Comments

Really, the issue isn't whether he's attracted to men, but what he's doing about it.

The Blade article addresses this:

He and Carol Boltz remain close (their divorce was finalized early this year). ... Boltz declines to go into specifics about the first time he was with a man, but says he has been dating and lives “a normal gay life” now.

“If you were to hold up the rule book and go, ‘Here are all the rules Christians must live by,’ did I follow every one of those rules all that time? Not at all, you know, because I kind of rejected a lot of things, but I’ve grown some even since then. I guess I felt that the church, that they had it wrong about how I felt with being gay all these years, so maybe they had it wrong about a lot of other things.”

As he sorted out his faith, Boltz began building a new life for himself. He took some graphic design courses. He found he could be almost completely anonymous in Ft. Lauderdale. The mullet he’d sported in the ’80s was long gone and CCM had always been a somewhat insular community.

What can be said? We are known by the fruit we bear. So, being a great musician and exalting the Lord is not enough. Repentance is necessary. We read about a man who committed sexual sin in 1 Corinthians-the church was to reject him until he repented. Likewise, Ray should be ignored but welcomed back whenever he truly repents.

Good for Ray! And may God richly use him to bring peace and comfort to other gays and lesbians who are trying to reconcile their faith in Christ with their sexuality. In Christ, Amen.

Thanks, Ted, for clarifying that; the original story does not indicate that the couple is divorced.

One might also add that the story in the Washington Blade article is well researched and tastefully written.

I'm not going to criticize Ray Boltz.I've talked to a few gay people. They said they had these feelings from their earliest memories. If that's the case, why are they so persecuted? Especially when there are other things bearing down on the nation, like joblessness, a political system that practices the politics of personal gain. This is what's really harming the country.The issue of greed which the ancients regarded as the mother of all sins is constantly ignored.

It's sad when people resort to blaming God, parents, hurricanes, or anything else that keeps them from taking responsibility for themselves. God didnt make me an alcohalic, He didnt make the man down the street a pedophile. These are results of the decisions we make. We are all predisposed to sin. It's our choice to fight the good fight, or blame someone else for our state.

This saddens me but we all know how deeply sin has affected our world. What's really happened here is that he's given up the fight against sin. No doubt the struggle was extremely difficult, but knowing Christ is worth the price every time. I hope many will pray for Ray Boltz.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect. But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

How pathetically sad.

I really hate to hear this news about Ray Boltz.Ray and his family need much prayer from the Christians from all over the world to get through this horrible news.So many folks are decieved in thinking that God created them to be homosexual which is totally false.God creates us with a free will to choose life through him or death through the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.This lifestyle is merely a choice and nothing more.I assume Ray has read the scriptures that states in Romans 1st chapter 32nd verse,Who knowing the judgement of God,that they which commit such things are worthy of death not only do the same,but have pleasure in them that do them.You can't ignore this verse of scripture.I am not here to judge Ray or anyone else who so called "comes out of the closet".That isn't my job to judge,but it's my job to tell those that choose this lifestyle that Jesus wants them to turn from their wicked ways and repent.The judgement of God Paul says is according to truth against them that commit such things.I'm sure Ray has read this scripture and obviously turned from the truth of the word that Paul spoke, and it's really ashame.I have one more comment,I wish folks would stop using the word gay to describe the homosexual lifestyle.The defenition of the word gay is Merry,Bright,Lively.Not one of these words describes homosexuals.

Along the same lines as Ted's comment is this:

He and Carol Boltz remain close (their divorce was finalized early this year). ... Boltz declines to go into specifics about the first time he was with a man, but says he has been dating and lives “a normal gay life” now.

If Boltz maintains that he is a Christian, does this statement mean he has been 'intimate' and if it does, wouldn't that go against the Christian principle of abstinence outside of marriage? Even if you are one who believes God okays the Gay lifestyle, do you also believe he allows promiscuity?

Obviously, I'm not condoning this at all. I'm just making an observation that if he has reasoned away his old "guilt" then how does that work with the scriptural command of purity outside of marriage?

Let’s see…

1. If we accept gay lifestyle, why not also accept polygamist or adulterer lifestyle? What about pedophilia and bestiality? The list could go on.

Some of these people really feel God created them that way. What would Ray Boltz and his Metropolitan Community Church say to them?

2. More and more Christian men are coming out of the closet with porn problem. Some men feel that this is how God created them, and thus they do not have a choice but continue their practice. If Ray Boltz is consistent with his view, he should also promote the idea that people—who cannot stop committing physical or mental adultery—must be allowed to enjoy themselves, since they feel that is how God created them.

3. It boils down to one premise: We Christians reject gay lifestyle (as much as we reject adultery) because it is sinful. Now, if the premise is false, then we may have to reconsider whether or not to accept gay lifestyle or any other lifestyle.

The Scripture, however, is clear and compelling that homosexuality is sinful. Someone says, “God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” Reason tells us that the body parts do not fit. Same-sex sex, among humans at least, does not and cannot produce children.

Ray did the right thing-he was honest with himself and others. Naturally, he will never be accepted or looked at the same way by the vast majority of "evangelicals" and that's too bad. Maybe fifty years from now he might-just like "evangelicals" now recognize racism is wrong.

Bring on the right-wing authoritarian followers comments.....I've heard them all before.

My heart is crying for Ray Boltz. I too have things that I have struggled with since I was little, like anger. I too went through a period of self hatred over my sins. It wasn't until I learned that I have the authority over Satan and all his schemes to try to bring me down did I receive victory over these things. Do I still struggle sometimes, of course but as soon as I reconginize that I am walking in sin and repent THEN rebuke the enemy from my life I get closer and closer to God. It isn't a matter of I can't fight this anymore so I'll just accept it and embrace it instead. We will all have struggles until we are in the presence of our Father in Heaven but we can fight them rather easily by the authority we have been given by Jesus's death on the cross and the power in his name. I pray that Ray will see that he has been deeply deceived, just as I was when I believed that anger was protecting my self and my children from others and not anger at all. Was I wrong, you bet I was but I truly beleived I was doing no wrong. Just because I beleived I was doing no wrong didn't make it right, it was still wrong and I still needed to be reconciled with the my Father in Heaven. I will pray that Ray Boltz will also realize that the Bible is the truth and everything in it is the truth. It isn't a pick and choose what fits me best option. It is the truth and the actual words of our Heavenly Father.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

By the reasoning of Ray Boltz, I suppose we can all go eat all the doughnuts we want (cause that is sure how God made me!!), and just do what ever we want to do. All addictions should now be indulged since that's how God made them!?!? No restraint, just do what we each think is right because it feels good. God never removed the thorn from Paul's side for a reason. It was his to endure for the Glory of God!!Is it any wonder Ray doesn't want to get into any Scriptural debates!!

Have you heard? Ray Boltz has announced he is a sinner! He has had a problem with deception for over 30 years. You should know, before entering into condemnation, that he was born this way.

Of course, he does (wrongly) conflate that truth into the notion that God created him this way, and he seems to have forgotten that in sin did his mother conceive him. However, this little self deception is understandable because his drive to lie is built into him as a child of this world, and he cannot be expected to do otherwise. We should all pity a man in this tortured state.

For thirty years, Ray has been living a lie, and now he has decided to tell the truth for a change. The life of a hypocrite has taken its toll, and he is relieved to finally announce his struggle to the world and inform his fans that he is no longer struggling. He is accepting who he was born to be. Of course, this isn’t the biggest sin that Ray has struggled with.

There is another, far more insidious, sin that has plagued him for his entire life. It is the same sin for which God destroyed Sodom, and it is the same sin that will destroy every single person that is caught up in its grasp. Ezekiel states it most clearly, “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.” (Ezekiel 16:49 )

Let all beware of self-deception and pride...

Romans 1:24-32
(24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
(25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
(26) For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
(27) and 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.
(28) And 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.
(29) They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
(30) slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
(31) foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
(32) Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

I can understand why Mr. Boltz does not want to debate the Scriptures -- if I were a homosexual, I'd want to ignore them as well. The fact is that the Bible strongly condemns sodomy, and Mr. Boltz has chosen to embrace his flesh and this sinful life choice and ignore God. If he is a believer, I pray that the Spirit of God will give him no rest or peace until he repents and confesses his sin to God. If he is not saved, I pray that the Gospel will take root in his heart and remove the blindness that sin causes.

"Boltz also told The Blade that he doesn’t want to get into debates about Scripture..."

It appears he does not want to come in contact with the very thing (Scripture) that brings conviction of his sin (1 Cor. 6:9; Rom. 1:26-28) and the power from on high (Rom. 6) to be freed from the power of it over him.

Sad!

LM

It's a sad story. Boltz and his family will be in my prayers.

Good on you Ray! As someone involved in Christian music once said: If they took all of the music off Christian book store shelves that was written and sung by Christians who were gay, and removed all gay music leaders from the church, both Christian book stores and churches would have to close their doors. Perhaps by someone high profile like you coming out will spark the many that are still closeted in the Christian music field to take a stand for Jesus and be true to themselves. Don't for a minute feel that your sexual orientation is an illness. As I once replied to a man who asked why God didn't heal him of his homosexuality? God does not heal he who is not sick.

When we were fighting for our right to marry in Canada we were attacked by the mainline churches daily. We never gave up because we knew it was God's battle to win, and win it He did. Because of that battle Canada has become a far better place to live. We pray with all our hearts that soon our friends in America may wed the person they love. Thanks Ray for helping us topple the dominoes. You are a "Star."

