I’ve been thinking a lot about whether or not to write this post. But I think it would be good to do so if for nothing else but to continue the dialogue…
Ray Boltz wrote and performed songs dearly loved by Christians such as, “The Anchor Holds,” “Thank You,” “Behold The Lamb,” and “I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb.” But now he admits that he is gay, leaving behind a wife of 30 years along with 4 children. Click here for the Christianity Today article.
“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.”
Compare that with Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Also read 1 Cor 6:9-11. Mr. Boltz is wrong in his assessment no matter how convinced he is of his rightness. I think the word “if” in his comment above reveals a lack of certainty in his spirit that God did not create him the way he would like to think.
But this post isn’t to bash him, it is to confront Christians about how we are to relate to sin and sinners. His sin is no worse in God’s eyes than gluttony (Pr 23:20), gossipping, greed, drunkenness, lying, fornication, or adultery (Did you read 1 Cor 6 above?). His sin may have be more obvious due to his confession and immediate consequences, but sin is sin in God’s eyes.
When we see sin in others it ought to bring about contrition over our own sin. It ought to humble us by knowing we are just as able to sin horribly… and justify it in our own minds. It ought to drive us to pray for the person… our friends and family for God’s protection. It should never cause us to start throwing stones at the person who’s failed or fallen. But back to my orignial goal…
I’m much more concerned that the Christian community lovingly speak the truth and seek to restore him. I’m much more concerned that the we in the Christian community conduct ourselves in a redemptive manner. I’m much more worried that we don’t become haughty and self righteous using offensive words. If Christians attack Mr. Boltz as if he is not worthy of respect, then we have tarnished the name of Christ and the Gospel.
Don’t forget what Paul wrote in 1 Cor 6:11b… “And such were some of you…”
UPDATE: Below is how I answered a friend of mine who asked a question about Mr. Boltz as to whether or not he had “Regressed in his sanctification” which was a recent blog post.
This post does not apply to Ray Boltz in my estimation (Mr. Boltz recently admitted to being gay… left his wife of 30 years… along with his 4 children.). He is hopelessly blind to his lost condition outside the revelation of God. My personal thought is that he never has been, nor is he now, saved (Based on the lack of repentance in the face of the clear presence of ongoing and abiding sin.). I write that because of what God caused to be written in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
Mr. Boltz is not regressing, he has abandoned. There is a difference between failure and abandoning Christ. Peter failed Jesus… Judas abandoned Jesus. They may look similar to us, but they are universes apart! David failed and immediately confessed His sin. Peter failed and confessed his sin. Judas failed and never repented (Added: Judas had an awakened conscious, but did not repent. There is a difference!). Ray Boltz is unrepentant in the face of clear Biblical teaching (1 Cor 6:9-10) thus it seems from Scripture he was never saved to begin with… regardless of what he says he feels.
This brings up the idea of the possibility of false conversion. This is what happened in Judas’ case. He believed intellectually… preached the Gospel… performed miracles… but was lost as a goose! Simon the magician also believed, was baptized, and followed… but was lost (Acts 8:9-24). This also happened to Billy Graham’s closest friend, Charles Templeton (Billy Graham was his understudy. Mr. Templeton preached to tens of thousands. But then became an agnostic.)
In Matthew 7:21-23 it is recorded that Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
I call that passage “The Judas Factor.” Just because a person prays… gets baptized… preaches… teaches the Bible, or any of a hundred Christian things, it does NOT mean they are saved. Thus Paul wrote 2 Cor 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”