Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Former Christian Musician Ray Boltz Likes Guys

I learned about Ray from a commenter on this blog. Oddly, she seemed to rejoice in Ray's temptation by writing, "Ray Boltz coming out made my day." Anyway, I found his official site, hoping to find his request for prayer... His hope for victory over sin... But I found nothing like that.

I feel for Ray, because I too have a dark sexual temptation... I'm attracted to girls. No, it's true. I can't help it... God made me that way.

But we are not spiritually defined by what tempts us, but rather how we respond to temptation. I respond by choosing not to sin... I respond by avoiding sin... Even though God made me with a desire for women.

Now, the fact that women generally don't find me attractive has proven to be invaluable in my ability to resist fornicating. Still... I don't chase skirts and I don't sleep around... I do resist temptation.

Like most Christian men, my battle is in my "thought life."

I hope and pray that Ray Boltz' sin is limited to that.

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20 comments:

Bekah said...

I heard about this last week and could not believe it. I read the article on Washington Blade or whatever it's called - and it just made me sad. Like you said - we all have our area of struggle, and one isn't worse than the next. But the end of the article made me sad because it didn't seem there was much fight against it.

And I found something about it on another site that had tons of comments that I eventually stopped reading because they just made me sick. People were celebrating because he had fallen - one was even offering a spot in his handbasket to hell.

9/23/2008 11:10 AM
Tsofah said...

I posted this elsewhere, but felt it is best shard here.

It saddens me anytime someone stops struggling against sin. When a person stops struggling against the urge to steal, another person loses something they own. When a person stops struggling against their urge to go over the speed limit, they risk getting a ticket or worse; hitting someone. When a person stops struggling agains the urge to kill, another person loses their life.

In Ray Boltz case, he stopped fighting one of several sexual temptations, and lost his marriage, his family, and since it is a "willing sin", salvation is lost to him as well.

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

You know, when someone KNOWS they are wrong, and needs validation from others that they are right, that is what leads to such celebrations as in the Boltz case. It's that, and a disbelief in the Lord G-d, in sin, and in salvation. Either way, it's scarey.

9/23/2008 11:37 AM
janice said...

I read the comments celebrating his fall. Tsofah is right, this is scary..

9/23/2008 12:04 PM
Malott said...

It's always been easier to stand up and give Him praise, that to present our bodies as a living sacrifice... And to make him Lord of our lives.

But Ray's story isn't over yet. Flesh stuff sometimes gets easier as we get older.

But a matter for prayer, nonetheless.

9/23/2008 12:41 PM
Jacob said...

Maybe he was unhappy before, and now he isn't?

Anyway, who cares what he is - does it affect you in any way at all? No. Except that his honesty and maturity about himself makes you look kind of ignorant, but you manage that perfectly well on your own.

9/24/2008 2:35 AM
Anonymous said...

Maybe his family was happy before, and now they're not?

Anyway, who cares about them - does it affect you in any way at all? No. As long as Ray is happy and those who embrace his lifestyle choice have something to cheer about. Except that your indifference to the pain he has caused those close to him, and to the ramifications it will have for his own life (which I know you deny even exist), is sad and demonstrates a distinct lack of compassion.

I won't comment on whether it also makes you look ignorant, and whether you otherwise manage that perfectly well on your own. I'll just let people draw their own conclusions on that one.

9/24/2008 9:00 AM
janice said...

You took the works right out of my mouth "not jacob", well said.

9/24/2008 11:17 AM
Malott said...

It's amazing how different world views can be... And how much a difference they make in how we view things.

I see something as a tragedy, and someone else sees it as a cause for celebration.

It's like we're on different teams... And maybe we are.

Our side has already won, of course.

9/24/2008 1:37 PM
Jacob said...

Um, not.

Fact is, he's probably always been a big homosexual. I'm not saying it wouldn't have been very difficult for some of his family, and there may have been some hurt in it, but the truth sometimes does hurt. That's not an excuse to keep it hidden.

"Already won"

In what, the retard contest? Bwah!

Yes, I'm five.

9/24/2008 6:40 PM
Anonymous said...

What does this mans homosexuality have to do with you and your life? Why are you "Christian right wing conservatives" sooooo judgemental? People are different. God made us ALL that way. What you are suppose to do in life is embrace all individuals and try and lead a happy peaceful life. Right, left, rich, poor, fat, skinny, gay, or staight. In the end we are all god's creatures.

I guess my question to you "haters" is what is missing in your life that you have to obsess about some stangers sexuality? I mean are your lives really that sad and boring?

9/24/2008 8:53 PM
SkyePuppy said...

Anonymous,

We're not "haters." And what is missing in other homosexuals' lives that they have to obsess and even rejoice about some stranger's homosexuality?