Lloyd and Bob Peacock

Vancouver, B.C.

What a great relief it must be to Mr. Boltz to finally come clean. While it is true that the Bible condemns homosexuality, the Bible also condones the practice of slavery. I hope Mr. Boltz has the wisdom and strength eventually to admit that Christianity itself is a giant falsehood.

I have no doubt from reading the article that Ray has read, reread and struggled with all of the passages listed here and many others. I doubt the refusal to debate has anything to do with guilt, fear of refusal to accept the authority of scripture. What it does have to do with is knowing what battles are yours and which are not. He has waged a personal battle his whole life. I'm sure he knows he has to answer to God and that quibbling with folks who haven't had this struggle is a practice in futility. Good luck Ray, God Bless.

***Posted by: non-metaphysical stephen at September 12, 2008:
Good for Ray! And may God richly use him to bring peace and comfort to other gays and lesbians who are trying to reconcile their faith in Christ with their sexuality. In Christ, Amen.

***REPLY to non-metaphysical stephen:
Why not say the same to the polygamist, adulterer, or even the pedophile?—unless, you do not believe homosexuality is sinful. Then the burden of proof is for you to debunk that Romans 1:18-32 means homosexuality is sinful.

Then again, maybe you do not believe Scripture. In that case, I must ask you: What authority do you go by with your claim that being gay is okay? What the society dictates? Well, in that case, then what if the society dictates pedophilia is acceptable? Would you go for that, too?

Please reply back.

***Posted by: John at September 13, 2008:
Ray did the right thing-he was honest with himself and others. Naturally, he will never be accepted or looked at the same way by the vast majority of "evangelicals" and that's too bad. Maybe fifty years from now he might-just like "evangelicals" now recognize racism is wrong.
Bring on the right-wing authoritarian followers comments.....I've heard them all before.

***REPLY to John:
So, you’ve heard them all…

Let me ask you: If fifty years from now—polygamy, adultery, bestiality, or even pedophilia—will be recognized as ‘OKAY,’ would you go for it? (That is, if you’re still alive, of course.)

Maybe you do not believe homosexuality is sinful. In that case, unless you do not believe the inerrant/inspired Scripture, what is your take on Romans 1:18-32?

Please reply back.

Here' what stood out to me: "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..."

We hear none of the faith that demonstrates the impartation of a new life but "I became a Christian." Like it's something we can just 'become.' When I was saved it wasn't something I just 'became.' People all the time would say, "Oh you 'became a Christian,' how nice." I had to tell them, "No, I didn't become one, He saved me, He changed me. I couldn't do it. I was born again. I didn't 'become a Christian.' " We can become many things; artists, writers, mechanics, welders, even Presidents but becoming a Christian isn't something we can become. Someone else has to make me a Christian by His almighty power and grace.

And listen to the will of man as he says further, "I thought that's the way to deal with this." He sounds like someone who thought he could use Christianity as a salve for the guilt he felt from his sin. Here was a man who hurt and said, "Let me use this religious medicine to cure me." Christ didn't ever save him, Boltz ever tried to save himself.

We hear even more self will when he says he "tried for 30- some years..." Believers don't 'try,' its "not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God, who shows mercy." If you have to 'try' then you don't get it. Or better we should say Christ didn't get him. 'I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longed I who live, but Christ lives in me and life which I now live I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.' No 'trying' there. He did the 'trying by dying' and I believe. Sadly Ray did not.

For those of you that use the example of pedophilia and besiality, and alcoholism, etc... you are all absured. Do you realize that homosexuality is not just about sex just as heterosexuality is not just about sex. It is your make-up emotionally, mentally, and yes, spiritually. How many of your straight, marries christians have sex with your spouces out of lust? Are all of your intimate times with your spouce out of 100% selflessness to only please your spouse or to bear children? I think not.

Remember what the bible says about lust? All kinds of lust is sin!! If that is the case, then any type of sexual activity in heterosexual marriage should be to bear children or to love and please your wife or husband. What if God told you to never engage in gratifying yourself through the sexual union and to only allow your spouce to reach satisfaction. Would you do it? Could you do it? Gay intimacy is not necessarily lustful just as heterosexuality is not necessarily lustful. It depends on the individual. You choose whether you act in lust or not.

And the scriptures you all use to condemn homosexuality? Do your research. Study the culture. Read between the lines. The sexual acts were done out of worshipping of idols and strictly selfish lust. Many heterosexual sexual acts were performed out of lust as well.

It's funny. Jesus talked about divorce- to re marry is adultry. Period. So, shouldn't all christians that are in a second or third marriage repent and go back to their original spouse? If their original spouse wont take them back, then they should lead a celibate life. BUT christians have always twisted Jesus teachings concerning divorce and have found all kinds of biblical interpretations to justify divorce and re marriage. Such hypocracy.

God bless Ray Boltz for coming out and staying true to his worship of Jesus Christ. I am a christian that has struggled for years with my homosexuality. I, like Boltz, have prayed, cried, went through christian counceling, excorsisim, you name it. No peace!! Then coming out? Peace! Peace with Jesus Christ at our side.

Very, very sad. Selfish, prideful and very, very sad....

I am just sickened to hear this. I have tried to type several things here and I just cant. My Spirit is disturbed and my mind is just a jumble of words that are trying to express how I feel.
My husband asked me last night, with no prior knowledge of this, to sing "The Anchor Holds" tomorrow at church....I just dont know if I can.....
I guess the only thing I can really say is that there is going to be alot of people surprised when they are turned away from heaven and cast into hell.
To my brothers and sisters in Christ - keep fighting the good fight. Do the best you can to spread the gospel and let the Lord take care of the rest. Remember that we do not fight against flesh and blood.

I prefer to remain anonymous, but will say that I have a number of similarities with Ray Boltz. I'm also a Scripture-believing Christian, consider myself a homosexual (greatly against my will), and like Ray, have felt that after coming out to my family and select friends, also feel much closer to God because I no longer hate myself.

There's a very good article on those who consider themselves to be both gay and Christian, written by a Spirit-filled blogger named Caroline Ferdinandsen. She writes for Conversant Life based in Fresno, and drafted the piece a number of months ago.

In it, she refers to a 'dear Christian friend' which is actually me. We've known each other since church youth group 27 years ago (I'm now 45), and she knows the subject material well, based on our longstanding relationship and some background information on the matter that I supplied for her.

Caroline herself is a very happily married mother of three, and I believe anyone reading her thoughts will see that she possesses a keen understanding of this complex issue. You can read her blog at:
http://tinyurl.com/6c4gtv

The bottom line (at least in my opinion) is that no one would want to be gay if faced with the choice. As someone who's lived with a self-stigma all of his life like Ray Boltz and many, many others, I've simply tried to please God the best way I know how. This has been the case even when the burden never went away after years of prayer, counseling and asking our Heavenly Father 'why'.

That said, I'd like to kindly suggest that the best thing fellow followers of Christ can do is to sincerely love people the way they are - as I believe Jesus did. We always hear that it's not for us to judge why people are the way they are, but to treat them with kindness and compassion, talk to them about their concerns, and encourage them in a way that our Messiah did. After all, He's placed us here for an express purpose, and wants us to act as His hands, feet and voice here on earth.

God's blessings on all of you, and may the Lord be your sustenance and strength in the years ahead.

So sad. To describe a cave-in to one's flesh as honesty is dishonest & dishonoring. What a slap in his wife & kids & God's face. May God grant repentance.

I gather from many of the comments on this page that Our Lord has decided to delegate the function of judging mortals to other mortals. Odd that I never noticed that in the Bible, even when I taught a graduate course entitled, "The Bible as Literature."

The ignorance displayed by some commenters is appalling — as is the hate. Call it what you will, this veteran English professor knows how to read and decode subtext just fine and there's enough hate expressed on this page to fuel the fires of Hell itself. I guess I also missed that part of the New Testament in which Jesus instructed us to hate our neighbors. Perhaps I didn't deserve that Ph.D. in English and American Literature after all.

As for this compulsive scripture quoting (it's very easy to cut and paste quotes), I recall many reminders from the priests I taught with at a leading Catholic university (one that grants REAL degrees in REAL academic disciplines, right up to the Ph.D. and D.A, not some cobbled together "Bible Studies" courses impersonating an true major field of study) that Satan can quote Scripture to serve his purposes. I guess he's still doing it.

Regardless of where one stands on this issue - this is a well written and emotionally powerful story by the Washington Blade. My hat's off to them. And Ray you are in my thoughts and prayers. I have to be honest, this story has made Ray's songs seem all the more real to me. And Ray really sought to be faithful to God in his marriage and life for all these years. So let's be a little less judgemental Christianity Today readers.

I write nothing here out of a judgmental spirit.

Ray was in a battle for his heart, as we all are. The Enemy of our soul uses different tactics to take us out. For one it's bitterness and gossip, for another it's drugs or alcohol, for yet another it's apathy and passivity, and yes, for some it's sexual passion way outside the boundaries of God's Words.

We all need someone to watch our back and to run interference for us when the Enemy takes a pot shot, to take us out of the line of fire when we are not able to do it on our own. Unfortunately, Ray is convinced this is from God. This proves how well the bait hides the hook.

