Starting Fires

Sometimes faithfulness starts fires.This is Part 2 of Living Faith, a four-part series about following Jesus with authenticity, compassion, and courage in everyday life.After American B-2s bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, I sent out a pastoral note and a set of prayers to the people of the diocese I serve. One recipient scolded me for criticizing President Trump.For the record, I didn’t criticize Trump. I didn’t comment on the wisdom or folly of that military action. My best guess is that this line sparked the reaction:Let us remember that we follow one Lord. Neither a political party nor even a nation may rightfully claim our absolute allegiance. That belongs to Christ alone. And so, following his example and teaching, we offer prayer as the paradoxical weapon of grace and justice.What disturbed this person, I suspect, wasn’t a political critique—it was my view of how Christians relate to the state. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jakeowensby.substack.com/subscribe