Ray Boltz is gay
September 12th, 2008Christian recording artist Ray Boltz has come out of the closet.
45 Responses to “Ray Boltz is gay”
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Ouch, this one hurts. I like some of his songs. That really puts a damper on my day.
Very sad but it calls to mind Matthew 7:22-23:
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
Not everyone who claims the name of Christ, even those who seem to do great and marveolus things for Him are truly His.
I pray that the Lord will grant Ray Boltz repentance.
Boltz says, “If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be.”
As do many, he misses the point. With a fallen, sin nature, we are not “the way God made me.” None of us are. We can’t blame God for our sinful tendencies without denying our inherent sinfulness and depravity. This just highlights the consequences of weak theology.
Exactly, Cameron.
I doubt that Boltz would approve of someone who said, “God made me an ax murderer, so I’m going to live this way. It’s not like God made me this way and he’ll send me to hell if I am who he created me to be.”
But yet he tries to use the same logic to justify his own sin. Satan is truly a master deceiver.
Good points made.
Here is my reflection upon how we should listen to Boltz’s music in light of this revelation:
http://standingonshoulders.net/2008/09/13/children-watch-the-lamb-as-revealed-in-scripture/
There is absolutely no way we can change our sinful nature. We must surrender it so God can come in and fill us. Is it easy? Is it something that we naturally want to do? Is it something the world tells us is a possibility? NO!!!! But the truth is God is able to change us from the inside out! The proof is in the transformed lives we see around us (Acts 4:14). God is doing that for His Glory! Just look at Dennis Jernigan!
God is willing and able - and thank God that He is!!! There is no hope for us (or the church) if He is not stronger than the sin in our lives. The question is ‘are we willing and able’ to surrender ourselves to God? Let’s pray that Ray’s eyes will be opened to the truth. May we all pray to see our sin for what it is - and to see God for who He really is.
Oh, so now homosexuals are the equivalent of ax murderers?
I wonder if listening to Ray Boltz’s music, now that he’s come out, will make a person gay?
And why, oh, why, would Boltz’s announcement make anyone sad? Sounds to me as if they guy has finally found a bit of inner peace. I find it almost ludicrous that anyone on the outside, looking in and passing judgment on him, believes he or she has the right to feel anything.
Pray for him as your fellow Christian, and try not to act as if this somehow makes him less of a Christian.
Oh, so now homosexuals are the equivalent of ax murderers?
I said no such thing, Di, and you know that.
Would you approve of someone who said, “God made me an ax murderer, so I’m going to live this way”?
What about someone who said, “God made me an adulterer, so I’m going to live this way”?
Or even “God made me a glutton, so I’m going to live this way”?
Ray I’m praying for you that you get some help from Pure Passion Ministry. It helps people who are battling with this issue. Repent!!!!!!!!!!! While you still have a chances.
I’d throw the ax murderer in jail.
I’ve known plenty of adulterers; all I can do is aspire not to be like them.
I tend to think everyone’s a glutton, in his or her own way, about something. Might be money, might be power, might be food. Do I approve? I have my own gluttonous (sp?) wants (quiet time, alone or with my loved ones), so who am I to say what others can or cannot want, and to what extent? And if God says what others can or cannot want, then why would I think it’s up to me to enforce this rule?
Tim, you may not have said homosexuals are the equivalent of ax murderers, but — much like the “slavery for abortion” argument in another thread — by substituting the words “gay” and “ax murderer,” the implications are that the two are similar.
And for anyone who truly believes a consensual sexual act between two adults is the equivalent — theologically and/or in reality — as the willful, harmful killing of another human being … well, then, I can’t really think of any argument, logical or otherwise, that would make sense to you.
Yes, they’re similar in that each are sinful. But to suggest that I said that homosexuals are the equivalent of ax murders is a diversionary tactic designed to avoid the point being made.
That point being, Boltz is using an argument to justify his sin that he wouldn’t allow others to use to justify their sin. He wouldn’t agree with an ax murderer’s argument that “God made me this way, so that’s how I’m going to live.”
But yet he uses that exact same argument in his own circumstances because he desperately wants to justify his actions before a holy God who has declared those actions to be sinful.
We are sad for Boltz because scripture is clear that unrepentant homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 6:9)
If Boltz is truly “at peace” with his sin, that’s a clear sign he is unconverted since God allows none of His children to be at peace while in a state of rebellion against Him.