My advice is this: Ray should not be accepted by the Christian community in a "business as usual" way, as if he told us something insignificant. However, there is no excuse for fellow believers to be mean and nasty. We must not give Ray any excuse for not returning to his former circles. Love, grace, mercy, and prayer - these are the things that befit a follower of Jesus.

Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them

God condemns it. God would not make him this why as he claims.
he chooses to be this way.
It is a choice.
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

It is easy to Blame God and make excuses.
Friends and peers don't matter.
It is what God says.
For by this Book we shall be judged!
It matters what God will say when you stand before him.
All excuses will be gone. Only the Truth will be left.
Then it will be too late.

Jesus Paid it All, All to Him I owe.

I pray that Ray will come to God and let Him wash him white as snow.
Only eternity will tell what we have done with Jesus.
What have you done with Jesus has he washed you whiter than snow.
Has he cleansed your heart and made you a new creature to live for Him. To honor Him, To server Him.
With out God YOU will be alive in Hell burning for all ETERNITY!
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

I'm not arguing one way or the other. But maybe this will help you understand where Ray Boltz and so many other Gay Christians are coming from scripturally.

Side A: believes God condones same-sex committed, loving, monogomous relationships.
http://www.gaychristian.net/justins_view.php

Side B: believes that, while they identify themselves as gay, they should remain celebate.
http://www.gaychristian.net/rons_view.php

the bottom line is that God is love. I have yet to hear one of you christians sound like anything but loathsome, judgmental hypocrites. i don't believe jesus taught hatred or gave you the power to condemn people to hell. the day you realize that man wrote the bible and formed it into his own image to gain then maybe you will finally see the truth. i will pray for you all because god is love and that's what he taught.

AWESOME NEWS.

God works in mysterious ways. God makes each one of his children in his own image. Ray is one of his children. I have no idea why people would be sad at this news. Ray has been a homosexual his whole life, nothing has changed.

I pray for the people who have turned their backs on God through their judge-mental attitudes.

I pray that God will bless Ray with the strength he needs to go through this time. It is a time of celebration.

God is good :)

Thank you Christianity Today!!!!!

I am so glad that Ray Boltz has made this decision! And that the owners of this web site reported it. God is moving. This is so cool.

My heart has been so concerned for homosexuals for years. The Church has shunned them in so many ways. Jesus came not into the world to condemn the world, but that all through Him might be saved.

The attributes of God....Peace, Love, Long Suffering, ever present, all knowing....etc. I trust God when it comes to this issue and all the other issues that face my life.

Today I was drinking coffee with a couple of Evangelical friends. We were discussing this Ray Boltz announcement....one said Christian and Gay, that must be an oxymoron. The other said no, for she has been leading a Bible study with several lesbian women for over 3 years now. I thank God for this friend. She has taught me so much about God and about a relationship with Him.

Yes I am a lesbian and I continue to pray that God will work within the gay lifestyle. I pray for Ray and all those concerned. May God heal his heart and bless him as he ministers to the gay community.

Aaron Tuazon, The issue is not that Ray would not be "accepted", it is that he declares that doing what he "feels" like doing is not sin anymore because he decided it wasn't. He posts God to be the one who did this to him rather than admit a sinful bondage to the idolatry of his own gratification.

I've never understood people who cite and quote scriptures from the Bible as if it were fact and our lives should be dictated by every word. The Bible is no more fact than Harry Potter, because just like Harry Potter, the Bible was written by a person/people. You people are sad. But just to show you how foolish you are, here's one for you:

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)

18If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:

19Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;

20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Uh, huh! Just as I thought. None of you probably have let your church elders stone your children for being unruly. Quit handing out judgements! Leave people alone.

Keep your head up Ray. God loves you.

If only Ray DID admit that it was sin, and himself the sinner.

Unfortunately, he makes God out to be the punk who turned him into an uncontrollable robot without self control.

He makes the only Good and True God to be a cruel, disgustingly sarcastic god.

Yes, Ray needs our prayers.

Ray Boltz is gay. Ok. Well, new flash...he is still saved! You all use these scriptures from the the bible to condemn his actions yet Gods word is to give life, peace, joy, and love. What about when it says that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus? Leave it alone folks, you will see Mr. Boltz in heaven. Sin is Sin and your just as guilty as Ray Boltz. He's a sinner and so are you....thats why Jesus saved us. Lets try to be like Jesus and not pay attention to what Ray Boltz does with his life. Its not our business.

But of course...here comes the haters.

We are all sinners who get saved by Gods Grace! Arrogant self righteous and Judgmental Christianity is simply unchristian. Who are you oh man to Judge another? I have been working on a documentary film for almost over 2 years and I have interviewed many of the key players on both sides of this major divide with in The Christian Church and the gay community. Homosexuality is the Pink Elephant in the sanctuary and the one of great hippocracies within the church. The lies told about people who are still and will always be children of God is no longer in my opinion, acceptable. I cannot continue to play church with bullies who some how think and believe they are better than anyone else. The gay community has been excluded and exiled for far too long. It's time we open the doors of our churches and our hearts and let ALL of God's people IN! Ray Boltz is still a child of God. God bless him and his family. If you are perfect then please cast the first stone and continue quoting scriptures if you are not put down your rocks and show some love and Mercy in Christ’s name. You may need the same compassion one day. The gay community is a ripe harvest field ..STOP spiritually aborting these children of God. May the Lord have mercy on you for treating them so poorly.

DystopianSky: Homosexuality IS "personal gain." A homosexual act doesn't and cannot benefit anyone but the person engaged in the act.

As Princeton professor Robert George writes in his book, "The Clash of Orthodoxies," homosexual acts cannot be procreative and cannot unite people organically. These acts cannot be marital, which means relationship around them cannot be marriages. In contrast, marriage between one man and one woman is a procreative unit -- even between non-procreative couples. Their acts are reproductive even if they don't result in children. Only a man and a woman can become "one flesh." This is a biological impossibility between two men or two women. Therefore, homosexual acts are only acts and against the laws of nature.

The politics of "personal gain" of which you speak is precisely what drives the LBTG community.

As Christians I Find it amazing how we tend to eat one another alive! Some where in this whole picture I don't see the grace of God pouring forth here. Something is gravely gone wrong here. I fear that the Greater church today is becoming exactly what it was afraid of the most 40 years ago. I remember a passage of scripture that goes like this:
Galatians 6

1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5. For every man shall bear his own burden.
6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

What What Ray Stuggles with or Who Ray is, Is not my business, that is between Him and GOD ALONE! Stop playing Judge AMEN!

You know, growing up as a Christian, I've always had three viewpoints: 1) looking at other Christians and their reactions to teachings and issues, 2) what the Bible has told me about God's love and 3) what the Bible and church leaders have told me that as a Christian what my purpose should be, which ultimately is to go out and spread God's love.

And unfortunately, after reading all of the comments for this article, I've heard a lot of judgment and negativity. As Christians, we're supposed to be spreading Christ's love, God's love and too often, I hear "you are damned" language. How do you expect to save lost souls, if all you do is make them feel bad about themselves. If you want people to be like yourself, set an example of a kind person who loves unconditionally (see the Bible for "Jesus").

The amount of disgust you may find in the truth of Ray Boltz's sexuality, is the same amount of pity I have for you, many of whom call yourself a disciple of Christ.

If you spread hate, then you are working against God and siding with the devil. Now, consider that sin, brothers and sisters.

Christians defending homosexuality is ultimately disgusting.

Lev 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Cannot argue with that.

The Bible is very Clear marriage is between one man and one woman...y would God create marriage as a holy thing and say that it is between 1 man and 1 woman with out creating us to naturally be attracted. In Laviticus i says that people who have unnatural relations should be stoned! JEsus Said love each other as I have loved u. It is not God that makes anyone feel this way. And He will give them over to their sinful desires and they will un natural relationships. God has given Ray extrodenary talent it is a travisty to see the Church unaversal take another hit like this. Hey Ray how does u thinking God gave u those feelings line up with the Bible. What about "I Surrender to the Lamb" That obviously oesn't mean everything to u does it Ray. The ible is very clear. I am very disapointed in u Ray this goes against everything you have been singing about for years i am very Upset.This is not Biblical at all

“If you were to hold up the rule book and go, ‘Here are all the rules Christians must live by,’ did I follow every one of those rules all that time? Not at all, you know, because I kind of rejected a lot of things"

I have no doubt in my mind that Ray decided to reject a lot of things that the Christians taught.. after all, Christians live by the Bible and the Bible is against homosexuality.. weird how that works Ray. Maybe instead of choosing which part of the Bible to reject or question you should work on following it as best as you can.

i'm just thankful to whomever you believe God to be that i wasn't born gay. man i'd hate to have been born with flaws. it's a good thing we're all born perfect with no chemical imbalances or quirky tendencies like all other known species in the world.

we might actually accomplish something as a species instead of relying on a supposed creator to save us, or judge us or give us hope or completely ignore us when we really are in emotional or physical pain. judgemental, hypocritical, self righteous christians. always quick to condemn, but usually blind to our own horrific faults.

Luke 6:37
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Romans 2:1
You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things

Romans 14:10
You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat.

1 Corinthians 6:5
I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?

Within the "Christian" world that can carry almost any definition in our era, it appears we will eventually experience a Christian anarchy as each one does as he or she pleases.

Truth seems to be based upon your genetic makeup on how we are supposedly created. And God is to blame. No responsibility on my part or your part. Right and wrong is subjective in each persons eyes and soon our world is on a course towards imminent destruction.

