Confessing Love for Jesus

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 care if they label me a Jesus Freak

There ain’t no disguising the truth    DC TALK (Jesus Freak)

Maybe some of you remember this classic Christian hit from August 1995 by the band DC TALK? Personally, I am a huge fan of the song, although I was nowhere near being a Christian when it hit the airwaves. Nope – I actually discovered it during a “retro” review of Christian recording artists several years ago. I was totally captivated by the thoughts behind the words that they sang with such gusto.

For those of you who don’t know the deeper parts of my background, I spent most of my teenage years and twenties as an atheist. I had a lot of anger toward religion, and I was definitely not on good terms with my Father in Heaven. But when He and I finally started talking in my thirties, it became a journey that pulled me closer and closer to Him until I was baptized in April 2006.

Not long after that, I found myself walking across the Lifecentre, Orleans Campus Parking lot. As I got closer and closer to the church, I found myself having this huge discussion: What if the people I knew from my past could see me today?!!

Now you understand why I started quoting that song: This was me – actually living it out! At that moment, I was trying to reconcile who I had become within my newfound relationship with Jesus Christ. Admittedly, there was still a large chunk of the old me hanging around inside. And for so long, that old part of me had thought of Christians as fakes, uneducated puppets, and “Bible-thumping” hypocrites. But now, I was one of those people for whom I had absolutely no respect. What would that mean for me to try and live my life out?

Many followers of Christ handle this transition time by hiding their beliefs from others. They don’t speak of their faith or thoughts about Jesus in public. At their place of work or around their friends and neighbours, they are silent. This often stems from not wanting to appear different or spark ‘push back’ from those who don’t share an understanding or need for faith. Often, they can end up leading double lives; one in the world and one with Jesus.

At that moment, walking toward church, I fully felt that conflict on how I would live out my true faith. I wish I could have been reminded of these verses:

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”  1 John 4:15

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 10:32.

Confessing love for Jesus is the completion step of our surrender to Him, as we give ourselves over to all He is and has done for us. But it took some time for my surrender to fully flow into my abilities to confess Him in my life. I know not everyone suffers in this area. Many people find themselves immediately aflame to share all that Jesus means to them. But, if it feels like a slower process for you, let us come together to overcome this situation right now!

Jesus should not be viewed as an add-on to your life. He is not that extra thing that you carry around secretly in your back pocket. “Jesus at the centre” is the heart cry of His relationship with you. His desire to see you fully set free. And if Jesus is placed in that place, He will naturally “leak” out of all you are and all you do. He is not some weighty consideration. He says: “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28.

As for me, I started to put little Scripture notes up in my cubicle and found a small cross and angel figure to adorn my monitor. Then, I began sharing what had happened at church on Sunday or an interesting discussion from our LifeGroup during the week. People started to see me working my daily routine from a different perspective and interaction. And in this, Jesus took the central role in who I was – and more importantly – what I was.

So now, it brings me joy when people catch some Jesus leaking out from me and comment or ask a question. Frankly, it sometimes takes me leaking Jesus all over the place before someone catches on and talks to me about it.

We are invited into His perfect light. And after a while, we can see that light actually emanating through us. So can others. So let your light shine before men. Let His way facilitate your move from hiding to confessing. If He is allowed to fully inhabit all that you are – without fear or trepidation – your confession of Jesus will flow naturally and strongly from you. Then, even if you encounter aggressive naysayers and doubters, you will be able to sing the praises of your beautiful Lord and ‘freakish’ nature without care or worry.

Freedom!

Your Turn! Share your thoughts in the comments below. Thank you!