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away James 1:14
Ray bought the lie, he sold out. Sadly, he tried to go down swinging at God by saying ‘God made me this way’.
Interestingly enough, the Bible tells us that “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Suddenly, in this period of time when the world is in chaos, Christians are feeling no remorse or shame. They’re addicted to porn, they’re molesting kids, they’re cheating on their spouses, they’re sleeping with the same sex. Yet, scripture covered the subject of sexual immorality more than most topics of specific sin.
The falling away is happening before our eyes. May God drop us all to our knees in repentance.
This is why you should never put your trust in man! Look to God for the truth and God alone! If you can truthfully throw that stone in your hand at him because you are free of sin then throw it! Until you reflect on that only pray for him and show him the compassion that God would show. Yes, disappointed and totally shocked! If he was to point out my sin it would shock people too. We can get wrapped up in Satans lies that we become clouded to truth! Love and Prayers!!!!
I am looking at all the talk tonight and I cannot help but see that if God made him that way and it is OK that he indulge himself in this life style then why did God Judge the devil??? God must have made him that way too. So if he made the devil that way then God mus have made sin and if God made sin then sin must be OK. STOP the madness!! God did not make him that way… He gave into sin and now he is throwing away 33 years of work to lay with another man. God sad it is sin and God will judge. It is tru that God said for us not to Judge but he also said we cannot accept the sin. In Christ Love we are praying for Ray.
One of the things I find interesting in this is that Boltz supporters on other websites are praising him, speaking of his heroics, and celebrating his new inner peace. They don’t seem to mention God at all. Hmmm. Wonder why?
April: Love and prayers indeed. But if a brother/sister starts disseminating false information in regard to scripture, it is merely Christian duty to call them on it lest others believe in falsehoods.
God did not make Ray Boltz “gay”, because it would be going against his Word, his divine creation of male and female and his plans for them.
Sometime in his early years as a child, something must have gone terribly wrong.
Ray said he became a christian to deal with his feelings…this is not why someone becomes a christian. Maybe the lie he has been living is that he truly never confessed his sins and never truly surrended to Christ with ALL his heart, which we all must do. Jesus Christ gives us a new start with a renewed mind and a renewed life. I pray that Ray experiances true salvation.
Regarding homosexuality: We do not need any medical doctor or science to define or tell us that someone is born “gay” or cannot be born “gay”. All this is contrary to what God says. They are not the authority on this subject. God is.
In Genesis, from the beginning of man and woman’s creation, God says he made them male and female. He says he made “woman” for man, “but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him”. So God created Eve from Adam, then he brought Eve to Adam. And also in Genesis 2, God says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his WIFE, and they shall be one flesh. From the very beginning when God created man and woman, he declares his plan, his wisdom, his instruction. He said “she”, not “he” would be his helpmate. And he instructs them to multiply.
And when the flood came, he instructed Noah that what would enter the ark, would be two of every sort, male and female. These are God’s words…he has never differed from His Word.
And the account of David and Jonathan’s close relationship does not suggest or imply that God has altered or differed his plan, his divine order for man and woman. God brought Eve, a woman, (not a man) to Adam and he said man would cleave to his WIFE, (Genesis 2). David and Jonathan’s relationship, if it is seen as a “gay” relationship is not something that one can accept as God’s divine order. God gave his order in Genesis 2.
I am really not believing this. When I think of how many times I’ve seen him in concert, I think of my life and the many others’ he has influenced. What will they think of now? How will people react. I truly believe the devil is at work and people are so living through his ways, which is such a shame. I work for a company with many gay and lesbian employees, and I try my best to be the light and let God shine through me. It’s things like this that hurt the Christian belief and the faith in others. I know God is real, however, and I’m not backing down a bit. I do pray for his family and children. And this makes me just want to say to Ray, “How do you fake it so easily? How do you spend your days and nights professing the word of God in all you say and do, allowing others to believe the words sung and spoken from your mouth.” I don’t understand the posibility of anyone becoming gay. I do not see where the mental and social relationship can be achieved. This just makes my heart hurt.
Hey guys, I was sexually abused as a child and turned to that homosexual lifestyle for 7 years and heard about Jesus when I was still with my last girlfriend.
I got saved while being gay!!
Jesus gently knocked on my heart over and over, after I got saved, I heard pastors speak against it, the bible told me not to, but I knew I was in love…. but I had to get to the point that I was so confused that I threw the sin to God and said if this “love” was ok give it back and if not take it away!!
