faith unfaded

Despite growing up in church and being baptized as a child, I never wanted to be labeled a Jesus Freak. Those were the crazy people with white robes and long stringy hair in airports with signs calling for sinners to repent.

Or a man on a street corner with a microphone and a speaker preaching about salvation as honking cars whizzed by.

I wanted to quietly say my prayers and sit at life’s cool kids table. Acceptance trumped advocation, and stumping for Jesus just wasn’t on my radar anyway.

But then He met me on my road to Damascus. And everything changed.

Suddenly I started sharing Him loudly. My world had been shattered but He’d been there to pick up the pieces. I wanted to give credit where credit was due.

What’s more, once I crawled out of the inkiest, slimiest, deepest pit of my life, I wanted to give others the flashlight to find their way out of their own dark holes.

Jesus was that Light. (John 12:46)

Some begged me to get help. “You’re having a manic episode,” they’d say, while reading a list of symptoms that included hyper religious speech.

It was somewhat fair. I hadn’t yet settled into a place of peace, but one thing was certain: I was no longer ashamed to share the gospel of Christ. (Romans 1:16)

As my mind completely settled and my heart filled with peace, my boldness only grew stronger. I had overcome the depths of hell to shine a light for others. I didn’t care about being cool, being accepted, or even looking sane.

If they called me a Jesus Freak, I’d gladly wear the label. My life is only useful if it’s used for Him.

Jesus Freak (DC Talk/TobyMac, 1995)

Separated, I cut myself clean
From a past that comes back in my darkest of dreams
Been apprehended by a spiritual force
And a grace that replaced all the me I’ve divorced

What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus freak?
What will people do when they find that it’s true?
I don’t really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain’t no disguisin’ the truth

When Jesus really gets ahold of you, there’s no hiding the truth.

But if I say, ‘I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9

https://youtu.be/CURBT29w6Xo?si=I4uEavqSu1awnWga