You stood up high behind that stage,

Spoke in fire, turned the page,

Hands raised up, they called your name…

But something didn’t feel the same.

You wore the robe, you knew the lines,

Spoke of truth, but blurred the signs,

You loved the light, the crowd, the sound…

But never walked the broken ground.

You wanted reverence, wanted praise,

The spotlight in the holy place…

You wanted the crown, not the cross,

The gain of souls, not the cost,

You take the credit when hearts are saved…

But not the blame when faith has changed.

You call yourself a shepherd’s voice,

But truth ain’t somethin’ you deploy,

So tell me now, when no one’s around—

Are you a shepherd… or just wearin’ the crown?

You speak the words that serve your need,

Twistin’ roots from sacred seed,

Teachin’ truth with careful edits…

Till it fits your own credits.

Lives are breakin’, silent cries,

Hidden deep behind closed eyes,

Marriages fall, faith runs dry…

But you just let it pass you by.

You feared the crowd, what they might say,

So truth got softer day by day…

You wanted the crown, not the cross,

The gain of souls, not the cost,

You take the credit when hearts are saved…

But not the blame when faith has changed.

You call yourself a shepherd’s voice,

But truth ain’t somethin’ you deploy,

So tell me now, when no one’s around—

Are you a shepherd… or just wearin’ the crown?

A shepherd bleeds for every soul,

Carries burdens, takes the toll,

Stands in truth when it cuts deep…

Even when it costs his sheep.

But a wolf hides in holy skin,

Smiles wide while fear sits within,

Feeds on praise, avoids the fight…

Trades the truth to keep the light.

You wanted the crown, not the cross,

Now count the weight, now feel the loss,

The lives you touched, the ones you missed…

All echo loud in moments like this.

You say you lead, you say you stand,

But truth was never in your hand,

So when the silence breaks you down—

Were you a shepherd… or just a crown?

When the lights fade out…

And the voices drown…

Heaven won’t ask who wore the crown…

Just who you were…

When no one was around.