Jesus Freak?

We are blessed that my hubby has a company car. For the first three months, he received Sirius radio for free. He found a station called The Message, which plays Christian pop and rock music. We both enjoyed it a lot while it lasted. At the time he was driving about three hours a day to and from work and he said that the music helped, especially when he was stuck in traffic. So when the three months finished, we decided to invest in it. There are a lot of great songs. I used to think that Christian music could only be cheesy. But I've discovered that when you say "Christian music" that's like saying "music" and expecting people to know what kind of music you listen to. There's all sorts of genres within Christian music: rap, pop, rock, heavy metal, gospel, you name it! Whatever kind of music there is out there, you can find it in Christian music, too. The only difference is what they're singing about!

In my life, being a Christian (and I mean a go to church, profess your faith in God and His plan, say 'I'm blessed' instead of 'I'm lucky' Christian) is rare. I often feel like an outsider. I'm also Catholic, which is even worse in some cases. I remember taking a philosophy of religion course at McGill and we were discussing the beliefs of a particular philosopher. Someone said, "He actually believed that?" and the teacher replied, "Yes, and many Catholics do today." The classroom tittered and some students laughed out loud, as though Catholics were morons. I've also attended a discussion about faith and belief in a Christian church of another denomination and we discussed the Apostles' Creed. There was a visceral reaction to it; it was unpalatable, unacceptable.

So I've always thought of myself as different, set apart. I'm fighting the good fight, as the apostle Paul said. But yesterday we heard the same song at least three times: DC Talks "Jesus Freak". Here are the lyrics.

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

I saw a man with tat on his big fat belly
It wiggled around like marmalade jelly
It took me a while to catch what it said
Cause I had to match the rhythm of his belly with my head
'Jesus Saves' is what it raved in a typical tattoo green
He stood on a box in the middle of the city
And claimed he had a dream

Chorus:
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 disguising the truth
[There ain't no disgusing the truth]
[I don't need to hide it... The truth]

Kamikaze, my death is gain
I've been marked by my Maker
A peculiar display
The high and lofty, they see me as weak
Cause I won't live and die for the power they seek

There was a man from the desert with naps in his head
The sand that he walked was also his bed
The words that he spoke made the people assume
There wasn't too much left in the upper room
With skins on his back and hair on his face
They thought he was strange by the locusts he ate
The Pharisees tripped when they heard him speak
Until the king took the head of this Jesus freak

Chorus

People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange, does it make me a stranger
That my best friend was born in a manger
 
Chorus

Then I thought to myself: why am I hearing this song so many times? Am I a Jesus freak? Would anyone call me that? Sure, people know I'm devout but would they say I'm strange? Or weak because I don't want what other people usually want (wealth, fame or power)? If someone tried to convict me of being a Christian, what would be the verdict? I'd like to think I'd be guilty but I'm not so sure. Am I "disguising the truth" or is it simply not true? Is it black and white? You're either a Jesus freak or not? Or can you be somewhere in between?