from Christianitytoday.com:
Ray Boltz, who sold about 4.5 million records before retiring from Christian music a few years ago, came out of the closet Friday to announce that he’s gay.
In an interview with the gay magazine The Washington Blade, Boltz said he came out to his family and some close friends in December 2004, but only now decided to go public with the news.
“I’d denied it ever since I was a kid,” Boltz, 55, told the magazine. “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.’”
One reason Boltz decided to come out now might be because he’s performing Sunday at Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, and then next Sunday, Sept. 21, at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. Both congregations are a part of a denomination that embraces the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community.
Boltz is perhaps best known for his song “Thank You,” about a dream in which a Christian thanks the Sunday school teacher who led him to Jesus. It was the GMA song of the year in 1990. Other Boltz hits include “Watch the Lamb,” “The Anchor Holds,” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.”Boltz also told The Blade that he doesn’t want to get into debates about Scripture and has no plans to “go into First Baptist or an Assembly of God church and run in there and say, ‘I’m gay and you need to love me anyway.’”
For him, the decision to come out is much more personal.
“This is what it really comes down to,” he 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 … I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.”
Earlier, Boltz had alluded to the issue on his official website, saying that if people “knew who I really was, I would never be accepted.”
I would love to hear your opinions about this. What should our attitude as the Church be toward this?
Hanxter.com: Rants and musings 
Today is the first I’ve learned about this — and I’m saddened by it. Boltz has been an inspiration for my whole family.
What’s unfortunate here is that it is a sin that Boltz can’t seem to let go of — and has stopped trying to. We are all born sinners — all with things that tempt us more than others around us. For some of us, it’s food. For others, it’s pornography, or drug addiction. But all of these things — homosexuality included — aren’t “the way we’re made.” They’re obstacles to overcome through the strength of the Spirit.
I too am very saddened by this. I have had some trials in my life, but for me to go in front of comgress and to say that “God made me an ‘illigal street racer’ so I have to do this and cannot change” or to preach in front of churches that I was made like this will not fly. It is something that I have to fight on occasion, the temptation to race the next Mustang or Camaro that pulls up to the stoplight next to me. But is it not that a temptation? At least for me it is. What about when I see a blonde with the runway model looks and she starts casually talking to me when my wife is at home? Is that not a temptation too? How is this any different than when certain men find the desire for others? I have no problem with alcohol, but we know all too well that is a temptation for many. God did not make us sinners. God ALLOWED Adam to choose, and Adam chose to sin. THEN Adam had children who were sinners. We are all sinners, but as Jesus told the woman who was accused, “Go, and sin no more”.
Satan brings another brother down. I am deeply saddened for your dear family. You are wrong. God did not “make you that way”. That is a lie from the pit of hell and you know it. You have selfishly chosen this lifestyle and ditched your wife and 4 children, not to mention the name of our Lord and Savior, in the process.
I thought these were just rumors, and it breaks my heart to know that it is true. I believe that as the church, we must hold to the word of God, and it states that homosexuality is a sin. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I once heard a preacher say that one of the reasons that Sodom and Gommorah was destroyed, in Genesis, isn’t just because of the homosexuality, but because God’s children tolerated it. Does that mean we don’t love? Absolutely not. We still love and pray for those who have fallen to this lie and deception of the enemy, but we MUST continue to hate the sin. God certainly does. I feel, personally, that the enemy must have fought him his whole life with this issue, and finally he gave into the deception. Just as the two guys before me have said we are all tempted with things… the enemy will fight us, but it’s up to us to stand strong in the spirit, and as James put it in the word :Draw near to God, resist the devil, and he WILL flee.
Hi,
This really saddens me, about Ray Bolz coming out a ‘gay.’ It is hard for me to believe, that someone who has lived in the Christian community for so long (he is as old I am!), has decided to embrace sin. I will pray for him, that he will realize what is really going on in his life. We all are tempted to yield to sin, it is our choice as to whether or not we yield to it…………..the difficult part is the fact that he is in public view for others to be led, in my opinion astray.
Interesting he says, “Boltz also told The Blade that he doesn’t want to get into debates about Scripture ”
Of course not. He knows that scripture condemns it and him.
I find it interesting that those who follow after the “way of sin” or “the course (i.e. college course, become disciples of) of this world”, claim “enlightenment”. We know that Satan appears as “an angel of light”.
It is only after they claim this “enlightenment” that they start skewing scripture. Claiming that David and Johnathan were gay, Paul was gay, etc.