He changed my heart and along with the gift of forgiveness for the man who abused me.
No sin can be changed by yourself……if you think you can change it you are a fool! God must give us the desires of his heart.
We all fall short of the glory of God and are saved freely by Christ.
So LOVE your brother Ray, for all that look upon us Christians are wondering how we act!
Let the Lord work His love and kindness with Ray!
All of us have and are sinning everyday, so cast the first stone if you dare!
Love with conquer all!
I can’t believe this! Well yes I can because everyone believes they can live any ole way they want to and still get into Heaven. Boy R they going to have a rude awakeing on Judgement day!!! I am praying that he will truely get saved and not live this lifestyle anymore. He surely wasn’t born this way, beacuse we are born in the imagine of God and God wasn’t GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What I truly don’t understand is how so many people who claim to be Christians can question Ray Boltz’s Christianity.
We’re all sinners, right?
Is it just that the whole gay thing trumps almost all other sins? Or is it because so many people like(d) his music?
What I truly don’t understand is how so many people who claim to be Christians can question Ray Boltz’s Christianity.
When we embrace our sin over and above our obedience to Christ, then our Christianity should be questioned.
We cannot hold to Christ with one hand and hold to our sinful passions with the other and still be Christians according to the Bible. We must forsake the one and cling to the other.
Sin is always going to be a part of a Christian’s life. We will all struggle but sin will never be embraced by one who claims Christ as lord (this is a benefit to being part of a local body that is concerned with honoring the Lord by embracing the teachings of scripture and this includes discipline and accountability). If it is embraced, it is the duty of fellow believers, members of the local body, to confront, encourage and hopefully instruct according to scripture in such a way as to help the brother embracing sin to be restored.
Christianity is not a private affair. It is corporate and as such we have a responsibility to the health of the church, to our individual members, and to ourselves to fight for holiness. If one decides to embrace sin and run after the lusts of his own heart, then after much confronting, encouraging and walking alongside of that person, he must be let go in hopes that he will see the error of his ways and repent into the arms of a loving God who wants for none to perish.
I hope that makes sense Di. I would be glad to talk about it more with you if you want.
j razz
I don’t see anybody beating Ray up for coming out. What you see are people saying “HUH”? how can you say if God made you like that…I’m sure you’ve read the Bible, ray.
And remember, a lot of ‘gay’s that post on these boards were gay before Christ, after Christ enters their life He begins to mold and transform people by the renewing of their minds.
Ray’s gone backwards. Yes, love the man, but be saddened that he quit the race. Can he bounce back, absolutely. Until then, its wrong for a “Christian” to publically boast about how much better he feels living in rebellion (not according to me but God’s Word ) and how happy he is having left his wife and children to date men.
Look at the whole picture instead of assuming he’s being abused.
The Bible gives very harsh warning about it, if you really care about the guy, quit cuddling him for making a lifestyle of doing wrong.
Some of it makes sense … to a degree.
I have always believed that being a Christian is very much about a person’s one-on-one relationship with God (and Jesus Christ, of course), so it must be “a private affair” to some extent.
Is it right for a fellow Christian to question that? I mean, how can anyone really know the extent of another person’s faithfulness to/belief in God? By what that person tells you?
More later, perhaps, but right now, I’ve got to go play tennis!
Even the demons believe in God. As for being faithful, shouldn’t that be ascribed to those who cling to the truth of the Word? Seems Ray Boltz is making his own rules as he goes along.
I am just very thankful that God give us grace and that my forgiveness and understanding comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and not humans.
We can not fathom the love Jesus had for his son Ray and will God will work with him lovingly like He did me & welcome him home like the prodigal son.
Continue to pray for all believers, and the ones on the front lines…Pastors, Singers, Teachers, etc. the ones being vocal about Christ are attacked by Satan more than the quiets ones. But in the end Satan loses……and Jesus wins.
Praise the Lord!
“I am just very thankful that God give us grace and that my forgiveness and understanding comes from the Lord Jesus Christ and not humans. … We can not fathom the love Jesus had for his son Ray and will God will work with him lovingly like He did me & welcome him home like the prodigal son.” — Aimerface
Good points … but when you say “the love Jesus had for his son Ray,” is there an implication that He loves Ray less now because he’s gay?
As for Zoner’s point that Ray is “making his own rules as he goes along”: Who knows? I don’t really know anything about Ray Boltz — in fact, I’ve never heard any of his music — but my initial reaction to the big news was that he doesn’t owe anyone an explanation, and he certainly was not obligated to come out. Who knows why he chose this point in time to do so?
