a christian worldview on youth in gangs

Running Head: A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW ON YOUTH IN GANGS 1

A Christian Worldview on Youth in Gangs

Scott Burnell

Liberty University

A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW ON YOUTH IN GANGS 2

Abstract

Gangs have been a problem in our society since the dawn of man and it is a problem that is not

going to go away any time soon. From the Bloods to the Crips the gangs are here and they are

taking our children. We as parents and a society need to take back what is ours and not let these

hoodlums threaten our communities and our way of life. Adolescents join gangs for a variety of

reasons but it all starts in the child’s home life. It all starts with the parents in the home. Parents

need to lead by example and show their children how to live a Godly and Christian lifestyle.


A Christian Worldview on Youth in Gangs

Gangs have been in existence since the dawn of man. “The word thug dates back to India

in the year 1200 AD and it refers to a gang of criminals (Thugz) that roamed the country

pillaging towns in their course” (Savelli, 2001, para. 1). Colors, a movie released in 1988,

depicted gang violence between two rival gangs the Bloods and the Crips in East Los Angeles.

The movie chronicles two cops in a special gang task force, whose jobs are to clean up the

streets.

According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology a gang is “a social group composed of

members with a high degree of personal contacts who share common interests and standards of

behavior, which in some cases (e.g., street gangs) are antisocial” (VandenBos, 2007, p. 399).

Not only are gangs an issue but gang members bring about other problems for example; juvenile

delinquency, drug and alcohol use, underage sex, violence in school, and dropping out of school,

to name a few.

Origin of Issue

There are many factors that contribute to adolescent involvement in gangs. According to

Cynthia M. Clark’s article; Deviant adolescent subcultures: Assessment strategies and clinical

interventions, “other motivators include protection (usually from other gangs), companionship,

camaraderie, and excitement” (Clark, 1992, “Violent Street Gangs,” para. 2). Lauber, Marshall,

& Meyers also stated that,

Risk factors that increase the likelihood an adolescent will become a gang member are disorganized neighborhoods characterized by economic hardship, family members who are involved in a gang, drug use, lack of family support, and peer pressure from gang members to join their gang. (as cited in Santrock, 2010, p. 479)


The root of the cause according to Clark’s article though is youth being alienated by their

parents (Clark, 1992). Rice & Bronfenbrenner commented as well on the issue of alienation.

American society is an important influence on adolescents' development, relationships, adjustment, and behavior. Society's expectations mold adolescent personalities, influence their roles, and guide their future (Rice, 1978). Thus, alienation presents a serious threat to the successful resolution of the adolescent identity crisis. To be alienated is to lack a sense of belonging; to feel cut off from family, friends, school, or work (Bronfenbrenner, 1986). Because a sense of belonging and self-identity is central to the adolescent experience, feeling alienated and unwanted may severely compromise psychosocial development. (as cited in Clark, 1992, “Alienation and Youth,” para. 2)

Statistics and Facts

One of the most alarming statistics is the use of very young children by older gang

members, to do the dirty work of the gangs, because older gang members are aware that

punishment for youth is more lenient in the criminal justice system (Hagedorn, 2008). Egley

estimates “that there are more than 750,000 gang members in more than 24,000 gangs in the

United States (as cited in Santrock, 2010, p. 479). Furthermore,

Most gang members are 12 to 26 years of age, with an average age of 17 to 18. Gang members are more than likely to be male than female, with estimates of female gang members ranging from 10 to 40 percent. Gangs are often composed of adolescents from low-income and ethnic minority backgrounds. However, it is estimated that approximately one-fourth of U.S. gang members are made up of non-Latino Whites. (Santrock, 2010, p. 479)

As mentioned earlier involvement in gangs brings about many other issues as well. For

instance, arrest rates for crimes against youth increased 70% between 1987 and 1994. Of the

youths arrested half tested positive for illicit drugs, while two-thirds had consumed alcohol while

committing a criminal offense (Benda & Turney, 2002).

Possible Solutions

Not allowing our youth to get involved in gangs in the first place starts simply with their

home life. Parents need programs to help them and better educate them and their children about


the dangers of gangs. This may sound like a simple solution but we as a society have made this

an issue by not following the basics when it comes to raising our children. Benda & Turney

(2002) stated it best with “social work intervention needs to be directed to transforming social

environments into higher levels of support, belongingness, cohesion, and trust necessary to begin

a concerted effort to resolve the problem of youthful violence” (p. 24).

Obviously situations do get out of hand and when they do we have to rely on taking more

extreme measures. For example police gang task forces and community neighborhood watches.

There are many programs available to parents but the key is to use these programs early, as a

preventative measure. Do not wait until your adolescent is already involved in a gang, educate

yourself. A good place to start is the Bible and by leading your family into a Godly and

Christian lifestyle that will carry over to your children.

Christian Worldview of Issue

As mentioned already the best place to start is by leading a Godly and Christian

lifestyle. This will in turn carry over to your children, we as parents must lead by example. This

is the best way to get to our youth. Proverbs 22:6 may get quoted a lot but it is for good reason

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (NIV, 1996).

Another great passage that sums it all up nicely is Romans 13:1-5

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. (NIV, 1996)


Conclusion

Summing it all up is no more simpler than the issue itself. Gangs have been around since

the dawn of man and they are here to stay whether we like it or not. If everyone were to follow

the instructions handed to us by God there would be no worries but it is more complex than that.

Benda & Turney (2002 put it into perspective with this statement “A major contributing factor to

the apparent intractability of youthful violence is a serious weakening in the overall social-

relational fabric, or the erosion of community closeness” (p. 24).

It is hard to stress the importance of the issue of spending more time with your children.

If we all did this though, maybe just maybe we would have less of the problems we face in our

society. Society itself has become very complex. Therefore, it is hard to imagine what a utopian

society would be like, think John Lennon’s “Imagine” song.


References

Benda Brent B., & Turney Howard M. (2002). Youthful Violence: Problems and Prospects.

Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, Vol. 19(1), pp. 5-34.

Benda Brent B., Turney Howard M. (2002). Youthful Violence: Problems and Prospects. Child

and Adolescent Social Work Journal, Vol. 19(1), pp. 5-34.

Clark, Cynthia M. (1992). Deviant adolescent subcultures: Assessment strategies and clinical

interventions. Adolescence, Vol. 27(Issue 106), pp. 283-294.

Hagedorn, John M. (2008). World of Gangs: Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture.

Minneapolis, MN/USA: University of Minnesota Press.

NIV. (1996). NIV Thinline Bible. Grand Rapids, Michigan/USA: Zondervan Publishing House.

Santrock, John W. (2010). Adolescence (13 ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

Savelli, Lou. (2001). National Gang History. Retrieved August 22, 2010, from GRIPE Web site:

http://www.gripe4kids.org/his.html

VandenBos, Gary R. (Ed.). (2007). APA Dictionary of Psychology (1st ed.). Washington, DC:

American Psychology Association.

a christian worldview on youth in gangs

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