselves.

[@brianmartel4127]

@@Pdubbcooking Yeah you are really purposely underselling their "few references” to try to prove a point but that’s ok. I obviously don’t agree with you though.

[@Pdubbcooking]

@@brianmartel4127 dude I practically grew up at their shows.

[@brianmartel4127]

@@Pdubbcooking I believe you.

[@TolietWater]

@@PdubbcookingPokinatcha and Teenage Politics have pretty blatant references to Christianity they absolutely were at some point

[@Bryce-rh2fp]

Anybody know what Five Iron Frenzy song they were playing at the beginning of the video? Because that sounds awesome

[@steventyrrell30]

It's called combat chunk. They have some great songs.

[@Tyler-sq4lt]

Beginning of the video: Oh, MTV is going to do a fair, honest video about Christian punk. End of the video: This is why my parents didn't allow me to watch MTV, and I'll do the same for my children.

[@JoeyHamlet]

I was a pastor’s kid in this era and, believe me, the video was pretty transparent. If anything, they made the Christians look good on purpose with that “let’s pray together” thing. A lot of typical youth group drama. In my view, MTV News was somewhat scrambling to make it look balanced. The scene at the time was just filled with a lot of mentally ill, confused kids who had religion forced on them by their parents. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It’s just what it was.

[@urliktheslayer]

funny thing is MxPx never said they were christian or are a christian band

[@yodaddy9362]

Funny thing is that you don't have tell somebody that you are Christian. To be a Christian

[@RiloProducciones]

The record Label is enough

[@spark300c]

they have Christian theme songs

[@ergoth154]

They definitely were Christians who played pop punk music and they sang about believing in God in some songs

[@darrenthetuber743]

No they didn't and based on this comment section, no one seems to be interested in listening, they rather treat this statement like an "investigative report", they can garden pick the times a band mentioned faith or God, so the listener can determine if they're a Christian band, gtfo

[@mattholdzkom5929]

There's something so funny and at the same time cringey about this. I was right in the middle of this as it was happening. Remember Officer Negative? 😂

[@drugsmcsnortington]

Officer negative now that's a name I haven't heard in a minute

[@geneeverett33]

Screaming Giant Record!!!!

[@geneeverett33]

Officer Negative, Jessie & The Rockers & that other band that was a Value PAC rip off , no disrespect but they were , run Joseph Run! & that song bread of life? Man I’m going on memory. Also I remember the dude from officer negative solo stuff. Welcome to stupidville was a song?

[@geneeverett33]

I was in middle school and In 99 high freshmen in HS so I wasn’t going to shows heavy till 99 but I was all over this stuff! Watched G Rock to discover new punk

[@SkrawnCPT]

This is the problem right here...a bunch of people hear the band mention jesus and then label the band "a Christian band". Kinda of ironic when you think about how theyre not supposed to judge and label people... That interviewer was right. EDIT: When it comes to judging people Christians are BY FAR THE WORST!

[@Chasecka]

Dude the record label was a Christian label. Why would you not expect them to be Christian. Also the interviewer asked them their opinion. The. Attacks them for what their opinion is. So they aren’t supposed to have an opinion? No one just forced their opinion. He acted like they were forcing people into something. That’s their opinion. And of course we all know everyone is allowed to have an opinion except Christian. That’s also the only religion people have the balls to bash. I dare you to try to bash Islam or Judaism. 😂 Won’t happen and you will be called a bigot antisemite or a racist(even though race has nothing to do with it). Bashing Christian’s you are in the safe zone. Super pathetic

[@kai_plays_khomus]

Who'se not supposed to judge and label people? Punks? The whole movement arose from judging others. Punks aren't buddhist monks and never claimed to be.

[@billmarshall268]

Where in the bible does it say not to judge?

[@chillingguy8386]

I so would go to this music festival….. but I would take LSD and go 😂 for real

[@drugsmcsnortington]

You're not the only one lol

[@IceBreakBottle]

Chick Magnet video changed my life

[@terrygeer3089]

This was an unusual time. In many ways it was a naive time. You can see that in the way things get chippy at the end. But all that aside... how much different would Christianity (and maybe the world) look if when tempers flared up Christians just stopped and prayed with each other/for each other? That isn't naive. That's beautiful.

[@awebuelo]

I disagree with the kids in the end where they said just cuz they signed to a secular label they are leaving God but they don’t know for sure if they’re doing it in the motivation of pleasing man or Christ so if you’re a believer do not judge because you don’t know they’re relationship with God

[@billmarshall268]

Maybe right , but look what happened to mxpx.

[@Atticus1ag]

Go Jesus go Jesus go Jesus go

[@geoffm35]

These people in the video make my head hurt

[@spark300c]

well to some up Christian pop punk make joyfulness noise hit nail on the head. some these Christian pop punk band where really good. most frustrating thing is worship music tempos are low. hell just find happy up beat song at 180 bpm is hard. since there is shortage of Christian punk rock I start making my own. I kind of rebel in vocal synth scene since I do not make a lot edgy songs. some produces make the songs so edgy it just pure cringe.