Personally, I’m glad he has come to terms with his sexuality. I’m not sure how much of a sin “lying” is, but if sin is sin, then is it any better for him to spend most of his life lying to himself and everyone else about being gay, than it is to actually BE gay? I can’t imagine — or, as he put it, “I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.”
It is true that sin is sin, but as for the lying to himself and others about being gay-in my opinion-a person is not gay until they act on the tendency. If he felt the desire for this kind of lifestyle, as a Christian, it was his duty to deny himself this sin. We make choices in life. Christ Himself was faced with every sin known to man, but He never gave in to any of them. He set the example. People are afflicted with many sinful desires, and it is our duty and responsibilty to deny ourselves these. I may feel the desire to steal, but I must deny myself this desire. It is simply wrong.
As a huge Ray Boltz fan I do feel severely disappointed and will not be able to listen to his music the same again.
Di,
Thanks for that need for correction, I should of said “HAS”
Christianity is not a private affair. It is corporate and as such we have a responsibility to the health of the church, to our individual members, and to ourselves to fight for holiness.
I have always believed that being a Christian is very much about a person’s one-on-one relationship with God (and Jesus Christ, of course), so it must be “a private affair” to some extent.
Di, I know of no where in scripture where our faith is ever said to be private. In fact, one day, even all of what we do in private will be shouted from the rooftops. Contextually, this is concerning sin. And of course, prayer can be a private thing, but the Christian life and living out the faith while pursuing sanctification is never private. At times it is manifest as personal, but never private. Even when personal, it is always in the larger context of the corporate body. Without the church (your local body of believers), “your” Christianity is severely crippled.
So personal, yes but always in context of the corporate body. Private, no.
I think this is where the American mindset of the supremacy of individuality has done great harm to our understanding of the Christian life and Church itself.
j razz
Who is Ray Boltz?
Well, that makes sense.
A person’s relationship with God is personal; what a person does in his or her bedroom is private.
One question, though, j razz: You say that you “know of no where in scripture where our faith is ever said to be private.” Are you saying this means that it can’t be private unless there is scripture specifically saying it is? And if that’s the case, what about all the random topics for which no scripture exists?
Aimerface: Thanks for clarifying!
Beyond that, I don’t personally know anyone who is gay who actually “chose” their sexuality and/or their so-called lifestyle — and I still consider “lifestyle” a misnomer, but I suppose that’s neither here nor there.
Di, we’ve ALL spent time lying to ourselves about sin in our lives. It’s what we do when we choose sin and self over God and His word. We rationalize it. That is human nature.
But thankfully God is kind and patient with us or we’d have no life or hope at all.
Who is healing people from the homosexual lifestyle? God is! Only God can transform us from the inside out.
And because of what we read in scripture about God not being double minded (and also that He doesn’t change), we know that if He heals one person, it is an example of His nature, and it is done for a reason. The reason is that God is working good against evil. He’s touching hearts and transforming people for His glory!
Either God is delivering people from the homosexual lifestyle or He isn’t. He’s not going to be delivering some and then blessing others in the same lifestyle that He just delivered someone from. We see the deliverance in others and rejoice knowing that God can do that in the lives of others too! I believe that’s why some have said that Ray seems to be giving up the fight - at least right now. There has to be a desire to be delivered and a belief that God can do it … or nothing will change.
That’s why it’s so important for us to know the truth and to declare it so people will know that they need healing! Spiritual healing is available today - and it’s the Enemy’s goal to keep people from it! What better way than to get us confused about what sin is - and in the process we are confused about Who God is and what He is doing.
Are you saying this means that it can’t be private unless there is scripture specifically saying it is?
I think if one was to say that “their” faith is private, they have to excuse the world-view of scripture that pushes a corporate mentality. If it is said to be private, we have to excuse every passage that promotes such a view as I Corinthians 12 does.
Now, if scripture was silent on this issue, I can see how we could make our own decision concerning the matter. But in this case, scripture is not silent. It is pretty clear that Christianity is a corporate faith that involves much more than the individual- it involves the Church with Christ as her head.
j razz
Ok, I used to listen to ray boltz, dc talk, steven curtus chapman and other christian artists…. I KNOW FOR A FACT that each one of them have sinned in the eyes of God. How can we say we still can’t listen to Ray Boltz anymore. Are you saying that you are perfect? God specifically talks about this when he says in Matthew 7:3-5, “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.” If anything, we need to listen to his music more because God is the only one that is going to be glorified in this circumstance!
