WHEN I BECAME A CHRISTIAN BY ADRIAN PLASS

I read this poem from a book back in 2014

titled “Hearing the Call” written by two

authors: Gordon Mursell and Jonathan

Lawson and i thought it was very thoughtful

of the Poet.

You know, many of us get so comfortable

with our lives as Christians because we

don’t experience any kind of persecution

where we live and we forget persecution is

part of what our Christianity stands to get

from the world. Even if we have been graced

to not stay in countries where there isn’t

that much persecutions on us as Christians.

Have you thought about how it’ll be like for

you if you were to be martyred right this

minute? Hey! It’s scary…

But this poem is not that scary… It has

humour and if you are like me, you will

relate.

Check it out:

When I Became a Christian

By Adrian Plass

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now

fill me in,

Tell me what I’ll suffer in this world of

shame and sin.

He said, your body may be killed, and left to

rot and stink,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen

– I think.

I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say

Amen,

I’m not completely sure, can you just run

through that again?

You say my body may be killed and left to

rot and stink,

Well, yes, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say

Amen – I think.

But, Lord, there must be other ways to

follow you, I said,

I really would prefer to end up dying in my

bed.

Well, yes, he said, you could put up with the

sneers and scorn and spit,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen

– a bit.

A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,

I’m not entirely sure, can we just run

through that again?

You say I could put up with sneers and also

scorn and spit,

Well, yes, I’ve made my mind up, and I say,

Amen – a bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then

tried a different ploy,

Now, Lord, I said, the Good book says that

Christians live in joy.

That’s true he said, you need the joy to bear

the pain and sorrow,

So do you want to follow me, I said, Amen –

tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Lord, I’ll say it then, that’s when

I’ll say Amen,

I need to get it clear, can I just run through

that again?

You say that I will need to joy, to bear the

pain and sorrow,

Well, yes, I think I’ve got it straight, I’ll say

Amen – tomorrow.

He said, Look, I’m not asking you to spend

an hour with me

A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of

sanctity,

The cost is you, not half of you, but every

single bit,

Now tell me, will you follow me? I said

Amen – I quit.

I’m very sorry Lord I said, I’d like to follow

you,

But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to

do.

He said forget religion then, and think about

my Son,

And tell me if you’re man enough to do what

he has done.

Are you man enough to see the need, and

man enough to go,

Man enough to care for those whom no one

wants to know,

Man enough to say the thing that people

hate to hear,

To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness

and fear.

And listen! Are you man enough to stand it

at the end,

The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a

friend,

Are you man enough to hold your tongue,

and man enough to cry?

When nails break your body-are you man

enough to die?

Man enough to take the pain, and wear it

like a crown,

Man enough to love the world and turn it

upside down,

Are you man enough to follow me, I ask you

once again?

I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also

said Amen.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen; Amen, Amen,

Amen,

I said, Oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also

said, Amen.