Sin has become the norm of every day living and anyone who is opposed to sin is called abnormal. What ever happened to holiness?

Wow... there is a LOT of judgment on this board!! Growing up the son of a preacher, I'm QUITE familiar with it. 'Scuse me, but I don't see any of you sitting in the Judgment Seat. It's not your place.

WHY is it that people love to vomit up scripture references on things that don't really affect them?? OK, so you may be straight, & being gay may not be your struggle or cross to bear. But, yours is being an alcoholic or whatever else. Jesus said for us to show COMPASSION to the lepers, NOT THROW STONES at them! The church does STILL seem to love to kill it's wounded. WHY??

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU JUDGE... PAYBACK CAN BE HELL.

In every gay persons life, there comes a point of decision. They have to decide whether they are going to continue to wrestle and fight with the same sex attraction and be miserable for the rest of their life, or give into what they feel is natural for them and try to find some degree of happiness. People come to this decisive point at various times in their life. Ray enjoyed a great career and a fulfilling ministry during his struggle. He enjoyed the love of a family and the satisfaction of providing for them. But at the same time, he himself was not happy, not satisfied, not fulfilled, probably miserable with himself a lot of those times. So therefore he came to the decisive point at a later time in his life. I would imagine his love for his family and his ministry has postponed that decision up to this point. But now.....he has to be happy. He has to find some peace for himself.

So all you Bible thumpers, go ahead and blast him with your knowledge of scripture....trust me...I'm sure he knows them better than you do....

But until you have walked in his shoes, felt what he feels, and until you have fought the same fight he has fought......YOU REALLY SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR HIM TO FIND PEACE and accept the fact that maybe he has finally found it. NOONE knows the complexity of the fight unless you have fought it. Oh sure....most Christians just classify it as "sin" and easily suggests "turn it over to God", but "turning it over to God" doesn't make the attraction go away.

So if you people of superior Christian knowledge can change someone's sexual attraction.....Show us your stuff......If not...SHUT UP

Reading some of the comments here saddens me that there are still many within the Christian world who have not been able to move beyond, stereotypes, preconceived ideas and misconceptions about what it means to be gay or lesbian.

Ray should be congratulated for his honesty, which is course is an important Christian value. What maybe some haven’t realised is the enormous struggle one must go through to be honest, firstly with yourself, then to those who are close to you and finally to the wider world. And knowing of course that the honesty will possibly mean rejection or even hatred.

Coming out is a courageous step for anyone but to do it within some Christian circles today is, unfortunately, kamikaze.

Having had a similar journey to Ray it was unfortunate that no one told me early in life that I could be gay, live a moral life and be a person of faith. That message would have saved me years of torment and much heartache for my former wife and children.

How Christians respond to Ray’s honesty will determine if they belong to the genuine church of Jesus Christ that reflects unconditional love and compassion or a group of religious people who are more concerned with judgment and condemnation. My prayer is it will be the former not the latter.

Today I find myself constantly reminding people who want to judge me and make all sorts of wrong assumptions about the way I live my life because I’m gay that ‘my morality is a choice, my sexual orientation however isn’t’.

Thank you Christianity Today!!!!!

I am so glad that Ray Boltz has made this decision! And that the owners of this web site reported it. God is moving. This is so cool.

My heart has been so concerned for homosexuals for years. The Church has shunned them in so many ways. Jesus came not into the world to condemn the world, but that all through Him might be saved.

The attributes of God....Peace, Love, Long Suffering, ever present, all knowing....etc. I trust God when it comes to this issue and all the other issues that face my life.

Today I was drinking coffee with a couple of Evangelical friends. We were discussing this Ray Boltz announcement....one said Christian and Gay, that must be an oxymoron. The other said no, for she has been leading a Bible study with several lesbian women for over 3 years now. I thank God for this friend. She has taught me so much about God and about a relationship with Him.

Yes I am a lesbian and I continue to pray that God will work within the gay lifestyle. I pray for Ray and all those concerned. May God heal his heart and bless him as he ministers to the gay community.

Thank you Lord! It is just so cool to see Him working!
KB

Jesus had nothing to say on the subject. He did tell us not to lust, but I don't think this is lust. If God wanted Ray to change, he would change him. Repentence is not necessary because Jesus paid for our debt of sin on the cross, "It is Finished...". Now those who were fans of his will now hate him because of this. But you have to remember than none of us are better than he is. I'm sure if he could really love a woman in a romantic sense, he would because his life would be so much easier then. I do think his family needs our prayers to help them through this difficult time.

"Thank you" Ray. Be who you are. A Christian who happens to be gay. Continue to be a light.

A City On A Hill Ministries
Escondido, CA

I love How people automaticaly label us right wing athuoritarian for quoting scripture. I find it funny that people who call themselves Christian can openly defy the Word of God. it has been stated in these post all the scripture of the New Testament that shows that God thinks Homosexuality is wrong. Lets look at the science of this for a minute. What does homo mean what does hetro mean? Homo same throughout. Hetro a mixture a combination of different things. The Bible clearly teachs that in these last days people will be given over to their own desires. I am praying for Ray. I love him dearly as commanded to by God. The whole love ur neighbor as your self thing. But God is detested by the sin and so am I. No 1 sin is greater then another they are all horribly wrong in God's eyes. So Ray Boltz were really the same i have lied he thinks he is homosexual we would both be goin to hell. But their is one critical difference i have been for given and am saved by Grace

I love How people automaticaly label us right wing athuoritarian for quoting scripture. I find it funny that people who call themselves Christian can openly defy the Word of God. it has been stated in these post all the scripture of the New Testament that shows that God thinks Homosexuality is wrong. Lets look at the science of this for a minute. What does homo mean what does hetro mean? Homo same throughout. Hetro a mixture a combination of different things. The Bible clearly teachs that in these last days people will be given over to their own desires. I am praying for Ray. I love him dearly as commanded to by God. The whole love ur neighbor as your self thing. But God is detested by the sin and so am I. No 1 sin is greater then another they are all horribly wrong in God's eyes. So Ray Boltz were really the same i have lied he thinks he is homosexual we would both be goin to hell. But their is one critical difference i have been for given and am saved by Grace

Really? Lust? Sodomy? All the "Christians" in here need to read the true word of God. Not the ones that have been edited throughout the years by MAN! Ray living an honest life as a gay man has nothing to do with giving in to his lust! It has nothing to do with any other sin! It has to do with being honest with whom GOD made him! Just because you are gay does not mean that you are living a life of sin. Maybe he wants to live in truth and love! So if he marries another man he will be living in sin? Get some new scriptures to quote! Jesus never said anything about Homosexuals! The word Homosexual was added just 150 years ago! I am a christian gay man and believe it or not God uses my music to reach people for him! You the "Christian" Sing my songs in church to worship him weekly. WOW how can you actually be singing a gay man's songs to worship God? Because God does not care, Judge or hate! He only loves his people. THATS IT! Yes we all should strive to be Good people and love others as he does! That's the bottom line. So please before you cast judgement and feel sad for Ray. DONT. Ray should be happier than he has ever been. To have that guilt lifted off your shoulders is a gift from God. His family is happy for him. So lets all just lift Ray and his family up in prayer rather than feel sad and ashamed for him. He is going to reach far more people being honest about who he is than who he could reach being in the closet trying to make the "Christians" happy and comfortable. Ray loves all of you just as Jesus does!

“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.”

Can we just accept we are sinners, throw up our hands and say "oh, well" and live like sinners? Can I have lustful or murderous thoughts against someone and say "if this is the way God made me, then this is the way I'm going to live"?

Christ has told us that we NEED to hate ourselves in order to follow Him! If he feels closer to God as a result of living out his sin, I'm afraid he has either hardened his heart against the Spirit, or was never a child of God from the beginning. He may be one of those saying "Lord, Lord, did I not..."

Ok Ray Boltz has said he does not want to debate the issue and will no longer attend certain denomination churches. Very well. Mr Boltz has a christian background and has experienced the truth and a relationship with God. Mr Boltz has made his choice, he has chosen the path of deception and lies. It is his decision and his eternal life. We are witnessing the end days and the destruction of the church and the body of Christ. We need to hold up the world in prayer.

This story would be a lot less sad if so-called Christians would cease turning on their own as soon as they admit to struggling with sin. If Boltz had announced he was an alcoholic, or greedy, or committed adultery he could expect compassion, healing, and forgiveness from a large portion of Christ followers. Homosexuality (ewww, yucky!) it seems, is the new Unforgivable Sin.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize that being homosexual was worse than any other sin that everyone else commits. Even living the lifestyle of a homosexual is no worse or different than being a heterosexual who practices any type of sex outside of marriage, than being addicted to any controlled substance (be that caffeine or nicotine or cocaine), or than being a compulsive liar. There's only one sin that Jesus won't forgive and that's blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-29). You can't say that one sin (other than the one just mentioned), or any lifestyle of sin is worse than any other. WE are the ones that put a rating system on sins... God doesn't. They're all equally sinful and forgiven in His eyes.

You also can't throw stones because you aren't Jesus. John 8:1-11.

NeoFundy outside of homosexuality you list could describe pretty much any church in America today. How do I feel about Gays, not sure, why, because I'm old enough to remember when the church ostracized divorces. Can you image that happening today? I don't think so.

