CCM "artist Ray Boltz comes out as homosexual - For 2011 updates on Ray Boltz see this post: http://thefullcourt.blogspot.com/2011/02/update-on-ray-boltz-comes-out-as-gay.html
Gospel singer Ray Boltz - who has sold about 4.5 million LPs, cassettes and CDs - has come out of the closet publicly in an interview with Washington Blade.
The formerly married singer, who has four children, came out to his family and friends several years ago. While sitting around the kitchen table at his daughter's house in December 2004 - the same day as the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean - Boltz's son, Philip, asked him what was wrong.
"I thought, 'Well, I can just do what I always do and hide the truth or I can take a risk and be honest,'" Boltz says. "That day, with the tsunami, has become very symbolic in our family."
Nobody was sure, at the time, what the ramifications of the revelation would be, least of all Ray.
"It's hard to say I came out because I didn't have all the answers. I just admitted what I was struggling with and what I was feeling. It's hard to go, 'This is the point where I accepted my sexuality and who I was,' but I came out to them and shared with them what I'd been going through."
Continuing to pretend, Boltz says, was no longer an option.
"I'd denied it ever since I was a kid. I became a Christian, I thought that was the way to deal with this and I prayed hard and tried for 30-some years and then at the end, I was just going, 'I'm still gay. I know I am.' And I just got to the place where I couldn't take it anymore … when I was going through all this darkness, I thought, 'Just end this.'"
His family's reaction took time.
"I don't want to downplay it like it was just, 'Oh, well that's OK.' It was a very tough time for them too, but the bottom line was they loved me and they still love me … it's been an amazing journey of acceptance on their part … I was offered support and love from each member of my family, including my wife."
You Christians... you think you're so superior to everyone else. And you always will, despite the evidence, because that, above ALL else, is what Christianity is all about: training people to ignore the evidence of their own eyes and ears.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm sure now there'll be mass burnings of his work... since, after all, that would be the "Christian" thing to do, right?
ReplyDeleteFWIW, hurray for Ray for finally accepting himself as God created him. IMHO, it doesnt diminish one whit his singular talent *or* his faith.
Holy roller has a new meaning, eh?
ReplyDeleteWe love you Carl!
ReplyDeleteanonymous from 12.9.08 writes that Christians think their superior to everyone else. I find it ironic that he/she then goes on to insult and demean Christians as ignorant towards "the evidence of their own eyes and ears." How is that not acting superior on anonymous' part? That superiority label is staring you in the face every time you look in the mirror anonymous!
ReplyDeleteChristians dont think we are superior to anyone! we just know the truth, and the bible says that the truth will set you free! It breaks my heart to hear this about Ray Boltz...i'm not going to burn my music i have of him...and what's this about ignoring evidence? What evidence are you talking about? The fact that Jesus rose from the dead and is alive and no one can prove that wrong b/c there is an empty tomb? Or the evidence that God is real and everything around us proves that fact? Oh...and God did NOT create Ray to be a homosexual. Homosexuality is a SIN in God's eyes. Romans 1:27 among other scriptures shows this.
ReplyDeleteAll of you who left comments should get the facts about Christianity and come to accurate conclusions. The Bible condemns sin, not the sinner. Jesus' blood cleanses and frees us from ALL sin! God loves sinners...we are all sinners, but he doesn't accept sin; that is why he came to earth and died for us. Homosexuality is a sin...to accept it as something "normal" or that "God created" would be to go against the principles established in the word of God...Ray Boltz should know that.
ReplyDeleteAll of you who left comments should get the facts about Christianity and come to accurate conclusions. The Bible condemns sin, not the sinner. Jesus' blood cleanses and frees us from ALL sin! God loves sinners...we are all sinners, but he doesn't accept sin; that is why he came to earth and died for us. Homosexuality is a sin...to accept it as something "normal" or that "God created" would be to go against the principles established in the word of God...Ray Boltz should know that.
ReplyDeleteFor years I have struggled with my temper, but God did not create me to be an angry man. God did not create King David to be an adulterer either. His desire for another man's wife was a result of sin which entered the world through Adam.
ReplyDeleteThe first sin was disobedience of God; the second was to justify giving in to it. We will grow weary in the battle against sin, but we should not give up.
The premise that God created me angry, King David horny, and Ray Boltz gay is clearly false. The idea that homosexual behavior is not in the same category with these other sins is unBiblical.
I sincerely hope Ray is receiving counseling from a qualified "Christian" counselor. God only knows if he has engaged in an immoral relationship with another man, but if he has he should know God's forgiveness is deeper than any ocean. The Bible says God forgiveness is as far as the east is from the west. Ray needs to repent and recant his proclaimation and show to the world that Satan's deception doesn't spare anyone.