Actually, it is a free will decision to selfishness, then God gives them over to reprobate mind. They justify their sin. I have to think Hebrews 6:
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them ° by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
As someone else said, “God made man perfect, but with free will, Adam chose to sin” it was not God that made Ray Boltz sin, it was Ray Boltz.
I find it interesting that those who are “gay” never seem to get that God stated sex was only for marriage, “male and female, the man is to leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife”, any other sex is fornication, adultery is fornication.
He has made his choice.
God bless you Brother Ray Boltz! I mean, God is still struggling with your problem brother. He wants to change you for good, to change us. In order for Jesus to come at last. To gather His changed children. to give us life. To give you life. The TRUTH of LIFE. Do not be fooled by evil, brother…
God bless you Ray Boltz and it matters not to me.God loves you just the way you are,he made you that way.
i dont think ill of it. It’s his choice and it’s a good thing that he finally came out. He shouldn’t hide nor should he be ashamed of it. Good for him!
It is very sad that someone like brother Ray, who has inspired so many lives into a more intimate relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, should be deceived by the lies of the enemy. But it should also be no surprise that things like this are happening among the faithful, we have been warned such things will come to pass.
2 Tim 3:1-9
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”
We must pray for brother Ray’s return to the fold and for our heavenly Father’s mercy on his soul.
With all the love that Christ commands,
YbiC – Jon Henry
I believe the Biblical teaching is clear. You asked what our attitude should be.
For my response to the announcement, see:
Ray Boltz announces he’s gay
The Christian World seems to be hit by this kind of news everyday at the moment. First, Todd Bentley, then Michael Guglielmucci and now this.
We need to pray for them and for ourselves, that as we so easily over-focus on other people’s sins which become public knowledge, we don’t forget that all sin is sin in God’s eyes, and that we will one day have to give account of the things we did and not what someone else did. In other words, let us focus all our energy in growing our own character and in praying for this people and ourselves. Judgement belongs to God.
http://www.ransom33.wordpress.com
Ray Boltz is still the same AMAZING artist. People should stop being critical of him. I give Ray credit for standing up for what he believes in and being honest about it. God made all of use unique in our own way – accept it and move on.
no, God did not “make you that way”. That’s as lame as saying God made Jeffery Dahmer a cannibal, so why should he battle his desire? We live in a fallen world where we each have to battle every single day to stay faithful. And often we fail. But if we allow failure to overtake us, we will never be able to access the power that God gives us to live our lives in victory.
The problem as I see it is, believing the enemy. Believing the lies that the devil offers. And by NOT believing God when He says that we can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me.
Speaking from experience, after 30 years of drug addiction, you can only overcome the enemy when you believe God. And when you refuse to believe the lies of Satan, such as, “God made you that way”.
We are all tempted by sin. We all have our own struggles. Victory and true, pure joy comes when we live THROUGH THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST, and overcome the temptations that beset us.
I’m so sorry to hear of anyone who gives in and gives up. They live in defeat. We MUST pray for people like this, and for the Church of Jesus Christ, to live in victory. How can we be a witness to a lost and dying world if we too are lost and dying???
So we’re now comparing a devoted christian and gay man to a cannibal? A drug addict? What has he done wrong other than admit a truth that you find disagreeable?
Jeffrey Dahmer? Really? Incredible.
well i was shocked when i got this mail from one of my friends you know christianity and salvation is real and it is so hard to believe that ray was playing with peoples lives he has wrote some beautiful songs and i have heared his testimonies and it is so unbelievable that a man like this could be so decieving now when people give their lives to christ they are born again and we are sure not born to be homosexal or some people put it gay but gay was a word that was put in this catogory it does not mean that people took that word and made it dirty it means A HAPPY PERSON
but ray i will pray for you but you have really disappointed a lot of people how can people claim to be children of god which i know people can fall but you claim you was this way the whole time i would not try to sing to people if i was not living the life SHAME SHAME ON YOU RAY BOLTZ for being something that you never was only thing i can say is i am going to pray for you
bro KENNY HOWARD FROM BARBOURVILLE KY 40906
I can’t believe this!!! I want a FULL refund on ALL the cd’s and accompaniment tracks I’ve bought.
Ray Boltz Cd- $15
Accompaniment Track- $5
Ray Boltz Being Gay- NASTY
Praise God for Ray’s freedom! He’s finally let God give him the freedom to be who he is. Being gay and a Christian is not easy in this world, especially if you’re part of the Christian music “establishment”. Go Ray! is all I got to say.
