The Imposter

Here's my interpretation:

First stanza: Maybe it’s about how people try to make Christianity look modern, turning Jesus into a cult symbol or an image of Holy Grace.

Second stanza: It's about modern-day, phony Christianity…how people try to make Christianity look attractive, appealing…the type of preaching used to get people in the doors of the church with ear-tickling sermons and the promise of “soul revival,” salvation that costs nothing. . .“Christians” talking the talk with their “language” and “social titles,” but still living the way they lived before they were saved...fake Christianity. This is what the singer got when he first experienced Christianity.

Third Stanza. The singer wants to know and follow Jesus for who He really is. He is leaving behind all of the things he once knew about Christianity, all of the imposter stuff: the image of Christianity (how a lot of modern Christianity is about talking the talk, appearing righteous but not really following Christ) and its phoniness. And the singer leaves behind his past way of life in pursuit of Jesus who loves him and believes in him. The singer is basically telling Jesus, “I want to follow You. I am giving up my old way of life. I’m giving up the preconceived notions about Christianity. I know You love me and believe in me. Please believe that I am truly seeking You now.”

Fourth Stanza: The singer is telling Jesus how much he needs Him. He knows that Jesus suffered (tear run down your face) for his sin (my disgrace is in your eyes). The moment he realizes that Jesus suffered for him and loves him, he wants to change. The singer is telling Jesus that he is giving up his phoniness, the imposter in him, the fake Christianity that he seems to describe in the beginning of the song. He needs Jesus to help him give up the imposter in him. He wants to get serious about pursuing Jesus.

Fifth Stanza: The singer has Jesus in his life, but he’s been keeping Jesus to himself, instead of sharing His love (ex. The knowledge of the Gospel) with others (I have you hostage to my ways of isolation of my selfish knowledge). He didn’t understand what God’s love was about until Jesus showered him with grace.

Eighth Stanza: The singer is experiencing a new beginning in Christ. It is strange to him; perhaps he doesn’t understand it completely, as he didn’t understand what love was about until he experienced Jesus’ grace. When he follows Jesus, he finds new meaning in life; Jesus gives his life meaning. God takes our broken pieces and rebuilds us in His love; in doing so, He gives our love reason and He gives our lives purpose (We are formed from all these pieces. Take my love and give it reason).

With Christ, it is possible to give up the imposter in ourselves, our hypocritical ways, our fake Christianity in which we just talk the talk and try to seem righteous while we live the complete opposite way. We must make the choice to give up our old ways and allow Christ to change us so that we may pursue Him and experience a close relationship with Him without pretenses.

I think this song is about a journey from Christianity to agnosticism. In the first 3 stanzas he talks about what it was like when he became a committed Christian. He was given a role in serving the church, told what bible verses to know, and was happy to devote his life to serving Christianity.

I think his devotion to the church runs so deep that he becomes an ambassador of religion rather than a follower of Christ. This leads to the 4th stanza in which he has to "Stop" because he "needs" Christ. He spends time remaining silent about how his beliefs and views of Christ no longer align with the church.

It is a strange beginning for him when he comes to the conclusion that humanity is formed from beliefs and values of all religions, and religion without love is meaningless. He goes on to say that a day will come when humanity no longer needs religion to know and love God.

He ends the song by repeating his commitment to remove all of the fake religious charades in his life.