Ray Boltz Comes Out

[Marcia]

Yes, I was/am a believer. My biological father was a Baptist minister for over 20 years before he passed away. I was raised in a church, knew/know the Bible and still fell into the gay lifestyle.

So just to clarify, you were a born-again believer practicing the homosexual lifestyle when you returned to church and were openly flouting it and denying it was wrong? You were entirely unrepentant when you attended?

I have felt a calling from the Lord for many years now, and only now do I think I can go to school and study to become what the Lord has in store for me. If that should happen to be leading a church, I will respect and love anyone that comes into the church. I won't mixed words, I won't beat around the bush and approve of a sinful lifestyle, but I will pray for them, I will care for them and I will gently nudge them into a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. It's what happened to me and I know first hand of the success it had.

I have repented and am now ready to live the life Christ wanted me to live. I was not always where he wanted me, but I know he was never far away from me. He did love me even while I was in the lifestyle I lived, but it's similar to a parent loving their child that is in prison (which I also know about first hand). The parent will always love their child, but not that actions of the child.

Again, I fully understand where you are coming from, but I have to base my opinion and my way of thinking on my real life example and how it worked and helped me

Jamie, I am very happy the Lord brought you to repentance. But we have to go by God's word, not our experiences or our own beliefs on these matters.

It could be that the church you came back to, since you were not a member, treated you as possibly an unbeliever even though you said you were a believer. Is that possible?

It must also be, based on your story here, that you were feeling some conviction on this and were not totally in rebellion or you would not have gone to the church nor would you have listened to anyone there about this. If the pastor saw a glint of repentance or receptivity to the truth in you, that is what he was responding to. I have a hard time envisioning a homosexual attending a conservative church who is openly practicing that lifestyle, and is openly rebellious to God.

 

[JamieinNH]

So just to clarify, you were a born-again believer practicing the homosexual lifestyle when you returned to church and were openly flouting it and denying it was wrong? You were entirely unrepentant when you attended?

Yes and no.... I'll explain a bit.. I was a born again believer practicing the lifetstyle when I returned to church.

I wouldn't call what I did openly flouting it, but I guess I did. I lived my life like anyone else.. if they asked if I were married I would tell them no, my partner's name is... and introduce them. If they didn't ask I didn't tell them.

I didn't pretend to be straight although during my gay lifestyle I am a pretty 'straight acting' guy... I am not a 'flamer' as we called them in fact I never really liked flamer's and the ones that threw it down your throat. I am of the nature that either side of the fence if it's not done right then it's wrong..

Flamers that try to throw the gay lifestyle down everyone's throat is wrong just as the people like Fred Pheps as an example.

To know me, you would know I was gay... to see me you wouldn't. Understand? It's hard for me to explain.

Jamie, I am very happy the Lord brought you to repentance. But we have to go by God's word, not our experiences or our own beliefs on these matters.

That I understand fully now, I have always known that but I have a greater appreciation for it now, but I don't think that would or should stop me from using my real life examples to better God's kingdom if it can. In my opinion, it doesn't have to be either or I can go by what God tells me any my life examples to reach people.

It could be that the church you came back to, since you were not a member, treated you as possibly an unbeliever even though you said you were a believer. Is that possible?

No, they knew I was raised in a church, I talked about my father many times and they knew I was a Christian.

It must also be, based on your story here, that you were feeling some conviction on this and were not totally in rebellion or you would not have gone to the church nor would you have listened to anyone there about this.

I did always have the feeling I was wrong.. there was a conviction of sorts and I know now it's was the Holy Spirit working within my life.

If the pastor saw a glint of repentance or receptivity to the truth in you, that is what he was responding to.

That is why in this thread, I mentioned that we don't always know what is working within the insides.. the person like Ray might state he is happy to live the "way God made me"... trust me, I used that one a bunch of times.. but on the inside the Holy Spirit is steadily working on that person's soul. Since we can't see the inside and have to trust God knows best, I believe we should continue to love that person, encourage them to repent and change but never, never shut the door. You can encourage a person without saying what they are doing is ok.

I have a hard time envisioning a homosexual attending a conservative church who is openly practicing that lifestyle, and is openly rebellious to God.

Then you should have met me a year ago or longer... I have always loved the Lord and wanted him in my life, but I always for many many years felt that i was meant to be gay.. that that was my lifestyle, not a choice, not something to take lightly... not a phase but my life.. I lived both for many years.. in the end the Lord won with me.

It's the same fight I fought many years that many are going through now.. I want to reach out to them and let them know God loves them and that unless they change they are headed down a dark and deadly path. Through my love and caring I hope to reach out and help do my part and save the ones God is working within.. At the same time understanding that some people will never be reached... some people will never come to terms with that lifestyle and will never give it up. I to this day have struggles but they are getting better.. I am sure they will never go away, but the Lord is walking with me and I trust and have my faith in him.

 

[Marcia]

To know me, you would know I was gay... to see me you wouldn't. Understand? It's hard for me to explain.

I understand what you are saying. Btw, I was around a lot of gay men and women before I was saved -- there are quite a few in the New Age. I used to do charts for lesbian witches, and my husband worked with a gay man who was a friend of ours. We met his partner who eventually died of AIDS. My vice-president (a guy) when I was president of the astrological society was gay and was a good friend of mine. And there were many others.

I did always have the feeling I was wrong.. there was a conviction of sorts and I know now it's was the Holy Spirit working within my life.

Well, if you were a believer, I would think you were convicted.

That is why in this thread, I mentioned that we don't always know what is working within the insides.. the person like Ray might state he is happy to live the "way God made me"... trust me, I used that one a bunch of times.. but on the inside the Holy Spirit is steadily working on that person's soul. Since we can't see the inside and have to trust God knows best, I believe we should continue to love that person, encourage them to repent and change but never, never shut the door. You can encourage a person without saying what they are doing is ok.

But what do we do with what God's word says? I agree we need to urge them to repent but if there is no sign of repentance, no sign of softening to God's word, then we have to follow that word. Putting someone out of the church is not shutting the door; it is causing them to face their sin. They repent and come back. Did you read 1 Cor. 5? It's there to instruct us in these matters. Also the passage from Timothy.

Then you should have met me a year ago or longer... I have always loved the Lord and wanted him in my life, but I always for many many years felt that i was meant to be gay.. that that was my lifestyle, not a choice, not something to take lightly... not a phase but my life.. I lived both for many years.. in the end the Lord won with me.

You lived both? Does this mean you were always conflicted about it? If so, then I would say you were not hardened and the pastor saw that. Plus, if you came back to the church after many years, this is a sign that the Lord is working in you. That is different from someone in the church who says he is gay, is lovingly confronted, but chooses not to repent and believes it is okay and continues on that way.

I to this day have struggles but they are getting better.. I am sure they will never go away, but the Lord is walking with me and I trust and have my faith in him

The struggles you have are similar to the struggles I see in my ministry with some people coming out of the occult. It's often a day-to-day struggle, trusting the Lord.