ReplyDeleteI will pray that BOLTZ comes to the Lord and is one day truly saved, but for now it is apparent by his choice to continue to publicly disavow the Lordship of Christ in his life by choosing to disobey the Lord and act like all is okay that he is not and never was a Christian. I will love Ray BOLTZ and pray that the Lord save him one day. That is true love, seeking what is best for someone, not pretending that no matter what you do everything is okay.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a tragedy. Ray Boltz shouls know better. How can you live as a Christian for over 30 years and not know homosexuality is a sin. He is giving into the "flesh of this world" not to what God said. He is listening to others, not to God. I feel so sorry for his wife and kids. If Ray has truly felt this way all of these years, I find it difficult to believe that he ever was really a Chrisitian. It sounds like he used the name "Christian" to hide from what he knew was wrong all along. I will pray for his salvation. Apparently, he needs to get right with God.
ReplyDeleteConcerened in Florida
I commend Ray on his courage to stand up for who he is & who he believes in. As a Christian scholar myself, I know there are only 6 scriptures used to condemn homosexuality in the Bible and it speaks to some very specific situations. When taken out of context, as we so often do, to condemn others. Yet, we try to overlook the hundreds of scriptures that would condemn our own behavior. Who are we to judge another? Only God is worthy of that honor. As Christians, we are to love the sinner, but hate the sin. WE ALL SIN DAILY! How can we preach love when we have so much hatred for others???
ReplyDeleteTo quote scripture: Matthew 7:3-5 (New International Version)
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
So basically, make sure your blameless of anything before you start pointing out others faults. I don't know anyone who can do that!
Hutch, you speak with such...I do not know the words to describe your zealousness. You sound as if you truly know the Lord Jesus Christ personally. It sounds as if you have a deep relationship with Him. You probably spend 5 or 6 hours a day on your face before your Savior, Lord, King and friend. Nah, it is probably 10 to 12 hours. I know your devotedness. In those other 12 to 14 hours that you are not on your face before an ALL MIGHTY God you probably stuff your face and are extremely overweight. So, I submit to you that you are not TRULY saved. I will be praying that you will be TRULY saved by an ALL MIGHTY God. By the way, until you get down to the weight you should be at you can not be truly saved because gluttony is a sin. You must not really love the one that you spend so much of your life with.
ReplyDeleteOh well, if it is good for the goose it is good for the gander. Enjoy your meal tonight Hutch and know that God IS All Mighty and He does love you and He is willing to forgive you for YOUR sin as well as the rest of us. Just think before you judge and pray before you speak.
By the way my name is Todd Moody.
I would hesitate to say that the man who wrote such powerful songs as Feel the Nails and Watch the Lamb was lost. However, I do know that "Who the Lord loves He chastens." God is your JUDGE Ray. Not I. I am sorry to see that you have chosen to commit this sin and to live in it. When we are saved our old nature and old habits try very hard to re-surface. But when We are saved God has given us a WAY to escape and that WAY is HIS Son, Jesus Christ. God does not condemn Sodom and Gommorah for homosexuality and then DECIDE it's ok for the 20th and 21st centuries. My GOD is the same yesterday today and forever. THANK YOU JESUS FOR LOVING ME INSPITE OF ME. A loving, perfect and JUST God does not create people to sin. That is alie strait from the pit of HELL. I do know that God is merciful and His mercy edures forever. That is what makes God's gift of Salvation so wonderful. When God says it, it is.
ReplyDeleteI love you and I will pray that GOD will break your heart just as He did David's. PSALM 51:4
If Ray Boltz really loves God, he would not do this. He would never want to break God's heart like this, if he truly loves our God Almighty. This really breaks my heart. He is listening to all the wrong people. He is listening the the WORLD, not GOD. Whether he is saved or not confuses me. How could he do this if he was saved, and how could he write all those amazing songs if he is not saved? I am praying for his recovery from homosexuality. If he allows God to really work in his life, he can be healed from this. I am praying for him, but I am very sad.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say that "we Christians think that we are so superior" that's making you sound like you think that you are. I don't think tha I'm superior to anyone. I think that it's sad that he would think that he had to live his life as a lie, but I also think that it's sad that a church would condone living in this lifestype. The Bible says that it's wrong. I don't think that someone can chose their preference, but people can choose their lifestype.
ReplyDeleteI know Ray Boltz knows his bible. I wonder if it bothers him at all how pleased Satan is with all this. After watching "The Passsion" and seeing what our Lord and Saviour went through I am filled with the desire to not let Satan be the victor. Must not have affected him the same way. It's beyond sad. It's grief! Gee, thanks Ray!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sadded by the news that Ray Boltz has decided to be homosexual. It is a SIN just as sex outside of marriage is SIN. Interesting that His Child 13 used Matthew 7:3-5 about not judging when verses 1 and 2 set up the context of the passage. Quoting Matthew 7:1-2 (NASB) "1 Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you."
ReplyDeleteThis means we need to be very careful when we condemn someone. Because we need to have our own life in order.
Fine. However, Matthew 18:15-17 talks about what Christians are to do with other Christians and I quote from the NASB;
"15 If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. 16 But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
So when someone is a Christian (or claims to be a Christian) sins then they need to be confronted about it. Since it has gotten out into the media at large and we are discussing it here, it would seem to me that Ray Boltz has chosen to ignore the church. So be it.
