I Am a Christian
Did Maya Angelou write an inspiration religious poem entitled 'I Am a Christian'?
- Published

Glurge: Maya Angelou wrote an inspirational religious poem entitled “I Am a Christian.”
FALSE
Example: [Collected via e-mail, 2006]
When I say I am a Christian — by Maya Angelou
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting “I’m clean livin’.”
I’m whispering “I was lost,
Now I’m found and forgiven.”
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
And need His strength to carry on.
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect,
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.
When I say … “I am a Christian”
I’m not holier than thou,
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s good grace, somehow
Origins: Dr. Maya Angelou, who passed away in May 2014, became one of those figures
more of other people’s words attributed to her than words of her own. (As we note in another article dealing with an apocryphal poem erroneously attributed to her, many Internet-circulated bits of verse lacking authorship identification eventually become credited to
“When I Say, ‘I Am a Christian'” (the correct, full title) was penned in 1988 by
The original version of the poem read as follows:
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not trying to be strong When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t think I know it all When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost! That’s why I chose this way”
I’m confessing that I stumble — needing God to be my guide
I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on
I’m admitting that I’ve failed and cannot ever pay the debt
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name
I have no authority — I only know I’m loved
Additional information:
![]() | History of the Poem (carolwimmer.com) |
Last updated: 28 May 2014