To crown Jesus King
is to participate in the peace he brings.
To crown Jesus Lord
is to long for war no more.

He may fit “inside” our hearts,
But he will not fit inside our preferences.
He may stoop down to us in love,
But he will not comply with our politics.

He will be King, not concierge.
He will be Savior, not subordinate.
He will be Redeemer, not Republican.
He will be Day-Star, not Democrat.
He will be Liberator, not Libertarian.
He will be our mediator of a New Covenant,
Not mediator of a nationalistic commitment.
He will be our Advocate and Victor,
Not our advocate of violence.
He will be our Prince of Peace,
Not our prince of war.

Jesus is the Lamb of God that was slain,
The First-Born from the dead
Given authority over all things.

He is the head of the Church
Whose reign will never fail,
Whose love is never fickle,
And power never frail.

The Church can not betray her confession
With the witness that she brings
To a world suffering in violence.
She must crown Him Lord and King.

Crown him Lord and King.

We must crown him Lord and King.

~ a free verse poem published in this form on January 9, 2020