While reading through these chapters I was really struck by verses 18-22 in chapter 8. The cost of following Christ and being a Christian has been a reoccurring theme in a lot of my discussions with my friends.
"Christianity is free, but it costs you your life"
Here is a wonderful poem that was recently shared with me:
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 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 completely sure, can you 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 still 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 said I will need the 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.
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 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 completely sure, can you 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 still 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 said I will need the 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 the 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.
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 the 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.
I said, oh Lord, I’m frightened, but I also said Amen.
Wow, God had just spoken to me about the cost of Christianity when I opened up my computer to see this. it's amazing how He works. Also, that poem leaves me flabbergasted!
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