When I was growing up in the late 60’s and early 70’s, I remember hearing adults bandy about the terms “Jesus Freaks” and “Holy Rollers.” I guess that technically the term “Jesus Freaks” grew out of the hippie-era Jesus Movement while “Holy Rollers” was coined more as a specific reference to Pentecostal church members. But, at least to this pre-teen growing up, it seemed like the two terms were used interchangeably to refer to someone who folks thought was a little bit “out there” in terms of their faith and religiosity.

As I think back, I guess that “Jesus Freaks” was used primarily in reference to folks involved in communal living and sharing amongst themselves. During the Cold War era, though, that idea was about as communistic as they came and little consideration was given to it possibly being a modern-day living out of the Acts 2 church. “Holy Rollers,” on the other hand seemed to refer to folks who were a part of mainstream society but wore their Christianity on their sleeves. They weren’t soft-spoken about their faith. In fact, they might even carry their Bibles with them and go to church more than once a week!

In the mid 90’s, DC Talk came out with his song “Jesus Freak”. When I started hearing it, it brought back memories of that term being used in a negative way, even by church-going folk. Ya know, though, if someone wants to call me a “Jesus Freak” today, I am quite okay with that. In fact, it would be my honor if, when I am gone, someone thinks that it is appropriate to have "Jesus Freak" carved into my tombstone below my name.


[What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus Freak?
What will people do
When they find that's it's true?]
[oh oh]

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 wriggled 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 he claimed he had a friend

What will people think
When they hear that I'm a Jesus freak
What will people do when they find that it's true
[oh oh]
I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak
There ain't no disguising the truth
[oh oh oh]
[ain't no disguising the truth, no I ain't hiding the truth]
Kamikaze, my death is a 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

People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger
People say I'm strange, does that make me a stranger
My best friend was born in a manger

What will people think
[What will people think]
What will people do
[What will people do]
I don't really care
[What else can I say]
There ain't no disguising the truth
[Jesus is the way]