I would say that the difference between a sinning Christian and a sinner is that the Christian who sins knows it and wants forgiveness and ask for it. The sinner refuses to accept his or her sin as sin and tries to reason it away. Let’s pray that Ray’s eyes will be opened. and that he sees his sin as sin.
I heard this week about Ray Boltz. Years a go I was working with a national youth organization and Ray did a FREE concert.
I am sadto hear how confussed as he become. When you become a Christian there is only one guide for truth….. The Bible…
It is very clear when it comes to a homosexual relationship…
Leviticus 18:22
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.
Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
Interestingly enough, the word “abomination” is only used twice in all of the Levitical code, both times referring to homosexual sex. The word translated “abomination” comes from a Hebrew word meaning “an abhorrence” or “disgusting” and can also refer to idolatry. Much later in the Bible, as we will see in a bit, the Apostle Paul very much links homosexuality with worshiping the creature rather than the Creator.
1 Corinthians 6:9–10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
The New Testament is also clear:
Romans 1:26–28
27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
We can not be angry at each other. It is God’s rule and WORD thatsets the scale and must live according to it…
I pray that Ray will once again live the TRUTH of God’s Word!
I believe that it happened for a reason. All we need to do right now as a Christian is to pray for him. I want to share to you this video:
http://jephoyz.multiply.com/video/item/2/Duty_Wherever_You_Go
God bless us all… Hebrews 10:35-36
All these great passages, but let me ask you this:
What about women who are gay? Not sure I’ve ever seen scripture that refers specifically to someone being a lesbian — so, it’s OK, right?
I agree with PBS: Why would anyone be angry with Ray Boltz (or each other) over this?
If I were gay, I might be angry at Ray Boltz over making millions of dollars pretending to be the perfect straight white male Christian and then, years later, coming out as the obviously fallen gay white male Christian.
But then again, I probably wouldn’t be angry at all.
Live and let live.
What about women who are gay? Not sure I’ve ever seen scripture that refers specifically to someone being a lesbian — so, it’s OK, right?
Di, you’re just being funny right?
j razz
Sort of, but not really.
There is a real double standard among the so-called Christian community today. Many who are guilty of adultery, fornication, and other sins like hatred and evil speaking are very quick to condemn gays and lesbians. We all need to pray for those who claim to be Christians and continue to sin willfully. The bottom line is Jesus’ own words “If you love me, keep my commandments.” If we fail to do so, we prove that we love ourselves more than Him. I have been repenting today for saying hurtful things to people. Without true repentance and holiness, none of us will see God.
Ray Boltz??? Hmmmm . . . it’s too bad he insists on justifying his sin, when confession and repentance will bring grace & forgiveness.
I have never really been into his music, although “Thank You” has been run into the ground at every volunteer appreciation program ever made.
This just demonstrates that the people we so often set up as ‘heroes’ are still only human and they have choices to make that affect not only themselves but also those around us . . .
Cindy,
I am not condeming gays and lesbians. They get the attention because they are “open” about their activity which the Bible states is sin.
Would I be considered judgmental if I passed a house on fire in the middle of the night and I had the nerve to stop my car, run up and bang on the side of the house, yell to the top of my lungs “wake up your house is on fire”. The people inside must be awaken from their sleep. Who cares if they get mad? Maybe I should just mind my own business. Let the people enjoy their sleep. After all, my house was once on fire. Fires still happen in my house from time to time. Who am I to judge? How would you view me if I let my neighbors burn to death without at least trying to wake them? After all, my house is not perfect.
If I know (the key word here is KNOW) that someone is engaged in sin it is my responsibility to warn them that “their house is on fire”.
Ray! Wake up! Your house is on fire!
KNOWING that your house is on fire, I can not simply mind my own business. Don’t listen to Satan’s Prophets. Its not OK. Its not “who you are” Its not who God made you. It is sin. Don’t go back to sleep.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
Technically, doctors hurt people when they CUT them open to remove cancer.
Time to shut this one down, as there’s not much left to be said, and all I seem to be getting are drive-by comments.
There’s really only one perspective here that’s faithful to the Scriptures — and Larry and Nephos nailed it in the second and third comments on this thread. As believers, we should remember to pray for Boltz and ask that God would grant him repentance unto salvation.
Thanks to all for the comments, including those of you who came through a search engine.