It is not a sad story at all. It is a wonderful story of self acceptance, of keeping faith and moving on. It is a story of a man liberated in Christ able now to live fully in God's love.
I have found that most people that beleive sexual orientation is a choice also beleive in a 7 day creation or some similar notion.
All this sadness for a man that found his life. I don't get it.

Well I guess Ray thinks God was joking when He said homosexuality is an abomination before His eyes. If God is speaking the truth (and He does not lie) why would God "make" Ray a homosexual ? When people are in sin and chose to continue in that path they must always make up justifications in their mind to excuse or make their sin "acceptable" to thenselves. This is self deception.

For those who would condemn Ray Boltz who is simply being who God created him to be should read Matthew 7:1 and Romans 2:1. Also should read Matthew 10 where Jesus could have said somthing about homseuxlity but did not, because it was not an issue. Most of all people who condmen should be rminded of John 3:16-18 which is in simply terms Jesus plus nothing for salvation. Our walk into Heaven is not based upon our sexuality but based upon Jesus and Him alone. As of todate I am still waiting for the so-called Christians to debate me on this issue. Unfortantely Dr. Jerry Farwell and Dr. James Kennedy are both gone and others still have not reponded such as Dr. James Dobson, Dr. Pat Robertson, and others in their circle. It would be nice to debate the issue, because too many people who come out of the closet such as Ray Boltz are condemened when Scripture says nothing against Homosexuality. I want Ray to know that God is still there and his name is still in the Book of Life. Amen (Rom. 8:38-39).

Go read the testimony of Dennis Jernigan at www.dennisjernigan.com There is a way out of this, unless of course he wants to remain in his sin :( He has clearly exchanged the truth of God for a lie!

I do not condone what has been done here. However, it takes great courage to admit something like that, especially in the Christian community, because we expect a certain standard to be upheld, and rightly so. Is it my place to judge? Certainly not! To go along with several other comments, we all make sinful choices and when they are reconciled to God, we can begin the process of forgiving ourselves and allowing God to use them for good. Did God create me to be abused for many years, to self-injure and attempt suicide more times than I can count?? Those are things that happened, some by the choices of others whose lives are led by Satan and some of my own decisions. I still struggle with some of these things today, and healing will not be complete until I'm in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. Still, I have made some awful choices, but they were forgiven centuries before I existed. They can be used because of my choice to give them to God. That doesn't mean I have shifted responsibility for the things caused by my own hand. It means that I exercised specific sins for years and still struggle at times, but I have accepted the grace God extends so I can go on with life. The freedom is in knowing God will use it all.
These experiences and feelings can open the doors for others to receive healing just because that's how our just but merciful and gracious God works. He can certainly do so with this entire matter of Ray Boltz, but he has to choose to let God to work through itt, not excuse the clear authority of Scripture. Once again, it's not my place to judge, and I can never fill that role without dishonoring God. This is just a sad reminder of the sin we constantly find ourselves in. Christians are not immune to sinful pleasures. Jesus died for the sins of all men, and that is freeing, but not so in a manner as to allow sinful practices to be continued. The freedom is from bondage. Ultimately, this is an issue that will end with Ray Boltz and God, not the media, the church or the Christian community in general. We need to pray for this reconciliation with God as he continues to struggle with this. Pray for peace and courage to do what is right according to Scripture. Perhaps we also need to pray that he will be graciously received. After all, how different is the sin of the homosexual lifestyle from that of stealing a dime from the offering plate?? Sin is sin...

How terribly sickening! I guess God should apologize to Sodom for destroying them because of His misplaced disapproval of their being honest with themselves about their wicked desires for the same sex.. All SAVED people should condemn this behaviour because a holy God does. READ THE BIBLE.

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 18:22-30)

"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you. And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast." (Leviticus 20:13-15)

Some of you should be ashamed of yourselves. There but for the grace of God go YOU.

1) Bestiality and pedophilia are psychological illnesses that have NOTHING to do with homosexuality. They are by and large the result of extremely abusive or dysfunctional childhood environments and people who suffer from these diseases are CREATED, not born as such. I suggest cracking open a copy of "Psychology For Dummies" for clarity. Actually, watch any show on TruTV and you'll get the gist. Also note that homosexuality has not been listed as a deviant psychological behavior for nearly thirty years now.

2) Adultery and polygamy are indeed choices. Duh. But neither have anything to do with homosexuality. To imply so is nothing but sheer ignorance. Again...crack a book other than your Bible and broaden your horizons a little.

3) Scientific studies are proving more and more every day that there are genes in our DNA that may predispose certain individuals to a homosexual life. But silly me...you people don't accept that evolution could even be a part of the creation process, even though it's SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN to be...so why would I think you would believe science when they are trying to tell you that homosexuals can indeed be born this way? Sorry. I spoke out of turn, there. Guess we have to erect a few hundred more dinosaur skeletons first. *slapping forehead*

4) Ray Boltz can no more CHOOSE to be gay than heterosexuals can CHOOSE to be straight. It just is. People...IT. JUST. IS. The only CHOICE he is making is to stop lying about it, stop making himself feel like he is a worthless piece of crap for having these feelings and reconciling himself to the FACT that God loves him STILL and REGARDLESS and JUST THE WAY HE WAS MADE.

5) I'm not even going to go into the whole Sodom thing. If you people would try and research the history of that time period along with your scriptures, I'm pretty sure you'd have one of Oprah's "Aha!" moments. I'm so sick of that story in the Bible being misused and abused to promote hate that I want to vomit.

6) The Bible commands a woman be stoned to death for commiting adultery. We don't do that anymore because we realize that it's inhumane and just plain wrong. When is the church going to realize that its treatment of homosexuals is also inhumane and wrong and start embracing with love, as Jesus commanded us to and did Himself? And don't tell me for one second that you can "love" someone and yet shun them from society. Wrong answer.

I was always raised to never be ashamed to say I'm a Christian. These days I am not ashamed to say I love Jesus...but I am most DEFINITELY ashamed to call myself a Christian, when today's Christians stand for nothing but judgement, hatred and intolerance. I'll proudly label myself a FAITHFUL HERETIC, thank you very much. I'm pretty sure Jesus is cool with it. I mean...the dude was quite the radical hippy, after all.

To Mr. Boltz (because I am QUITE sure he is reading this): Be strong and courageous. Know that you are loved, know that you are a divine creation in the eyes of God and that your legacy on this earth is one of beauty and honor. Know that there are plenty of other GAY CHRISTIANS in this world and that it's no one's decision as to whether or not you are a child of God but HIS and YOURS. May you be blessed and enjoy contentment of heart for the rest of your days, living in your truth.

MAY WE ALL.

Sincerely,
Darci Monet
Professional Vocalist, Songwriter, Vocal Coach, Faithful Heretic and Recovered (and Repentent) Gay-Hater

Chad wrote, "I can understand why Mr. Boltz does not want to debate the Scriptures -- if I were a homosexual, I'd want to ignore them as well. The fact is that the Bible strongly condemns sodomy, and Mr. Boltz has chosen to embrace his flesh and this sinful life choice and ignore God. If he is a believer, I pray that the Spirit of God will give him no rest or peace until he repents and confesses his sin to God. If he is not saved, I pray that the Gospel will take root in his heart and remove the blindness that sin causes."

Well said, with the right balance.

LM

Very sad, that bad theology can invade and destroy a life like this. Mr. Boltz, I pray that you turn back to God - He will receive you!

Homosexuality is a SIN. Some people struggle with pornography, some with drinking or adultry. That is temptation. God is not wishy-washy. He does not say "Don't be a homosexual" and then goes and creates someone to be gay. Its sad that this man has convinced himself that homosexuality is okay when countless scriptures say differently.

my heart aches for your struggle, and I have to disagree with you, that God made you this way, this is a sin many people struggle with, just as drunkenness and adultery are sins people struggle with, but God tells us, just as He told the woman caught in adultery "Go and Sin no more."

God tells us to flee temptation, not run into it's arms, as you say you are doing.

God did not tell us the Christian walk would be easy, but says it will be difficult, because we constantly struggle against the desires of the flesh. The lies of the devil that once you become a Christian everything will change for you and that you will no longer struggle, is just that a lie, and I wish Pastors would quit lying to people about that.

I trust you know what God says, do not be deceived that God made you this way, so therefore you must live this way, that is totally contrary to what Scripture teaches. May Christ work in your heart to really know Him and what His word teaches.

I'm sure Jesus is simply thrilled with all the love being shown in this thread. Straw-man arguments and slippery slope logical fallacies...yeah, that's what Jesus is about.

Someone mentioned bearing fruit. From what I can see, God has produced tons of good fruit through Ray Boltz over the years, despite the orientation he was created with. I know his music has touched my life and many others. Seems like good fruit to me, and if a tree produces good fruit, it is a good tree. It's almost as if orientation doesn't matter...

As for Romans 1, check out the five verses preceding v26 for a little context, and note the BECAUSE at the start of v26. I know context can really mess up a self-righteous argument, but I don't believe Ray Boltz is engaging in fertility cult worship.

God bless Ray Boltz, just as he is, and may he continue to glorify God by bearing good fruit.

