Who is David Welch?!

I was reading another blogger earlier tonight and his blog resonated with me. He had been accused of deserting his faith, of becoming a liberal, and other various "major" sins. And so he attempted to clear the air in what I consider to be a humble response. Here is my attempt to do the same.

For the most part I ignore anymore what people think of me or what they say about me. I'm 50 years old and quite frankly I don't have the patience to deal with folks who won't sit down with me personally to be able to see who I really am. For example, last year, I chose to remove someone from my life after many confrontations with them regarding their behaviors and their continuous lies. It was a difficult choice, but clearly it was a wise one as still nothing has changed. Some have criticized me publically for the decision, but most have simply resorted to whispers or to saying nothing at all. That saddens me, but I will not chase people down to explain my side. People will believe whatever they want to believe without trying to see all sides of any issue.

Secondly, some see many  of my posts against what I will call the "Christian Teapublican Party" and they think that I am on a mission to somehow destroy the Church with my words. Some say that I have even left my faith. A friend  two years ago walked away from  me for exactly this reason (there's a nice God like attitude! LOL). But in reality, especially in the last year, my faith has grown tremendously. The problem lies in the fact my faith in Jesus does not allow for me to hold to many of the tenants that fellow believers seem to hold with the Teapublican party. Having been a Church minister, God has given me a voice and I seek to use that voice to speak about the false religion of the Christian Teapublican. Jesus has no desire to establish an earthly kingdom and yet that is exactly what leaders such as Falwell, Robertson, Cruz, Bachman, Huckabee and now even Franklin Graham are trying to do with their moral majorities, family councils, and political groups to elect all Christians to office. (BTW - I've had this same view for 35 years). Jesus has no desire to force faith or religion on people. He has 2 commands: love God and love people. The angry rhetoric of the Teapublicans is hardly that.

Which brings me to the dreaded "liberal" label. I actually embrace the title these days, but I am also conservative in ways. I am conservative, and actually agree with the Tea Party on the basic premise of financial accountability. We need to look closely at our debts and at our deficit and we must hold leaders accountable. We need desperately to reduce wasteful spending and we need to be wise in how we spend. Taxes are a necessary part of any good nation, but there always needs to be a healthy debate as to how much is too much.

However, as far back as I can remember, I believe in what some will call liberal ideals. I believe that we as a country should take care of her own. The Bible is abundantly clear that God holds nations accountable for how they treat the poor within their borders. He holds nations accountable for how they treat the immigrants that enter into their countries. He holds them accountable for how they treat all people - as we like to say - all people are created equal. Through time we have continued to move towards the attitude of equality especially making great strides here in our country during the last 80 years. Equality means equal rights for ALL people. It even means equal pay for the same jobs. It means providing equal opportunity for all people, not just those who can afford it. Equal despite color, sex, age, religion, nationality or any other diversity.

Liberal means learning to lay down the weapons, as much as is possible, and instead showing love towards enemies. It means learning to be peacemakers. It means doing away with vengeance and the barbaric death penalty.

I believe in Jesus and His teachings. I do believe in salvation from sin through His death. I have pledged my life to loving Him and loving others. I find that as I grow in my faith, that there are more and more questions - things aren't nearly as black and white. There is a comforting peace in that knowledge. There is a reason that God is mysterious and why it is difficult to know Him and every time we begin to think that we know something about Him, He reveals another mysterious side. But in Him we move, we live, we have our being. He is all in all thus there is nowhere where He is not including all of nature and people around us.

I am a complex person as you are too. I love politics and may just throw my hat back in the ring for office. I don't love politics because of some belief that politics will bring utopia. I do not believe that politics will force a nation to be somehow good or even Christian. I do believe in a politics where the politician serves their people's needs. At the same time I love trying to promote the real Kingdom of God. His Kingdom should be growing and should be shining brightly in the midst of the darkness of what politics can not fix. We are to let the light of the Kingdom shine, not force it down people's throats through words or even legislation.

My mind never stops. I love quiet times and yet my mind never slows down. There are multiple projects going on at all times. I've had more ups/downs in my life than most people only because of this racing mind. My thirst for knowledge and wisdom is insatiable. I will always study all sides of issues so that I can defend all sides before making a decision as to what side I will be on.

One of the things that I work on is how I come across to people. Some say that I am arrogant or that I come across as knowing everything. I don't feel that way at all, but I do have much impatience for those who don't look at all sides of an issue.