Oh and as a bonus look up Romans 1:18-32 to see what God says about Homosexuality in the New Testament.
It seems that people have a lot to say when they use "anonymous" to hide behind. Yes, we all sin but if we call ourselves a Christian we must not live a sinful life style. No one is pointing a finger at Ray Boltz, he did that himself when he said that he was a homosexual and apparently living that life style. As Christians we must die to the sin life style if we are to be alive in God.The wonderful grace of Jesus does not free us to sin. It obligates us to live for God and enables us to live free from sin. Romans 6
ReplyDeleteNot to give away my age, but I have been a huge Ray Boltz fan for as long as I can remember. I am verry sad about the fact that he has come out of the closet. As a firm beliver I must say the Bible sayes that you will be judged by the came standered that you hold others to. If a cristian wishes to judge someone, they can, but they must know thet they too must be judged by the one who realy counts someday. As for Ray Boltz, I could not be more heartbroken that one of the most insperational people in my life is gay, but that is his sin to struggle with and I pray that he will get through it!
ReplyDeletea line from one of ray boltz songs says... "family is fine and there's
ReplyDeletea time you need them, but sure enough there is a time to leave them"
one word.... Pathetic!
Who are you pledging allegiance to now ray?
unbelievable
ReplyDeleteI wish Ray would read some Christian books on the reasons for same-sex attraction (Joe Dallas and Russell Willingham have written good ones) and go to a counselor to help him work through this issue. Same-sex attraction has very logical causes. Once you understand them and work through the underlying needs you can understand that no one is created a homosexual. Because of the various emotional and sexual abuses that often come in childhood our sexuality can be influenced either toward heterosexuality or homosexuality. That means that sin in the world pushes one toward homosexuality, not God. But, just like God can help us overcome any other sin or sinful tendency, he can help us overcome a disposition toward homosexuality. It's a struggle and most people need the help of someone to come along side them to do it, but with God's grace working in our lives, it can be done. I know from experience.
ReplyDeleteI wish Ray would read some Christian books on the reasons for same-sex attraction (Joe Dallas and Russell Willingham have written good ones) and go to a counselor to help him work through this issue. Same-sex attraction has very logical causes. Once you understand them and work through the underlying needs you can understand that no one is created a homosexual. Because of the various emotional and sexual abuses that often come in childhood our sexuality can be influenced either toward heterosexuality or homosexuality. That means that sin in the world pushes one toward homosexuality, not God. But, just like God can help us overcome any other sin or sinful tendency, he can help us overcome a disposition toward homosexuality. It's a struggle and most people need the help of someone to come along side them to do it, but with God's grace working in our lives, it can be done. I know from experience.
ReplyDeleteI have to reply to all of the statements about the burnings of his work, and how Christians should respond to this. Yes, Christianity is about love, but not always about acceptance. We are instructed to love the sinner but hate the sin, just as Jesus does. Regardless of Ray's sin, Jesus still loves him. But, the bible is clear that homosexuality (also called sexual immorality) is WRONG. The bible also states that there will be no sexual offenders within the kingdom of heaven. Does this mean that if you had sex before marriage or participated in gross acts with a prostitute you will not be able to go to heaven? Absolutely not! But, if you choose to live within this lifestyle and make it common practice, then no, I don't see it being a possibility. God did not make Ray a homosexual. Ray chose that lifestyle, just as he chose to marry his wife and chose to have kids. He chose to be gay, just as the drunkard chooses to drink.
ReplyDeleteFirst off I'm a Christian. I don't condone homosexuality. I love them but I don't think it's right. Sure there are a lot of other sins. It's just hard to believe that a man who could write such lyrics knowing they are anointed and God given could be gay. I love Ray Boltz and always will. It's just a little too weird for me though...
ReplyDeleteThis is not about Ray Boltz or your perception of Christianity. This boils down to what is your final authority ? If it is emotionalism, political correctness or popular opinion then say so. If your final authority is the written word of God, believing that God is big enough to protect the truth so it trickles down through time in a document called the Bible then simply state this is the Bible's opinion. If you believe the Bible there is no need to argue it. Simply remind us what it says. If we believe the Bible we will submit and if we do not believe the Bible then what you say does not matter anyway. Never argue truth.
ReplyDeleteThose who believe that God protects written truth will align themselves with that truth. Those who do not will align their selves with what they consider to be the final authority and we will all find out in the end who is right and who is wrong.
I would not argue with a drunk about the morality of standing on a train track. He would think I am mad at him for standing on the tracks or for being a drunk. Neither is true.
I point out the fact that a train is coming and beg him to move. His decision will either benefit him or pain him. We have come to late to argue truth. So, What is your final authority ? Nate
Nate, you ought to tackle that drunk on the train track and save his life. You can argue about it later.
ReplyDelete