If you're not familiar with Ray Boltz, he was a Contemporary Christian singer popular in the 80's and 90's. His most popular song was probably "Thank You For Giving to the Lord", with some of his other popular songs being "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb", "Watch the Lamb", and more.
A few years ago, Boltz, married man with children, came out of the closet as a gay man. He said he had struggled with being attracted to other men for most or all of his life, and after praying for deliverance for years, decided it was OK with God since God hadn't changed him. With his wife's blessing - how bizarre - he left his wife and began pursuing the gay lifestyle.
It is a sad story, but made sadder by his still claiming to be a Christian. I was just on his website, and he is still performing, but it looks like he has branched out and is singing songs to defend his lifestyle - I am guessing by some of the song titles on his newest CD: Don't Tell Me Who to Love, American Queen, Free At Last, etc.
As I was listening to his CD to and from the way to work, I really listened to the words, and felt a great sadness. How sad a man could write the words and sing the songs that he did, then go against what the Bible says, and still claim to be a Christian.
Words like this:
They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
And that He paid that price
A long, long time ago
For my transgressions
And that He paid that price
A long, long time ago
When He gave His life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there's something else
I want to know
On a hill called Calvary
But there's something else
I want to know
Does He still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?
Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought
Of hurting Him
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought
Of hurting Him
It seems that I'm so good
At breaking promises
And I treat His precious grace
So carelessly
At breaking promises
And I treat His precious grace
So carelessly
But each time He forgives
What if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?
What if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?
Does He still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?
Every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry
Crucify, again?
Am I causing Him pain?
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought
Of hurting Him
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought
Of hurting Him
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail?
Have I crucified you, Jesus
With my sin?
Every time I fail?
Have I crucified you, Jesus
With my sin?
I'm tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt You again
I really want to change
I never want to hurt You again
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
Or these:
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrants throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
Were brought before a tyrants throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one, they chose to die
The Son of God, they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring
The Son of God, they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
Now, the years have come and the years have gone
And the 'cause of Jesus still goes on
Now, our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the Cross
And the 'cause of Jesus still goes on
Now, our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the Cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us gladly stand and boldly say
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us gladly stand and boldly say
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
Who took my place, who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength, with all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
As I listened to the words of these, and other songs, I thought about where Ray Boltz was when he wrote and recorded those songs, and felt so badly for him. How could a man write those songs, and then go against what he wrote?
Some might just toss the CD, but I like a lot of the songs. And it seems extreme to get rid of it because of what he is now. How could he promise in songs to obey God's commands, to try not to fail God anymore, then ignore what God says about homosexuality, and dive headfirst into it, and claim God is OK with it since He didn't deliver him from it?
As I think about Ray Boltz, and his decision to believe a lie, a few things come to mind:
1) Take heed lest we fall. I don't believe once-saved-always saved for several reasons, but am not going to knock those who do, as I have friends who believe it. However, I don't believe salvation is as easy to lose as I was raised to believe, and a person has to make a conscious decision to walk away, or turn to a life of sin as Ray Boltz has done.
3) Deliverance doesn't necessarily mean a loss or change of desire. There are people who, when they become Christians, are instantly delivered from a sin/addiction. Whether it be smoking, drugs, alcohol, pornography, or homosexuality, some are instantly delivered. However, many more deal with a desire and strong temptation in that area for the rest of their lives.
My best friend's dad. Joe Matlock, is a very intelligent and godly man, and I think this was original with him when he said this: it is possible God instantly delivers those who He knows could not handle a struggle in that area for the rest of their lives. But the ones who He doesn't instantly deliver are ones who will be made stronger, and learn to depend more on God through the desire and struggle.
We are not sexless beings. The straight, or heterosexual male, has as much of a struggle to remain pure and as much of a temptation to lust, as the gay male or male that struggles with same-sex attractions. God does not just shut the desire off whether you are attracted to the opposite sex, or the same sex.
Most evangelical Christians cringe and react with horror that they could do such a thing, but yet our churches are filled with people doing what they want to do, even though there are Biblical principles that would say they shouldn't do it.
I want my attitude to be, what does God want me to do, to avoid. How does He want me to dress? Where does He not want me to go, listen to, view? I don't want to live my life doing what my church tells me I can or cannot do, yet I don't want to just assume I can do the opposite of what they say.
Ray Boltz is living a sinful and immoral lifestyle, and he is wrong and needs to find his way back to God, but we all need to remember that could be us. Not necessarily leading a sexually immoral lifestyle while claiming to serve God, but believing a lie and claiming to be in God's will. May God help us all to seek His will for our lives, and live for Him, not for our own desires.
And let us never twist or ignore Scripture so we can do what is more convenient for us.
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