Reichley Column: Let's talk about the Jesus freaks

There’s lots of stuff to write about these days. There’s TARP, a $700 billion fiasco whose only barely redeeming feature was clearing out “toxic assets” from the bank industry, except we’ve barely started
that because the feds have been busy buying out banks and taking over the car companies. There’s the non-stimulus, which promised 8 percent unemployment but instead left private employers reeling
and almost 10 percent of us out of work, while paying off the politically-connected special interests.

There’s Iran, where friends of America, seeking freedom and democracy, are being murdered in the street, while America, the once-great defender of democracy, leaves them hanging out to dry.

Friday, the House of Representatives rushed through a vote on a bill they didn’t read, to fight a non-existent “warming” problem with solutions that will fix nothing but threaten whatever prosperity remains
in our country. Soon those same oligarchs will try to take over our health care insurance, leaving us dependent on a public program run by a government that has bankrupted every major program it has
attempted (Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to name a few) except the military — proving government is better at destroying things than running them.

But instead, I want to write about Jesus Freaks. Sunday, with my wife and daughter out of the country, my son and I went to Busch Gardens to ride the coasters and enjoy an afternoon concert featuring
a trio of Christian performers, including former American Idol contestant Mandisa, and our own Toby Mac.

Toby (real name Kevin McKeehan) was born in Fairfax and grew up around northern Virginia. His parents still live right here in Haymarket. Toby was part of DC Talk, a Christian hip-hop/rock band, before
embarking on a solo career with the “Diverse City” band.

My son and I managed to get a space right up at the stage. All I can say is “wow” (and “I hope I get my hearing back”). Times may be tough, but Busch Gardens was packed for this concert, with the
venue filled to capacity with screaming, jumping, singing Christians. This was the fourth week of a series dubbed “Glory in the Garden,” presenting several Christian performers each Sunday in June, all
free with admission.

It rained a bit and was rather cloudy considering the morning weather report said it would be sunny and dry (we can’t get the weather right 12 hours in advance, but supposedly we know it will be 4
degrees hotter in 100 years). But the rain could not dampen the spirits of the standing-room only crowd, who were there not to talk politics, or the dreadful economy, or the deteriorating state of the
world — but to enjoy their relationship with God and fellowship with each other.

People came from around the country — we met a concert-going Pennsylvania family on the “Roman Rapids” raft ride (getting soaked in the process). And we stood at the concert next to a family who
came all the way from Florida.

“Jesus Freaks” is the name of a DC Talk song that Toby performs at his concerts. The term was meant to deride Christians, but is now embraced by some as a badge of honor, a response to those who
ridicule belief in a higher power. As the lyrics say, “People say I’m strange, does it make me a stranger, that my best friend was born in a manger?”

Toby’s music has strong positive messages: love your neighbor, be a good parent and a faithful spouse, be honest and forthright. The band is musically and racially diverse, and they use that diversity to
celebrate our common heritage and fellowship. In a country becoming more racially divided, it was nice to be in a diverse crowd sharing what we have in common, rather than focusing on superficial
differences.

Sometimes I fear we are losing our faith to the world of TV, the Internet and self-fulfillment. But seeing this mass of people standing side-by-side, swaying and jumping and singing together, makes me
believe talk of the demise of faith in America is premature.

Some seek salvation in government programs and charismatic leaders, wanting to pass off responsibility to the government to love our neighbors for us. I think the answers to our problems lay with “we,
the people” — people who have faith in something greater than ourselves and who take personally the biblical admonition to care for those around us. Government won’t save us, but it could destroy us.

Charles Reichley has been a Prince William County resident since 1981. He can be reached at critically thinking@msn.com.