I am a Christian, and a Lesbian. God loves and accepts me and Ray and all His children, exactly as He created us. It's too bad that the folks quoting Scripture are pulling it out of context and have never researched that Jesus never said one word about homosexuality and that the word Translated homosexuality in the N.T. was not included until the 1940's. the OT Scriptures were not translated correclty as homosexual either. So, I pray for Ray and his family that the misunderstanding of those who claim to know the Scripture will not damage him further! God is a good God...and the only thing we need to know is that He loves and accepts each one of us. Homosexuality is not a Sin, or a choice and to lump it in with other decisions of life that are a choice, is just another miscariage of Justice. Praise God that Ray has taken steps to be identified for who he is, not what he does!

Thank You, Ray, for coming out.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

Would Jesus Discriminate?
www.mccchurch.org

I'm disturbed by some of the mean-spiritedness of these comments. While I don't agree with the direction Mr. Boltz has chosen for his life, we do need to understand that same-sex attraction is not a simple thing to overcome. Those who are so affected -- particularly within the Christian community -- often suffer in secret, unable to tell their pastors or Christian friends what they are struggling with. Once they do tell, they often face condemnation and ostracism, even if they are actively struggling against the attraction.

Believing that we were not designed for same-gender sexual relationships, does not have to mean that we speak about this with smug self-righteousness and sarcasm, as is the case with many (not all) of these comments.

This man is our brother. Many of us have enjoyed and been inspired by his songs these many years. Why would we now speak of him with contempt?

If you would like to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, how about offering friendship, grace and comfort to someone with a same-sex attraction -- whether they are acting on it or not? As the friendship develops, you might find that you have wisdom to share -- or not. Perhaps your gay friend has some wisdom to share with you.

We are all broken. Let us not forget this. When we single out one aspect of brokenness (which, conveniently, WE don't struggle with), and throw stones at people who do suffer in this way, it is better that a millstone be hung about our necks.

Brent Hobbs said "How pathetically sad."

Not any more pathetically sad then YOUR sins Brent. Yes he needs to repent but so do you for your judgemental attitude.

Chad, the Bible condemns lying, and yet, you have lied repeatedly.

"I can understand why Mr. Boltz does not want to debate the Scriptures -- if I were a homosexual, I'd want to ignore them as well. The fact is that the Bible strongly condemns sodomy, "

As a Gay Christian, I have no need to ignore the Scripture, and enjoy debating it. It is easy to prove that the mainstream, homophobic theology 'homosexuality is sin' is heresy of the rankest kind. The Bible does not condemn same-sex sexual intimacy, nor does it condemn the sexual acts like oral sex and anal sex currently included in the term sodomy.

You raped Paul's text, taking it out of context, for Paul is condemning idolatry, not homosexuality. Homosexuality is innate, claims that it chosen are instantations of bearing false witness, sin. And because homosexuality is innate, homosexuals do not exchange or give up one sexual attraction for another.

Others here have quoted from 1st Corinthians, relying on a fraudulent translation to falsely accuse millions of human beings. While greek of Paul's time and culture had two words for the concept homosexual or men who have sex with men, Paul did not use either one (erestes and eranamos). Instead he used a common insult for men failed in business, were cowards in war, or tried too hard to please their wives, malakoi; and Paul made up a word. The true sin is the assumption that the loving, unitive, spiritual lovemaking between two people of the same gender, is somehow comparable to murder and stealin and adultery.

There is grievious sin here, but it isn't homosexuality or lovemaking between two people of the same gender. The sin is in the vile and degrading assumptions made by self-righteous hets who assume that Ray's experience of God, and that of every GLBTQ Christian, is automatically wrong because it doesn't fit the mainstream prejudice.

Chad, you quoted Romans 1 - have you the integrity to see that verses 29-31 accurately depict not only the anti-gay posts here, but conservative Christians response to the existence and witness of GLBTQ people for centuries?

It is sad, indeed. I can understand someone having sinful tendencies. We ALL have them. However, we are to be good soldiers of Jesus Christ. The easy thing to do is to give in to the feelings we have. Whether they be feelings to steal, murder, commit adultery, abuse a child or whatever. I'm certainly not saying that being gay is like committing murder, I am only stating that just because one "feels" a certain way, it doesn't give them license to give in to the feelings. That is what makes us different than animals. Animals have a stimulus and they respond out of instinct. Humans are quite different. We have the choice to respond resist.

I pray blessings on Ray Boltz, but I do not accept his excuse for his sin. He made a decision to give in to the lifestyle and not to resist it, plain and simple. I wish for him no ill will, but I do pray that his eyes would be open to the truth that feelings are NOT the gauge for truth. I do not believe that God's makes one gay.

Ray did not say he wanted to avoid the scripture. He said he did not wish to debate it with others. I do not blame him. It is exhausting to debate with people whose minds are already made up, who have no intention of true discussion, who only want to beat you up with their particular interpretation of scripture, and then say with mock innocence, "It's not interpretation. I am just saying what the Bible says." They pretend that it is even possible to translate from ancient languages into modern English without making interpretations and guesses. They pretend that culture and context have no importance when trying to get at the heart of an ancient writing. Ray Boltz has spoken his truth. He has shared his understanding of God. I commend him for his faith and his faithfulness and his honesty, traits which most modern Bible-thumpers lack in abundance. Peace.

There's no substitute for experience. I believe we shouldn't comment on things we've never dealt with. God and orientation aren't for the unwise/uneducated/ill-informed to discuss.

May God bless all his children and all his children love passionately one another - the way He would have it to be!

My heart and prayers go out to Ray for encouragement during these trying and discriminating/hurtful days ahead.

I feel for him in his struggle with this sin. But the argument that "God hasn't taken it away from me, so it must be OK" is a fundamental misunderstanding of sanctification and the "flesh". We all will have to fight against sin by the Spirit until the Adoption, that is, the redemption (changing) of these bodies. I sure wish God would ZAP me and take away any and every desire to look at pretty naked women. Unfortunately that won't change 'til later, but for now I must mortify those desires. And if I don't..and happen to habitually engage in immoral behavior..no matter how "saved" I think I am..I am heading for eternal condemnation. The warnings in Scripture against his (and our) sexual abberations should sober us, cause us to spiritually take a whif of the fire and brimstone of eternal punishment and, either, spur us on perseverance by grace and faith, or forshadow the regretable and irreversible fate that awaits "workers of iniquity." Sad, but true.

In a day and age that we claim to be so smart, so with it, so technologically advanced, yet as a society and world, we spend so much time on who is 'right' and who is 'wrong' and who is living their life according to somebody else's rules.

For the record, the bible was written a LONG time ago... and changed many, many, many times according to the agenda of those in power, to thrust upon ideas and guidance and direction for society. It's not right or wrong... just think about it. Who is to gain by the rules of the bible?

Who gains from teaching others from a fear based stance? What do you get from telling others what is right or wrong based on a book? Who is to say what God wants for us?

Isn't the relationship between a human's God and a human between the God and the human?

Who are we, to say, how God loves us or not? Who we are to love or not? or whether or not they are to be the same sex as we are or not?

We can put a man on the moon for how many years now...? And yet, sexual choice, similarities and differences still stumps us as if WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL OTHERS WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT DO IN RELATION TO LOVING ONE ANOTHER...

Where did any of us get the idea that we have the RIGHT to tell others how to live and love? That is NOT in the bible I grew up on.

God, my God(Creator, however you want to say it) LOVES ME. How do I know? Because I was born and I get to live my life as I choose with an inner voice and guideline of human kindness.

My personal choice of partner is a man. I am a woman. I have been told by women who were 'straight' who at some point in their lives, fell in love with women, that their love falls in love with a person, not the sex of a person. Love loves love. Love doesn't love just because a person is male or female. I admire the ability to love another human being and it not being about the sex of the other person. That concept just amazes me.

My mother is gay yet, for the first 11 years of my life, and how I got here, she was married to my father and had male partners. Do I love my mother(or gay friends~ I've also been in the cosmetology business for years) any less than she deserves? Absolutely not. Do I or have I ever had the urge to tell her how to live her life? Absolutely not. Do I feel I have the right to? F-ck no, I don't.

And with that, I cannot for the best of me, understand why anyone feels they have the right to dictate and determine the path of another human being and to boot, base it on a book written by humans in relation to an agenda.

Since our society does not spend much time announcing this information... if you were to study homosexuality, you would find out that it's existed as long as humans have been on the planet. There are cultures that choose it as a form of birth control. There are also animals that practice it. Since Christianity is only a mere 2,000 years old(or so) I challenge anyone in question to study the Greeks, who's society is 4-5,000 years old, where homosexual behavior has been acceptable for twice as LONG as Christianity has even existed. Just go to Greece(I have) to find out more.

Our society assumes that what we know today is how it's always been. It is a pompous way to think... and does not serve us as a culture or world. If you are curious, study the history of homosexuality BEFORE church and state and other's opinions got involved.

Now, before whoever is reading this, gets their panties in a bunch, I was raised Roman Catholic(including schooling) and participated in youth group and studies until I graduated highschool. My involvement in church for years following was disappointing for me in that mass became a place for the priests to push an agenda(anti divorce, anti abortion, ills of the world) and through a series of events, I joined an Episcople church. I have found in New York, Stratford Upon Avon, England... at different Episcople churchs, a warm and inviting atmosphere.

There is an openness which has earned the title, "Catholic light". All are welcome to practice and mass typically is about how to be a better person, to be a better neighbor, to deal with your own emotions,etc. I have not found masses ever to be a political pulpit of judgement and fear. In Episcople mass, I find it to be truly what I believe all religions to be based on, brotherhood, love, charity and support.

