Are You Man Enough?

I heard this poem on a Mike Frost DVD called “Jesus Made Me Do It”. I would recommend this DVD to anyone who questions if there is more to Christianity and the church than what we see in today’s institution. This poem cuts to the heart of the cost of true Christianity, and makes us realise how comfortable we are in our “feel-good” version of being Christ-like. I hope this poem challenges you as much as it challenged me.

Are You Man Enough?

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, well 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
Look I’m not completely sure; can we just run through that again?
You say my body could be killed and left to rot and stink?
Oh yeah that sounds terrific Lord, I’ll say amen … I think.

But Lord, look, there must be other ways to follow you, I said
I really would prefer to end up just dying in my bed
Well yes, he said, you could just 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
Look I’m still not entirely sure; can we just run through that again?
You say I could put up with sneers and scorn and spit?
Well yes, I’ve made up my mind, and say amen … a bit.

Well I sat back and I thought a while and I tried a different ploy
I said, Lord, now the good book says that Christians live in joy
That’s true, he said, you’re gonna need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow
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
You see, we’ve got to get it clear; let’s just run through that again
You say that I will need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow?
Well yeah, I think I 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. No, I quit!
I’m awfully sorry Lord, I said, I’d like to follow you
But I don’t think religion is a manly thing to do
And he said, forget religion then and you 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? Are you man enough to go?
Are you man enough to care for those that no-one wants to know?
Are you man enough to say the things that people hate to hear?
And battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear?

And listen, are you man enough to stand at the end?
The moment of betrayal by the kisses of your friend
Are you man enough to hold your tongue? Are you man enough to cry?
And 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, Lord I’m so frightened, but I also said amen.

Adrian Plass