Well, here's a shocker of a story: in an interview with the gay publication Washington Blade, CCM veteran Ray Boltz has come out of the closet and admitted that he's gay.
The story, published last Friday, relates Boltz's Christian music career, his struggle with gay feelings, and his eventual confession to his family in December 2004.
It's actually a really well-done story and definitely worth reading.
But WOW, it's a total shocker.
For more than 20 years, Boltz has been a staple of the CCM industry, earning several certified gold albums, three Dove Awards and a string of 12 No. 1 hits. He's probably best known for the songs, "Thank You," "Watch the Lamb," "The Anchor Holds" and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb."
He was married for 33 years, raised four kids, and was by all accounts a typical Christian music artist.
But in 2004, he dropped a bombshell on his family when he admitted that he was gay. He'd been struggling for years with his feelings, to the point of clinical depression and thoughts of suicide.
Boltz tells the Washington Blade, "I'd denied it ever since I was a kid. I became a Christian, I thought that was the way to deal with this and I prayed hard and tried for 30-some years and then at the end, I was just going, 'I'm still gay. I know I am.' And I just got to the place where I couldn't take it anymore ... when I was going through all this darkness, I thought, 'Just end this.'"
He and his wife divorced - and maintain a good relationship - and Boltz has the love and support of his children. He's moved to Florida to start his life over, and tells the publication that he's dating and leading a "normal gay life."
in 2007, he visited Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis and quietly slipped a CD and a note to the pastor. It was the first step for Boltz in going public with his news.
While Boltz isn't the first Christian artist to come out of the closet, he is the most well-known, so it will be interesting to see the reaction from the Christian community. The article does a really good job depicting the CCM mindset towards homosexuality, explaining that "it's only been those who've shown repentance for their perceived sins, who have been able to rebuild their careers." (Artists like Dennis Jernigan, for example.)
If I can be totally honest, I admit to being a bit conflicted on the gay/Christian issue.
I don't think anyone goes to hell (whether that's an eternal fire or an eternal separation from God) because they're gay. I think that's determined by our relationship with Jesus and whether or not we've accepted that gift of salvation. I have deep compassion for gays; I have close family members and dear friends who are gay, and I know that God loves them all. I don't feel it's an "us vs them" argument. But how it all fits into the Christian church? I don't have a clue.
But I'm pretty sure that, good or bad, the Christian music industry doesn't have a place for artists like Boltz. There is, however, a budding gay Christian music industry, where artists like Jason & deMarco find success. (Jason Warner started in the Christian music industry, touring in the late 90s with the groups Truth and The Sound.)
While Boltz tells the Washington Blade that he doesn't want to be the poster child for the Christian gay movement, there may be still an important place for him in the music industry. In fact, he recently performed at the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church in Indianapolis, and on September 21st, he'll perform at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. at 3:00 p.m. Both are churches with strong outreaches to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT) communities.
But does it have to be the gay Christian music industry? Can Boltz continue, if he wants, can he remain part of the CCM industry? What's your reaction to the news?
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Shocker! Clay Aiken comes out of the closet
Check out the Joanne Brokaw's "Christian Music Year In Review," a look back at the stories you were talking about on the Gospel Soundcheck blog.
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the comment made by one of you guys " it is one thing to know you are a sinner another to flaunt it like a banner and pretend it is okay with God' is totally true, most of us do so. nonetheless, sin is sin. i believe that Ray came out of his shell to tell us that he is struggling, i have been there and i believe its a cry for help so lets all pray for him, i love his songs and i believe God has deeply touched his heart, he is reaching out to us for help, lets not let him down. pray pray pray if God says homosexuality is wrong, he can get him out but it needs us to pray for all those who love Jesus and are caught up in this web. don't judge, pray
I am saddened by Ray Boltz's depature from his marriage to a gay life style. I have often been blessed by his music and videos. Whether it's into the gay life style or adultery, staying close to Jesus by understanding the true make up of a Christian can keep anyone victorious in Christ. Solomon fell and David fell. Solomon never recovered spiritual victory although he was not lost. David recovered because he came to understand that he had an enemy within (in sin did my mother concieve me, Psalm 51). Paul speaks of this same truth in Romans 7; ("t is no longer I that do it (sin) but sin that DWELLS within me." David also believed God had forgiven him when he confessed his sin. He also asked not to be saved again but that God would restore the joy of his salvation, thus showing that saved people can fall into deep sin and still remain eternaly saved. The issue is victory or defeat, not saved or lost. But here is a key element that many sinning Christians miss when seeking God's forgiveness; David understands that the joy of personal salvation, which is the joy the Christian experiences when the Holy Spirit manifests His presence in the believer's soul has PRESENT POWER. David knew this would cause an innner healing (that the bones which YOU (God) have broken might be healed). The fact that we Christians are often tripped up by our besetting sins discourages us. I am sure there was a release of tension when Ray and others decide to "give in". Yet we must be certain from Scripture that Christ has made victory possible to every Christian over everything from our old nature that would enslave us to sin and keep us from maturing in Christ. Anyone born again, and I believe Ray is, has a new nature wherein resides the Holy Spirit forever. However, the Holy Spirit can be grieved and He can be "quenched". Thus the believer is out of fellowship with Christ and since the new nature has no power apart from Christ, down we go. How to come back? Understand that God has not abandoned you no matter how you feel if the Name of Christ was ever precious to you and trusted by you. Then remember Jesus told Peter that he could have no fellowship with Him unless Christ washed him. Context shows He is not talking about washing in the blood. That's a one time thing. Jesus is talking about having your mind washed in the water of the Word. As Peter's feet came in contact with the dirty road and needed cleansing, so our minds are influenced by the dirt we see all around us in this lost world. So Christ minister His Spirit (often likened to water) through His word and cleanses us! Believe John 5:24 and know Christ is ALIVE and you CAN overcome any sin by His powerful Word and fellowship. Phillipians reveals that Paul's desire to KNOW (experience in every sense) Christ was what motivated him to serve and do what he did. I hope this helps some one to recover and go on to victory. Believe God's Word over anything including past failure and even conscience. God bless, Dennis Clough .
I have loved this man's music all through the 22 years that I have known the Lord and I truly believe that God has used him to write songs that minister to the hearts of men. While I will sincerely pray for him that God will give him peace, I am convinced that the only way that will happen is through repentance. My heart is broken over this. I only heard of it last week. I too have sin issues that I struggle with but I know that if I give in to them, I will get lost in them and my relationship with Jesus will suffer tremendously. I know that God still loves him and I don't think that God will throw him away for this. But it must sadden the Lord that one of his mightiest voices in the CCM industry has been silenced and tarnished. I can't cast judgment on him because I have struggles of my own. But neither can I agree with him that God made him that way. I think he gave up the good fight. I've thought about doing that a time or two myself, so I have sympathy for him. All I can do is pray that God will somehow restore him.
so what if ray boltz is gay i say let him stay his still the greatest singer i know his music really touches my heart there are other gay cristian singers so let him stay.
This is the saddest, disappointing thing I have heard in a very long time. He has touched many hearts over the years. I will pray for him, that God will lead him back. For anyone who reads the bible and understands it's words, being a christian does not allow us to be gay. Sin is sin is sin, and being gay is not of God. It is clearly spelled out in the scriptures. Too many today want to live with one foot in church and one foot in the world, and still think that they are a christian. Satan tells us all lies every day to get us to fall. This behavior is what makes people question christianity.I will pray that somehow God will restore him, for no matter what we do, God still loves us unconditionally.
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