[@freeart407]

i need more

[@MiguelPaulettePerez-bj8ml]

I really cant picture that a lot of these people are still down with Christ the way they were in an Mtv interview

[@a.champagne6238]

I think of the final scene in the King of the Hill eposide 'Reborn To Be Wild." The Lord ended up being something that ended up in a box.

[@MiguelPaulettePerez-bj8ml]

@@a.champagne6238 It's how I ended up with a Bad Religion tattoo on my back

[@Pdubbcooking]

We aren’t. At least not the nationalist American portrayal.

[@billmarshall268]

​@@PdubbcookingCan you explain what that means?

[@Pdubbcooking]

This is pretty hilarious from a 2023 perspective. I remember how big a deal some people thought this was at the time.

[@billmarshall268]

Yeah, That's the difference between 14 and 44 years old

[@TakeThePictureNow]

innermeans intro.

[@Pdubbcooking]

Tomfest. I was definitely there.

[@YDHPODCAST]

Around this time I was a child, maybe 12. The post hippie church movement. I really loved Five Iron Frenzy and MXPX but looking back no. They were not a Christian band and most of their lyrics were about a girl or relationships which being a tween I could relate to. But seeing how these kids pray and speak I see they lack theology and relationship with Jesus. I’m glad I grew up loving these bands and still do listen to them from time to time. Either way it was a cool thing that happened and will never happen in Christian Music again. Thank the Lord for Furnacefest lol

[@KamikazeVideoPro]

for the sake of argument, have you listened to pokinatcha? there's a lot of biblical references on that album.

[@billmarshall268]

Yeah that was that whole pentecostal movement. They were spoon Fed a lot of random scripture taken out of context. I grew up in it. I have now found a church that teaches Straight from the bible.

[@Sk8Evangelist]

Too bad Mike Herrera claims that Mx Px was never a Christian band though.

[@jturquoise]

“Pray for Marilyn Manson “ Lol

[@Captain_Of_A_Starship]

Love it

[@elbassman416]

This weird

[@DustinSmith796]

Good

[@thursday315]

Thankful to Christian music and the church for teaching me about them so I was able to escape! If it wasn't for the bible, I might still be religious!

[@FracturedDMR]

Yeah this got weird. I dunno WHO told anyone MxPx is Christian but they definitely don't sound it to me. My introduction was the album Panic with their iconic song "Heard that sound" and honestly? Don't hear a mention of Jesus in it or other album songs from Panic

[@KamikazeVideoPro]

uh, you came in way late. read the lyrics to their first album "pokinatcha" there's several songs that are borderline like church songs. 'teenage politics' they were going more mainstream, but still a few songs that reference christianity and faith. it was basically all gone by life in general.

[@TheOtherCaleb]

You don’t have so make all your songs about Jesus to be a Christian lol.

[@xavierkrantz1098]

@@TheOtherCaleb exactly. Have you ever heard of the term pro life?

[@brianmartel4127]

They started out very much Christian and bailed as they gained popularity like so many do.

[@toddpacker4683]

Mxpx were a Christian band earlier in their career and when this video took place, they used to name references to Jesus and god in their music and they were in Christian label tooth n nail

[@samsonian9468]

A bunch of awesome Jesus freaks. I'm one too!

[@AG-xc9yh]

😂

[@georgsvec3104]

Jesus.

[@jturquoise]

Not Christian bro Mxpx is not Christian

[@linalmeemow]

There's no such thing as christian punk rock.

[@keithglynn3928]

🤦‍♂️

[@keithglynn3928]

No wonder mxpx was trying to distance themselves. They were young guys trying to figure out the world and navigate success and these Christian gatekeepers had a whole list of rules they expected them to follow.

[@squidbobtanglepants1921]

​@@keithglynn3928 Basically yeah

[@jay692]

Dude at 6:30 is the hero of this story

[@KamikazeVideoPro]

johnathon ford from unwed sailor / roadside monument

[@darrenthetuber743]

Standing up for MXPX good on him

[@RiloProducciones]

I hat e that glasses girl.

[@morganhymancomedy]

I really hope that most these folks would super embarrassed if they saw how stupid they acted back then. If they’re not, they’re either dead or republicans.

[@billmarshall268]

I'm sure you were an articulate teenager.That never said anything stupid that you would be embarrassed about now. You're probably on some kind of government assistance since you vote democrat.

[@mdbergfeld]

All these folks are Trump voters now and their so-called favorite bands no longer believe in this shallow self-righteous nonsense 😂

[@billmarshall268]

And do you know this how? The sad thing is most of these kids When on the churches like hillsong Or elevation. Entertainment churches that preach the opposite of the bible and followers are the opposite of trump.

[@smurxxx0910]

I used to go to the youth center church group by my parent's place to meet chicks and skate their little park they had sat up. I saw my fist pair of tatas there. My mom would drop my brother and I off at the church center then we'd run off with a friend who had a car. We'd hot box the car then get dropped back off to the center before our mom showed up to get us. She'd always ask what church was about to which we would just answer "Jesus."