Now that you know a bit of my history, back to the issue of criticizing a person for the path his life is meant to be on....

Each one of us, so it's been said... in that book, you know, the bible... that we are created in the image of God. I believe that each one of us is perfect, perfectly us. The feeling of imperfection comes from the desire to compare ourselves to others. How can we feel our Divinity and personal perfection if we EVER compare ourselves to others? It's impossible.

Why is it that when we see newborn babies, we stare at them and marvel at the perfection of God's miracle? The eyelashes, the fingers, toes, nose, cute tushy, the skin, the scent... everything about a baby is perfect and God's perfect miracle(and our hope for the future) yet, as adults, it's said that, "Nobody's perfect". Well, if we all started out as God's miracle and perfect, when did each of us, fall from Grace?

The fact is, we have not. It is the opinion of others, the creates a sense of imperfection.

I could go on and I believe in the intelligence and heart of anyone who will cross this bulletin board and read it. This is not about casting stones... it is about honoring the blessing of life in each of us and all of our brothers and sisters in our human family. Honoring the heart, feelings and mind of each of us. The wonder and the differences that make us who we are. It is through this behavior, that tolerance, patience and love will win out.

For darkness cannot exist in the presence of light. If you've read this, you cannot ever forget that you did. I believe that this posting may piss you off or not and it might just create a more tolerant world, one by one in honor of Ray Boltz and all of those who came out before him.

Hi Christianity Today many of us have poted blogs that have not shown up in support of Ray and his family. We are Christians and would like for our blogs to post as well Thank you! I'm wondering if there will be fair and accurate postings for everyones thoughts and feelings? I hope so! Thanks! Lisa Darden

Hey Ray! You or I are not a lable. I am a Southern Baptist Preacher's kid age 44 and came out to a few friends 4 years ago and my parents 2 years ago. Like you, I could not live in the dark any more and being in the light is so much more freeing and I have been blessed more now in my life through blessings from God than when I hid in a damn closet. We are beatiful creations that God created in His own image. I pray that you have a truly fulfilled life doing whatever you chose and a blessed relationship. Thanks for standing for yourself and being true to yourself. Live!

Acts 16: 30And he brought them out [of the dungeon] and said, Men, what is it necessary for me to do that I may be saved?

31And they answered, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ [[a]give yourself up to Him, [b] take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved, [and this applies both to] you and your household as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------
End of story...there is no condemnation for those in Christ

I look forward to the day when we Christians as a body can hear such news and not resort to citing scriptural "proof" against gays or knee-jerk dismissals of a so-called "lifestyle." It's striking how people can mention references supposedly against homosexuality as we understand it today and yet recognize a more nuanced view that passages, often mere paragraphs away, which tell women not to cut their hair, tell people how to treat their slaves, or require people not to charge interest on loans must be viewed in the proper historical context. And how deplorable to see loving another human being compared to pedophilia or alcoholism. I do see hope in the changing attitudes of the younger generations, however, who are much more likely to have been exposed to LGBT people in general and even LGBT believers and have realized they are not the Devil and have a faith in Jesus as vibrant, wonderful, complex, and genuine as anyone else's.

No wonder Ray Boltz doesn't wish to debate scripture with people who've already made up their minds anyway instead of trying to put themselves in another believer's shoes and possibly consider the incredibly personal and prayerful Christ-centered journey that many LGBT Christians have led. At least the ones who haven't been driven away from the Church in great part due to the unfathomably unloving and close-minded attitudes of other Christians.

Congratulations to Ray; may he be a light to the many LGBT Christians (closeted and otherwise...and with reactions like those above, no wonder so many are afraid to come out), but more importantly, to the Body as a whole. Christ be praised!

Fellow believers,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's law. I have learned a great deal from you, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. How should I deal with this?

I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as it suggests in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

Lev. 25:44 states that I may buy slaves from the nations that are around us. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans but not Canadians. Can you clarify?

I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 10:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

Lev. 20:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear prescription glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Good for Ray! It's sad it's taken him this long to be at peace with who he IS and has ALWAYS been. God doesn't make junk!

For anyone who compares a homosexual to besitality or pedophiles is simply IGNORANT! They are forms of abuse where both parties are not consensual. In the Bible, when it talks about "sodomy" (which has wrongly been translated to 'homosexual'. The term 'homosexual' wasn't even derived until the 1940's), the Bible is NEVER talking about consensual love between same-sex people, but forms of rape and abuse. How do you compare this to a loving, committed, relationship?

We are all souls having a physical experience. The genitals between our legs don't mean anything to God! What God cares about is the essence of our being - and if we're lucky and blessed enough in life to find another soul to love and partner with - BLESS GOD! LOVE is the answer - period.

Ray will write many more songs - more powerful than ever - because he will finally be writing FREE - because the TRUTH has set him FREE indeed.

God bless him!

Debate scripture? That's pretty delusional.

God Almighty said it and meant it. I don't believe I'll change His mind with shallow debate.

I was 17 or 18 years old when I attended my first Ray Boltz concert. I can remember watching the hundreds of folks come forward during the alter call. The mothers and grandmothers, husbands and even teens touched that night by this man's anointed message. In the late 90's Ray's music was everywhere. His songs were among the most poignant and yet simple presentation of the gospel ever penned. Who here can not listen to “watch the lamb” and be transported to the day of Christ's crucifixion or listen to “Shepard boy” and feel the sense of God's call on their ordinary lives. I suspect there are few in the evangelical community who have not been ministered to by Ray's powerful yet ever so simple message of God's love.

How quickly we turn into a bunch of stuck up elitist hypocritical judges.

Can someone please tell me what's the difference between some of these comments and the condemnations of the pharisees and the Sadducee? Cause I can't see it. Rather then listening to the man's heart you cast your stones at him “in the name of love.”

In the interview he's told us of his struggle...what more do you want from a fellow human being. Isn't that enough. Can you not at least be satisfied that he has come to a place in his life where he can be honest with God and with his fellow man?

You chastise him for his “deception.”

What deception?

His deception of telling the world that we all need a savior?

His deception of telling the world that God loves them no matter what they are going through?

We talk of revival and we play our oh soo spiritual games, yet when one of us tells us that maybe our way of thinking needs to change a little, why they must have “boughten a lie.”

You want revival?

How about letting your heart break over his struggle and for a church that made it impossible for him to be who it was that he felt god made him to be.

How about a little humility and putting down your stones and letting his story break your heart until you are able to look into the eyes of a gay relative, friend or co-worker and be able to love them like Jesus loves them, unconditional and with out your religious piety.

I am so tired of this debate over how to handle someone's perceived sin. When you can show me the nail prints in your hands then you can talk and preach and condemn.

But until then sin is God's business..not yours.

Your business..the churches business... is to simply love.

But that's harder then throwing stones isn't it.

It's much easier to start spewing our dusty Victorian interpretation of six or seven bible versus then it is to understand the whole of scripture....

“For God so loved the world...”

Maybe one of these days or hearts will break and our love will flow..but obviously from the words I read on this board, It won't be today.

And yes, I too am gay.

And for the record, when I came out 15 years ago as a confused young man who had struggled his whole life with the issue, it was Ray's music that helped me to understand just how simple the gospel message really is.

To him I say “Thank you.”

This is very grieving, its clearly mentioned in the Bible! how can there be something like LGBT? and how can a Church welcome such things? is Sodom and Gomorrah back again? i should say its much worse than that coz a Church that already knows GOD is supporting these things, what is happening to today's generation we are removing GOD in every area of our life disobeying his word, may GOD have mercy on this generation!!!

Ray will be in my prayers!!!

This is very grieving, its clearly mentioned in the Bible! how can there be something like LGBT? and how can a Church welcome such things? is Sodom and Gomorrah back again? i should say its much worse than that coz a Church that already knows GOD is supporting these things, what is happening to today's generation we are removing GOD in every area of our life disobeying his word, may GOD have mercy on this generation!!!

Ray will be in my prayers!!!

I don't find this to be a sad story. I find this to be a human story. So many Christians live in such dire black & white, in an "us vs. them" mentality it's heartbreaking. "They" are human beings. Until you walk in their shoes, you don't have a clue. A friend didn't tell me she had an abortion for three months afterwards because she knows I'm pro-life. She was a wreck emotionally and had no one to talk to... I bet a majority of you reading this have already judged her. Seriously, who do we think we are? We point fingers because it's something we don't understand so it's easy to be vocal about it.

Live your life out of love not fear. It's amazing... you DO become closer to God when you stop hating yourself. People always talk about being deceived by Satan. We are deceived. But deceived that God doesn't expect us to be human. The real reason why God cries...

Just live your lives, people. If he didn't struggle with such darkness for years- that he wasn't good enough for God, that He was only a sinner, homosexuality being his defining characteristic... imagine the joy and love he would have really brought people. If you feel it on the inside, you project it on the outside. I truly believe that's what God desires of us. Being who he created us to be.

I'm sure all you "Sad" people don't realize that the word "homosexual" wasn't added to the English translation until 150yrs ago. Just keep twisting the Bible to make it what you want "Christians". Truth WILL set you free and thankfully Ray found his Truth! RAY, thanks for being a TRUE example of love in this world full of cookie cutter literal Bible readers.

