Ray Boltz wanted to do something nice.He’d visited the mostly gay Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis and liked Rev. Jeff Miner, so he decided to give him a copy of his 1997 holiday recording, “A Christmas Album.”It was one of 16 albums Boltz, 55, recorded during a nearly 20-year recording career that saw the Muncie, Ind., native become one of the better-known singer/songwriters in Contemporary Christian Music, a genre born out of the Jesus Movement of the early 1970s that made singers like Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Michael W. Smith and Steven Curtis Chapman superstars in religious music with occasional excursions into mainstream pop culture.Boltz, with about 4.5 million LPs, cassettes and CDs sold, never made a splash outside of Christian circles but he never really tried. With a handful of RIAA Gold-certified albums, three Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association (GMA) and a string of 12 No. 1 hits on Christian radio, Boltz is a household name in evangelical circles. “Thank You,” a sentimental song about a dream in which a Christian thanks the Sunday school teacher who led him to embrace Christ, is his signature song. It was the GMA song of the year in 1990 and has become a staple of Christian funerals. Other Boltz trademarks are “Watch the Lamb,” “The Anchor Holds” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.”Boltz brought the Christmas CD with him to MCC-Indianapolis on that cold, sunny December 2007 day and slipped it to Miner on his way out with a note taped to it on which he’d jotted his e-mail address.Ostensibly it was an innocuous thing to do, but for Boltz it was a big step. It eventually led to him opening up to Miner, one of the first times anybody outside Boltz’s circle of family and friends knew his long-kept secret: Ray Boltz is gay. ____________________________________________________________________________
He also makes the announcment on his site http://rayboltz.com/
This is tragic and very sad.
I am amazed at how the "seeker friendly" gospel allows the absolute Truth of the gospel to be redefined by what makes us comfortable to believe. I believe that this is the case with Mr. Boltz. We as the Body of Christ need to make sure that God's stance on sexual relations betweeen same sex is an abomination. This certainly does NOT mean that a person that feels He or She is gay can't be saved NOR be made to feel that they are not loved or worthy of God's grace. What it does mean is that the sexual act is unexceptable and that abstinance in these cases should be maintained to have the relationship with Christ that he offers us. I am a believer that struggles with sexual addiction, drug addiction and control issues. All of which are desires of the flesh. What God calls me to do is to obstain from these acts also. For any church that calls itself a member of the Body cannot be divided by His Word. My prayers will be for both Mr Boltz and the church that he attends that they understand the absolute truth of the Word of God. I will also pray for myself to continue to love without prejudice all of my brothers and sisters as we walkk this road of constant renewal in His Word. I am so thankful for His Grace in my life.
Amen
I am amazed at how the "seeker friendly" gospel allows the absolute Truth of the gospel to be redefined by what makes us comfortable to believe.
That has nothing to do with the "'seeker friendly' gospel." "Seeker friendly" is a way to contextualize the delivery of God's Word, not change the message of it.
What you have here is just plain ol' "self-serving, unfriendly to those actually seeking Gospel" heresy. Nothing could be more unfriendly than encouraging rebellion against God and a potential eternity apart from Him. That's about as unfriendly as it gets.
t
Diligo Deus Vixi Liberum
"There was some exploration of “ex-gay” therapy though Boltz never attended an “ex-gay” camp or formal seminar.“I basically lived an ‘ex-gay’ life — I read every book, I read all the scriptures they use, I did everything to try and change.' ”
i.e he didn't really commit to what it takes to become ex-gay. He wanted to read a book and be healed rather than do the hard work of walking the walk. I am sorry for him, and will pray for him. But I really wish he wouldn't pretend that he tried to be ex-gay. He didn't.
bryanm (formerly bryan)
"As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!" Arthur Carlson
I am sorry for all the tears I shed while watching him in concert and for all the hours I spent listening to his music and for all the money spent on his charities
Do not be sorry for all the tears you shed,r all the hours you spent listening to Ray Boltz' music, and for all the money spent on his charities. Everything you did has nothing to do with the choice he made to be what God has NOT called him to become. Dust yourself off and do cry before God for Ray Boltz when you intercede for him. If Ray Boltz is to go to hell for choosing to go againts God's Word, let's pray for him; he will have to go over our prayers to make it there. God still loves him and so shall we. :)
If Ray Boltz is to go to hell for choosing to go againts God's Word, let's pray for him; he will have to go over our prayers to make it there.
I understand that it is not believing in Christ and His death on the cross that sends us to hell.* Are you suggesting that Ray Boltz, gays and other people who choose to do things against God's word go to hell for their actions?
* - John
I guess my question is: how can you truly believe in Jesus Christ and go against His word? Scriptures also say: "you are for me or against me, if you are lukewarn, I spit you out of my mouth"...
i'm not suggesting it. I believe it...it's one thing to make a mistake and ask forgiveness...it's another to blatantly live in a way that is totally against God. One sin is no worse than another. a sin is a sin, whether you have sex outside of marriage or rob a bank, it's a sin and unless you have asked forgiveness (with intention of never doing it again) and accept Jesus as your savior, trying to live forGod. A sinner goes to hell upon death.. I believe that and you believe what you believe. As they say, I've lost nothing if I'm wrong, and you have lost everything if your wrong. I dont force my beliefs on you and I feel the same respect should be given back....thanks
thank you, very well said......