Not sure why I even wrote this - perhaps only because I could relate to another blogger whose faith and politic were being questioned. I can relate. So maybe this was more for me, rather than you.

Blessings
David

Loving ISIL

A troubling trend has been happening for many years with American Christianity. The trend is disconcerting as American Christianity (in general) is being seen as an extreme right wing fanatical, judgmental, political and even militant cult. How many readers have I lost already? Seriously. To be honest, it is not just here, it is a brand of Christianity that is popping up in various parts of the world including the middle east this past week. This brand of Christianity is obsessed with guns, jail and prison time for law breakers, the death penalty, the increase in funding for the war machine, and of course the death of any terrorists. See the violent trend?


I may be seen as a little rough on American Christianity and I do admit that I am. There is a growing number of Jesus followers who I am reading of every day that are saying "enough." We do not want to be seen as a part of this group. Why? Because none, and I emphasize none, of these beliefs are in line with the teachings of Jesus. None. As a matter of fact these beliefs are considered immoral.


Of course the current focus is on ISIL. Otherwise, it would still be on the "illegal" children, Benghazi, Obama's fake birth certificate, or the evil of providing health insurance for our own people.


Don't get me wrong. I understand how serious of a situation that it is in that part of the world right now. It calls for a lot of deep thought and soul searching, and a measured response. But when Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty says "Convert them or kill them" red flags should go everywhere. Americans Christians are crying for the same thing that the enemy is crying for: death of the other side, of the enemy.


My own soul searching has shown me some things about Jesus that I think are important to note. He lived in a time when his country was being ruled and even oppressed by an outside terrorist nation, namely Rome. Rome often killed those who opposed them as she had to keep total control. Jesus in fact was considered one of those troublemakers and his own religious leaders made sure that He was taken care of, not through beheading, but through the agony of crucification. Because of this I would think that it is important to look and see what he thought.


Jesus gave fair warning that there would be hard times. He stated firmly that people would even die at the hands of their enemies. He said to expect it.  So what should we do as Jesus followers if an enemy does find us? Here is what He said:

• Love your enemies.
• Pray for them.
• Bless your enemies.
• Meet your enemies' needs.
• Loan them anything that they need.
• Don't expect anything in return.
• Carry their belongings for them if so asked.
• Do more for them than what they asked for.
• If they hurt you, do not return the favor.
• Be a peacemaker.

Wow. Almost sounds like pacifism, but it's not. It's a radical way too bring your enemy over to your side without violence or destruction. For the individual Jesus follower this is a radical way to live one's life. Especially radical when one considers that if we were there right now, living and breathing in the midst of that terror, we are called on by Jesus to follow those teachings. He elsewhere says that after his death there would be many deaths of early followers. He never told them to stand and defend themselves by pushing violence of the enemy. He told them to run from city to city practicing these radical truths.


I have high praise for the organizations who are "fighting" ISIL right now, not with the violence of weapons, but by love and service. These organizations like Samaritan's Purse have people on the ground helping those who seeking to avoid being killed. God's love is being shown in a dark place. I have high praise for the two journalists who voluntarily went to the part of the world to serve and yet to then be beheaded. They put themselves in the midst of a grave position and they paid the ultimate sacrifice.


There are no easy answers to how our country should respond. I appreciate the fact that our President has taken a slow line in building a coalition and in thinking out a strategy. I pray for him and our leaders daily. I enjoyed listening to President Clinton 2 days ago as he spoke of countries building interdependence with each other as this would slowly force out the troublemakers without violence.  Do I believe that we should kill the enemy? No. I believe that we must continue to help those who want to find safety to do just that and there are many good people doing just that.


But for the gun carrying American Christian, I encourage you earnestly to look at the teachings of Jesus again. Consider your response to any enemies that you might have. Have you done anything good for that enemy lately? Have you loved on them, prayed for them, gone above and beyond to meet some need that they might have? How would you respond to an enemy who might threaten you? Hopefully not in the same way as a "Christian" family recently did in Alaska.


Yes, American Christianity disturbs me greatly. But again, I bring it back to myself. How have I responded to my enemies? I've had a number of them - some who have brutally attacked who I am. I know that I have not always responded well, but hopefully I will do better in the future as a result of today's spiritual musing.


Blessings,
David