Ray Boltz is one of the best agents Satan has ever had. Here is a man who received millions of dollars from unsuspecting listeners, a great many of whom were real Christians. Now, Satan has inspired him (Boltz) to come out of the closet. And this is a CRITICAL time for Satan. He is NOW like a roaring lion, using every possible avenue to ‘devour’ the non-believers, and any fallen believers.
Christians: Get ready, get ready, get ready!
The result of the actions of this Satanic agent is that young people are beginning to experiment with homosexuality, why, because they broke a commandment of God by placing a human in so high esteem that they actually worshiping him. Which God clearly forbids anyone to do. And, the results we are now seeing demonstrates why God is allowing this present world to SELF DESTRUCT.
There is very little time to get our spiritual lives in order. The end is very near. The signs that Jesus presented are on the horizon. Millions will discover, too late, that they were living for Satan instead of for God.
Praise Jesus
Thank you, Ray, for living in the truth. There are many lives that will be changed!
It’s very hard to be gay and Christian. I’ve quit going to church because I can no longer take the guilt fest of traditional religion. It’s good that he is still performing his ministry praising God through his music. At least he didn’t throw up his hands and quit on God like I did.
I suppose some sins are more difficult to overcome than others, and homosexuality is probably one of the toughest. It is your sexual identity, the way you see yourself.
I don’t think I can judge Ray for this. I just hope that God will convict him of this sin and help him to change. Condoning sin, denying that it is sin, is extremely dangerous. The Bible is clear on this one.
Let’s hope Ray will be able to put God back above the idol of homosexuality.
I must admit that I, too, am deeply saddened by all those who respond to this in a way that still leaves so many gays on the outside looking in. I am quite aware that the OT says that homosexuals should be stoned to death, but then, adulterers were supposed to get the same treatment as well as disobedient children. When you are willing to live in that atmosphere of complete “neighbor watching”, let God know, I am sure Hashem will be terribly saddened to count you among those whose own sins are not forgiven, since you could not forgive your brother’s. And how many times did Y’shua say we were to forgive another’s sins? Seven times seventy? That’s 490 times. Dang, and the implication was more than that. That’s a lot of forgiving. Well, I guess the Christians of today just don’t have it in them. I am sorry to hear that!
Su
According to the Word of God, there is not one sin that is worse than any other. And so, sin is sin, whether it is harboring anger, lying, unforgiveness, homosexuality, murder, idol worship, the Bible lists many. Things that God rejects because He wants our lives to be filled with good, wholesome living. Thankfully, He offers forgiveness and mercy, and a way out of sin, undeserved grace.
Comparing Ray’s homosexual lifestyle to any other sin, whether it be lying or murder, is valid. In God’s eyes they are all the same. And equally forgivable upon repentance. The sad thing here is lack of repentance, and the belief that this is how God “made” him. Totally discounting the evil that is perpetrated by the enemy of us all, Satan.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
You know for all those who say that one sin is no different than the other, look at how you’re treating Ray Boltz and compare it to the person in this thread that is struggling with racing their car. What was the reaction to THAT sin – none!
Is the Holy Spirit that you received different than the one Ray has received? Are we not one body in Christ? Rather than write here about what you THINK of him, just pray for him. Everybody’s ready to play God but no one wants to be a brother first.
Frogatt, Kickbox Mom and Matt Thomas, I applaud you for being open minded. I mean, he still is the great artist that he used to be. Nothing has changed. Love is love and he just happens to have affections for another man – so what! Homosexuality has been around forever. It has even been around during the early Roman times. It was even around during the time of Christ.
How can you guys say that he is an agent of ‘Satan’??? I mean, c’mon. It’s that kind of talk that really screws up the world. Who are we to say. If you guys say that God is lenient and forgiving. Who are we to condemn a man who is just expressing his heart. Being gay is who he is. He cant change that. Pray for him if you will. But I think that the man already has a pretty good relationship with god. A God who doesn’t condemn him just because of his sexual preference.
Oh and by the way. Those who mentioned idol worship. You should know that fanatic religiosity is a form of Idolatry. Christ himself went against people like you. Misinterpreting his message and not reading between the lines. You could say that you guys are modern Sadducees and Pharisees unable to see beyond what they have been taught. Remember that it was these people who Crucified Jesus just because he was different and he was a threat.
Think people, think. Look into yourself before you cast the stone and condemn Boltz as an ‘agent of Santan’. Satan? Seriously? I mean, seriously?
