3
Gang involvement
What is one thing that everybody wants? We all want unity and we all want to feel a part
of something because that is how God created us as relational beings. This is referenced in Gen
2:8. What happens when people grow up in a bad area and often to lack relationship. Oftentimes
one can't seek this sort of unity and family from a gang. gangs have a strong history behind them
and there are various reasons one would join a gang
History of gangs
To first understand gangs we have to learn about their history and where they got their
start? In the 1600s London was swarmed with gangs. These gangs would cause chaos and would
wear matching colors and pins. A lot of these early London gang members came from areas of
poverty and unhealth. A lot of the early London gang fighting was from turf wars such as it often
still is today. There are many activities that these early London gangs did that modern gangs still
do and that modern gangs take influence from so it is very clear that these early gangs are a big
influence on gang culture and gang activities in America and even in present day.
Next to understand the present day we have to learn about how gangs originated in
America. In America gangs originated in the 1800s in Philadelphia and quickly spread. By the
mid 1800s gangs were very prominent in the five point district and that is shown sort of in the
movie gangs of New York by Martin Scorsese. By the 1950s and 60s gangs were not as bad and
gangs were almost claimed to be out of existence in this time. Around the 70s is when gangs
would become more familiar to what we know now with urban areas increasing and the political
and racial unrest of the time. This is around the time when the bloods and crips were formed and
many other gangs followed
4
How being in a gang happens
There are many ways and reasons that one could join a gang. One of the ways that people
join a gang is by being born into it. Being born into the gang does not mean that as soon as one is
born they are immediately a gang member but it means that they are born into the surroundings
and the gang environment. When one is born into the surroundings and gang lifestyle and
environment it often seems like they don't have a choice but doing the gang so from a young age
they grow accustomed to the gang life and how it works and once they are ready they normally
tend to get initiated into the gang whether it be by peaceful ways or by the jumping method that
is very popular in gangs. With being born into the gang in the environment most of the time this
is the only thing they know and for them this is the only way of life and the only way of survival
and the only way to have unity with others. For them there is no other way and they don't know
anything else but as Christians we know that God has set us free and we are not slaves to our sin
and our surroundings.
The next way that someone can join a gang is from peers and peer pressure. The Bible
says do not conform to the patterns of this world, but oftentimes that is what people do and it
leads down a very dark path such as gangs. People can often get peer pressured to join a gang or
oftentimes they see the luxurious lifestyle that a friend of theirs looks to be having and they
might get jealous and they see that he is successful in thriving and because of this they end up
joining a gang. Romans 12 verse two tells us why peer pressure is wrong because the world is
sinful and we are supposed to be different and we are not supposed to submit to the world's ways
but we are supposed to submit to God's ways
Why it happens.
There are many reasons why someone would want to join a gang rather it be the
friendships the financial opportunities the upward status that one thinks a gang could bring.
The first reason that many people can join a gang is to feel like a part of something and to
feel a bond. Within a gang setting there is a big bond because for the most part everyone has the
same goals and desires and that can bring you close to others. People who often do not have
friends or people at home are often drawn to gangs for the social aspect because biblically God
did create us to want and crave for a family relationship and it is not good for someone to not
have a relationships but joining a gang is not the best way to find this sort of relationship that we
are craving and many people who join find out the hard way. Another reason one could join the
gang is for protection. In high crime areas it can be very dangerous just to walk out the door and
go to the store. Do some people joining a gang can get rid of those fears and worries because
5
with a gang comes notoriety, street credit an already protection. With this protection comes
protection from other gangs and crimes happening to them because if something happens to the
person the person in the other gang or who committed the crime fears retaliation from the other
members of the gang and most often that retaliation is a violent sort of retaliation. There is also
turf protection. Gangs normally establish and protect territories or areas of the city or town and
oftentimes in these areas it is dangerous to walk in them or wear the wrong colors so if one has
gang backup it is often safer. The final reason someone might want to join a gang is for social
standing. What this means is that in some areas it is very popular to be in a gang and all of the
people in the gang are rich and have a lot of money and are famous and one wants to climb the
social ranks and join the gang. Another reason one would want to join the gang is the
glorification of gangs within rap music and within movies. If one is from an urban area and
listens to mainly rap music he will hear plenty of lyrics about the gang life and how good it is
and the false glorification of a life of crime and violence and for someone who does not have
things very well that might be very appealing. When a young juvenile also watches movies there
are plenty of movies and TV shows where the gang lifestyle is very highlighted and in these
movies they don't show the bed of getting life but they show the good and the luxurious lifestyle
that a life of crime brings such as fame money and women and to some people this is very
appealing and this is a very good reason that one would want to join a gang
Effects of gang life .
Galatians 6 says that we reap what we sow and with gang life it is very true that these
people reap exactly what they sow. Wow music and movies show all of the good and great things
that supposedly come from gang life everything about gang life is bad starting with the cycle of
crime. Gang members often rob buildings shoot people jump people and commit various
6
atrocious crimes and joining this lifestyle tends to make one a criminal. Added to this is the
crime leads to severe punishments such as jail and conviction. And another effect is once in jail
gang members are often targeted for being in that gang and oftentimes they either get assaulted
or killed. Another effect of the gang lifestyle can often be poor health. With all of the violent
actions that occur some gang members have experienced severe PTSD. There is also addiction
very prominent and getting life because the amount of drugs that are consumed within the
lifestyle. Another effect is poor education. Oftentimes people drop out of school and further
education if they are involved in it to fully be dedicated and support the gang because to them
that is their lifestyle and the only thing in life for them. Gang activity also has a very negative
impact on the communities that the gang live in because their actions make everything worse and
more violent and dangerous for everyday working Americans who are not part of this lifestyle.
There is also a very high chance of death and severe injuries for those who are within a gang
because of all the dangerous illegal activity that occurs within a gang
Conclusion.
In conclusion there are many reasons that one would want to join a gang whether it be
wealth and social standing, bonding in a family like connection or even simply just for protection
because they live in a rough area in a bad territory. There are many ways to join a gang but the
most popular or from your peers or being born into it and born into the lifestyle.the Bible says
that we need to walk with the righteous or our paths will be combat and joining a gang and the
lifestyle is proof of that. Those who partake in gang affiliated lifestyles put a significant amount
of risk within their lives and the amount of risk does not outweigh the positives because there are
barely no positives to the lifestyle from death jail and dangerous situations. As believers we are
in a family as first John 3:1-2 tells us. With this in mind we need to be spreading the gospel as
7
much as possible because you never know when we can reach a kid like this who is striving to
find a sort of family unit and family relationship and we as believers can help them out. Our faith
can help us reach a variety of people and places and maybe by the grace of God our faith can
reach a child who is involved in the gang life but sees that there is a family in Christianity.
8
References
Holy Bible
Siegel, L., & Welsh, B. (2017). Juvenile Delinquency: The Core (6th ed.). Cengage
Learning.
Why do youth join gangs? (n.d.).
https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh176/files/jjbulletin/9808/why.html#:~:text=A%20few
%20are%20virtually%20born,activity%20(Moore%2C%201978).
Aacap. (n.d.). Gangs and children.
https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-
and-Gangs-098.aspx#:~:text=Gang%20members%20may%20be%20pressured,family%2C
%20imprisonment%20and%20ev History of street gangs in the United States - National gang
center. (n.d.-b). https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Content/Documents/History-of-Street-
Gangs.pdf
en%20death.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights
reserved.