9/25/2008 1:35 AM
Anonymous said...

So, um, Malott? Are you volunteering to murder Ray Boltz, as commanded in Leviticus 20.13?

9/25/2008 3:16 AM
Malott said...

Thomas,

If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.
Lev. 20:13

-But Thomas... Ray Boltz and I are not Israelites, living under the Old Testament Covenant... So he's off the hook.

The life and sacrifice of Jesus introduced a new covenant.

But the verse adequately identifies homosexual acts as sin... just as verse 10 identifies heterosexual adultery as sin... with the same penalty.

9/25/2008 6:05 AM
Anonymous said...

Bzzzt. Ten Commandments still apply, so does everything else.

Face it: your morality doesn't fit in with the Bible. You just use it as a crutch when it's convenient, and then hastily sweep away legitimate criticism by saying 'well, it doesn't apply to me, cos I'm like an American and stuff and it was in the JEW book, so there'.

9/25/2008 6:49 PM
Malott said...

Thomas,

What about sacrificing animals at the temple? Christians believe Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for all, and animal sacrifice is no longer necessary.

After Pentecost the Church began meeting on Sunday, rather than celebrating the Sabath.

The Ten Commandments were the laws given by God, but Jesus said he came to fulfill the law.

9/26/2008 9:17 AM
Tsofah said...

Malott:

Oooops! My friend, I need to share some stuff here, ok? :-)

Animal sacrifice continued after the death of Jesus until the Romans destroyed the Temple. I do not know if you realize the High Holy Days are upon us - Rosh Hoshannah, Yom Kippur, and Succot (the holiday which the Bible says Christians are to participate in as well).

At any rate, now prayers and mitzvah's (good deeds) replace animal sacrifice for the Jewish people.

Regarding this: "After Pentecost the Church began meeting on Sunday, rather than celebrating the Sabath." That is just a bit erroneous. Christians continued observing Shabbat for hundreds of years. It wasn't until the church turned on the Jews at the Councils, and proclaimed Jews to be of the devil, and "christ killers", that their meetings were changed to Sunday to separate them from the Jews. I highly recommend the books "Our Hands Are Stained With Blood" by Michael Brown, and "Europe and the Jews" by Malcolm Hay.

You said: "The Ten Commandments were the laws given by God, but Jesus said he came to fulfill the law"

Actually, Jesus said "Don't think I've come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it". Jesus observed Shabbat, the Feast days, and even the animal sacrifices in the Temple (until His death on the cross) because He is Jewish. Ironically, every day we observe some of the Jewish laws, if we follow the teachings of Jesus. The Ten Commandments are just the beginning of the 613 laws G-d gave Israel that day! In His parables, Jesus addressed some of those same commandments and how to fulfill them.

Oh, btw, the Christian Scriptures also declare that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.

The grace of G-d did not come at a cheap price. So many churches I've visited teach such an "easy" salvation that it's no big deal if you sin - (just repent and it's all gone and so you can go out and sin some more) - that it really is sad. NOT ALL churches do, but some.

At any rate...I really felt I needed to jump in here to share. I'm not making Thomas' arguement at all, ok? Just sharing things from a Jewish Believer's insights. :-)

9/26/2008 11:39 AM
Malott said...

Tsofah,

No, Christians no longer needed to sacrifice animals after the death and resurrection of Christ.

The Sabbath Commandment is the one of the Ten which is not stressed in the Pauline Letters to the Gentiles.

But granted, you'd know more about how the Jewish Christians progressed in the Faith.

9/26/2008 11:58 AM
Tsofah said...

Malott:

ALL Christians in the beginning were Jews. ;-)

And, until Paul began teaching about animal sacrifice no longer being needed - yes, Christians DID continue participating in the ritual. James, the brother of Jesus, led the early church in Jerusalem. The animal sacrifice was one of different things Paul and Peter disagreed about.

I just want to show how much we may not realize what we share and have in common. And, some of why things changed the way they did.

9/26/2008 12:08 PM
janice said...

I agree with Tsofah "Our Hands Are Stained With Blood" is a great book. Also we have much more in common with the Jewish faith than not.

Like it or not, as Tsofah said "homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of heaven" is a sad truth. We cannot continue to sin repent sin repent and not learn from our fall. Christianity is not a simple game that can be started over again when you see you're about to lose, again.

It's a daily struggle to walk in path of our Lord, see His plans for us and try with all our heart and might not to fall in the same spot once we've pulled our selves up and repented of our sin.

We are human and fallible. We all fall short of His grace. And only God knows each of our hearts.

9/26/2008 12:35 PM
Malott said...

Tsofah,

But it didn't take us Gentiles long to recognize a good thing.

Janice,

You're right, neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1Cor:6

9/26/2008 1:23 PM

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