I too am a Christian. The Bible had been used for so long to oppress people who God made different. The Scripture says the truth will set you free and Ray has been set free. You dissect scripture which was not originally broken down by verses and put and choose to prove your points. Leviticus and Romans were both talking about idol worship and not Homosexuality as we know it today. Sodom's sin was inhospitality not homosexuality as you would believe. Homosexuality is not a choice and soon the medical field will prove this just like scientist proved the earth was round despite what the Bible says. I praise Ray and his courage and I know God loves me despite what you Pharisees seem to teach,I am now closer to God than ever before and this is my prayer.
Dear God,

I have come to you today,
Because, well, you know, I am gay.
The world thinks that this is my choice,
So they refuse to hear my voice.

I have been told that you hate me,
Can this really be a possibility?
They say that I am damned to an eternal hell,
But if I act, as if I am not what I am, all will be well.

But God you know I have tried,
You know how many times I have cried.
You know that I have pleaded for a change,
That my life you would take and rearrange.

But no matter how hard I tried,
No matter how many tears I cried,
Everything inside of me has remained the same,
So I ask you now, who should I blame?

Do I blame the society who is unaware?
Do I blame the people who just do not care?
Do I blame those who sit by and shake their head?
Proclaiming that I would be better off dead.

We have become the lepers of today,
And everything that goes wrong is blamed on those who are gay.
However, I know that I am who I am today,
Because it was you, who made me this way.

I did not choose to purposely disobey,
I did not choose to turn away,
But I have chosen to be who I am,
Without shame and not living a sham.

I have chosen to embrace the gift of love,
For surely, this was the gift from above.
So God, now I ask you take me by the hand,
And help me make others understand.

Remove the blindfolds from their eyes,
Remove their shackles and disapproving cries,
Awaken in them the spirit of love so true,
And let them know that being gay…came from you.

Mac McClure August 28, 2005

This is so sad and shows just how far we as a society have fallen. Sin is Sin! Ray made the choice to leave his wife and children and to be gay, not God and he has to repent. We all sin, but it is our choice and we all have to repent and take responsibility for our sin. If Ray does not change he will burn in Hell. This is not me judging, but a fact from God. We all have free will and WE make choices every day. Ray does not want to talk about scriptures because he knows He is wrong and He can't dispute what the bible says. Sin is Sin and Lust is Lust and Homosexuality is a Sin. Divorce is a Sin. I pray for Ray and his family.

This does not shock this vessel for the spirit of the tongues has been bound concerning the campaign to elect who is God's Choice in revealed from the concealed. And the tongue of TRUTH PURE TRUTH was released only to speak to know the heart of man and women all intents to make it clear. Praise God, that prayer went ALL THE WAY out even to Ray Boltz heart in conviction, for much was bound in Jesus Name of Nazareth. HalleluYah. Ray Boltz has been unfair to his brothers and sisters over 30 years singing the songs of worship... even the accuser of the brother is well versed in these! In this hour this vessel leaves Ray Boltz in The Hands of The Living God, God of Israel, we pray America's destiny and ALL FLESH. He was wrong to not tell people when He first came out... after all their support. It shows you how satan REALLY deceives well and is an angel of light perverting the righteous way as written in Acts 13-9-10. This vessel will stand with God of Israel in His Written Word in Romans 1:32. I ask mercy for his soul and ways, in forgiveness even now, in Jesus Name of Nazareth. Many of us still today goes through THE FIRE to keep the fragrance of flesh burning in The Living God's Nostrils... for HE LOVES THE SMELL OF BURNING FLESH... it doesn't take YEARS to get to the brazen lavarn (sp). It's a free will choice, period. Praising God for the PURIFIED and CONVICTING TRUTH. HalleluYah. Praying for Carol and that she is healed quickly in Jesus Name of Nazareth. Amazingly, this vessel was going to purchase a CD a while back but The Father held me back??? NOW I KNOW WHY. He will never fail us. Praise God. Ray Boltz through allowing the adversary his way and bowing to the father of lies deceived not only himself, but many, many others. Help us, Holy Spirit in Jesus Name of Nazareth, in mercy. We repent Holy Father for any type of association that lured us in, cleanse us and forgive us immediately, we declare The Holy Blood of The Lamb who bought this moment, EVEN FOR RAY in Jesus Name of Nazareth. Decreed, SEALED, AMEN.

Romans Chapter 1 paints a picture of how this is clearly sin. Sadly, it is incredibly likely that Ray is a false convert. The Bible says that certain people have been given over to a deluding influence, having their foolish hearts darkened. These people not only do these acts, but take pleasure in others that do them. God is not mocked, and will in no wise clear the guilty. After coming to knowledge of the truth and turning from it, there remains no longer a sacrifice for sin. I may have fleshly desires as old as my memory can track to be an adulterer, a thief, a blasphemer, a liar, a murderer (or even one who hates his brother), but it makes no sence to say, "it's okay, God made me this way and even though HE appears to say it is sin, He wants me to be me". He does not. He wants us to be transformed - to be like Christ.

SCIENCE proves that some people are genetically made to be homosexual??? Some think—this follows that God MUST BE THE CULPRIT.

What if someday science proves that some people are genetically made up to be polygamist (in fact, there are some 'scientific proofs' out there for this) or pedophile? This follows, then, that God CREATED them as polygamists and pedophiles. Something ain't right about this.

For people who think—being gay is okay—the debate is simply that, not whether some people 'FEEL' it's okay.

Let us be VERY, VERY careful with this... If the Christian community (Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, etc.) say yea is okay to be gay, then we must be ready to also consider whether or not—-polygamy, pedophilia, bestiality… the list goes on—-is okay.

God help us!

Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound? Certainly not!

The Word of God clearly states unnatural relations (man with man and women with women) is an abomination. There is no way we can misunderstand that, whether you are a "Christian" or not. We as a society need to take some responsibility for our actions and stop making everything acceptable to make us feel better. You can not call yourself a Chrisitian and live in this type of lifestyle. We as CHristians need to love everyone, but hate the sin. And if you can't see this as sin, then you need to repent as well. My prayer is that he and everyone else in this situation will see their sin for what it is and repent (turn away) and seek God's guidance.

There are only two states of being: love and fear. Joy and peace are forms of love; anger, hate and judgement are all fear. When you are sickened, when you are so deeply disturbed by news like this, you must look at what you are afraid of. This means looking within, not without.

You cling to scripture that is as old as humanity itself. You quote what you want from it and discard the rest. You point the finger at others because you see yourself in them. "I thank God that his lie is worse than mine." You are searching among your own fear, your own lies, for the ultimate truth -- just as Ray did.

But you are also afraid you will find the truth, so you look only far enough to create some kind of shield around you -- a shield that makes the Bible, your minister and your political leaders responsible for what you believe. If you can put your beliefs in something tangible outside of yourself, you are not responsible for them. You think this will bring you love, but it only creates more fear because you are not in control of your heart.

The ultimate fear that Christians have is that everything we believe will turn out to be wrong. So much of it already has. There are enough examples of this in the Bible alone to completely dismantle the Christian paradigm. As Ray learned, the truth is within each of us. God is in each one of us -- he or she does not exist in a human book, a man-made temple, or an organized religion. God has nothing to do with any of these. Once that is discovered -- and it is not easy, given our conditioning -- there is peace. There is love, and there is no more fear. The search ends and heaven on earth begins.

Ray Boltz is a pioneer, just as you are a pioneer. Seek and you will find the truth -- but only in yourself.

With all the inspirational music he has given us over the years we need to remember that the devil works the hardest on those who are doing the will of God. We need to pray for him and his family.

I was at Ray's concert last night, at Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, and if those of you who speak out against a gay life-style had ANY clue what presence the Spirit had last night, you would all be ashamed... we who are gay and live to serve Christ bear a special calling, and last night, Ray stepped up to that calling at a new level. And trust me, his music will continue to minister and break through to lives that need transformation.

Finding reconciliation with the person we love and our GREATER love for Christ is a journey I hope you never have to travel. But I will tell you this... I wouldn't trade it or give it back for anything. My journey in the Body of Christ has seen mountain-tops I would have otherwise not seen. Seeing lives transformed and love for God abound and multiply is the single most amazing thing to be witness to in the Kingdom of God... and last night, Ray's presence, performance, and testimony to perserverance were nothing less than testament to the Work God does in each of His children. God Bless you, Ray, Carol, and family! And thank you for choosing us to begin your new era of ministry with!!! Go Forth in your NEW DIRECTION!

Sin is sin. God loves everyone.

But he doesn't love or accept their sin.

God loves Ray Boltz, but not his sin of homosexuality. Just as he loves me and not my selfishness.

I will admit that this news is shocking and disturbing. Only because he is promoting the idea that God creates homosexuals, along with many people on this board. Whether you call it homosexuality or not, it is a sin against God.

To Sean: "Truth WILL set you free and thankfully Ray found his Truth!" If the Truth has set you free, you will be free indeed. I'm not sure you realize that this Truth is Jesus Christ, Son of God...not coming out of the closet.

No, Ray did not find truth. There is no such thing as "his truth" or "our truth." JESUS is the Truth! Ray has actually bought satan's lie, that he is a homosexual and nothing he does or says can change that--he bought the lie that satan is greater than God and what He can do! God has set many people free from this sin, from this abomination. He got weary and gave up. Perhaps he was supposed to be a powerful witness of the pain and suffering that he would be willing to endure by not giving in to the lie and the sin, for all those others who suffer as well. He could have been God's heart and hands on this earth, by giving others encou