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Perhaps the worst of all of this is the fact that if the truth were to be realized, there really was nothing to forgive in the first place. Those areas in the OT that are cited so often are almost always times and places when one person invades the sacred space of another. This is never good, whether the rapist is invading a female or a male. It saddens me just as much to see males act as though rape was the woman’s fault. I would not wish to live under laws that would have me either choose to marry the man who raped me, or live in shame for the rest of my life.
There are parts of the Bible that literally reach to the stars, there is such beauty there. There are also areas of the Bible that are completely and totally dominated, not by God, but by the blindness of the men who wrote as speaking for God. Until we get past the idea of God dictating all, and understand that God inspired people with faults just like every one else, we will not get beyond being a bunch of children fighting over the ball in the play yard.
I just don’t know. I remember when I started liking girls (I’m a guy, by the way) and I didn’t make a choice to like them, I just did. The attraction I feel towards the opposite sex is simply the way I am wired to be. There is no way I could possibly feel the same way about another man, the thought alone is repugnant.
By the same token, it seems that Ray did everything he could to fight his homosexuality, only never being comfortable with anything else. I simply can’t beleive that people choose to be homosexual or hetrosexual; I feel it is just the way they are wired.
How awesome for Ray Boltz. He touched millions with his tunes, now he will touch a disaffected population in the same way Jesus would have if he walked the earth today. There is no question gay men and women are still considered “outcasts” and “sinners” by a large portion of society. Acknowledging his orientation may help others come to terms with their own sexuality, and live a more authentic life. Bravo!
Well said Kurt.
Great music Ray.
But sad are your fans, that you choose to give in to your desires.
It was just a few months ago that I ordered some casettes with Ray Boltz music on them. I especially liked “The Anchor Holds”. I was not a christian woman in the 70’s or 80’s. But this song really touched my heart. I am wondering if Mr Boltz knew what music was marketable and produced songs with the thought of invoking emotion to the listener. There’s a lot of worship music that is designed that way. We are not to count on emotions and feelings but the word of God. We all have sins that we unfortunetly will struggle with until we are in the presence of our dear saviour. If a man commits adultery and leaves a precious family for a moment of lust he is throwing away everything including God’s favor towards him. This is precisely what Mr Boltz did. For the selfishness of sensual pleasure and for the love of the flesh he threw away all that really means anything at all. I wonder , and please forgive me, but was he really a born again saved man. Or was he a man getting rich in the music industry and pretending… Yikes….
What many homosexuals don’t realize is that the Blood of Jesus wasn’t just for the forgiveness of SINS, but it has the power to heal, to deliver and to set free those who are held in bondage, addictions and sins they are enslaved and trapped by. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Ray Boltz
I will not condemn you because ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But if your really “Pledge allegience to the Lamb” as you have confessed in your song, then let the Holy Spirit help you to overcome sin. Where sin abounds, Grace did much more abound. But, shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? No Ray, God forbid. I pray that you will make the right decision to turn away from this desire and maybe some day children who are challenged with the same desire, will look at the example that your have set. If you allow the Spirit to help you turn away, many children will say “Thank you for Giving to the Lord, I have a life that was changed”.
Still love you!
I will not comdem you because all have sinned. However The Holy Spirit will help you if you yeild yourself to him. remember you have to want the help.
There is no “gray area” on this. The Bible says it clearly. Ray knows this to.. If gone unforgiven, He will go to hell!! No doubt about it.
i dont really know where to begin… i think its wrong for any person to judge another. yes, all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God… but thats the reality. we ARE all sinners. we are NOT perfect. each person is in their own place with God and each person is the only one, aside from God, who knows where that place is. God loves everyone. Even those who rebel against him. Each of his creations is precious. what right do we have as human beings to judge on of God’s glorious creations for being who he feels he was created to be. yes it is sad that we may feel he has chosen the wrong path for his life… but whats even more sad is that, as Christians, we judge him where we have no place to judge. It is HIS choice, not ours. love him and accept him and do not treat him differently. as a Christian your goal is to be more like Jesus… and Jesus loves everyone. i do not support the fact that he is Gay… but that doesnt stop me from listening to his music. and it will not stop me from loving him as a brother in Christ Jesus.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal LIFE! -John 3:16-
What a sad situation with Boltz. I do hope the Christian world will pray for him and also exhort him. Remember that we are called to exhort one another when we see a brother in sin. Here’s a fictional conversation between Ray Boltz and Jesus…
http://shawnbarr.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/ray-boltz-talks-to-jesus/