Ray Boltz's 'Coming out': A Story that raises Questions, and then a Ministry Spotlight -- Solomon's blog

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Date Posted: 21:12:34 10/10/08 Fri
Author: Solomon
Subject: Ray Boltz's 'Coming out': A Story that raises Questions, and then a Ministry Spotlight

A Story that raises Questions, and then A Ministry Spotlight.

(feel free to use/reproduce/pass on)
I hope you will read the ministry spotlight at the end, this ministry deserves commending.
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In mid September, the beloved musical artist Ray Boltz announced his conclusion that he is gay and has been for all his life. He said, ��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.�� Presumably, he anticipates that this new decision (presumably to stop resisting the life-long temptation) will bring him greater peace, as he says, �I really feel closer to God because I no longer hate myself.� (qtd. From http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2008/09/ray_boltz_comes.html )

Somehow, somewhere, things got fuzzy in Mr. Boltz�s thinking�as it can very easily for us. I wonder where he got the idea that just because he was tempted in that area, then that must be �who he is� at his core. Are we to hate ourselves because we find ourselves tempted in certain areas? Is the experience of temptation something we need to feel guilty for? Didn�t Jesus experience temptation? (Heb. 4:15) And just because an area of temptation lasts for 30 years or for our entire lives for that matter, it does not make us �who we are��if our faith is in Christ, we are God�s child, beloved, created in Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10)�and that is who we are. Our particular set of temptations does not define our identity.

It may be that we all experience the pull of temptation more strongly in certain areas. (whether its gossip, or lust in any improper form, or greed)� No matter if that pull lasts are entire life, may we never listen to the voice of the evil one as he accuses us about �who we are��may we listen to the voice only of our Shepherd, and hold to his command to simply resist temptation, in any forms. And may we not look down on any brother or sister in Christ who in confidence shares a �heinous� sin that they are tempted toward. May we simply encourage them to continue to �abstain��as 1 Peter 2:11 commands us. Jesus himself faced the onslaught of temptation�as Hebrews records, �For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are�yet was without sin.� (Heb 4:15)

1 Peter 2:11 gives us our marching orders concerning the fleshly lusts that wage war against our soul�and the marching orders are not complex.��abstain.� Flee is another word used (1 Cor 6:18). Whenever, wherever temptation may hit us. And we must strap on our resolve to do this for the long haul�much longer than 30 years�it is the command of God�s word, and we shouldn�t be surprised if it stays relevant until our dying day. Personally, I don�t see reason in scripture to feel guilty for experiencing temptation� but to simply resist�any time it comes at us�to resist. To flee. And to keep our resolve, And to be ENCOURAGED in this struggle against sin (Heb 12). To keep going. To learn what it means to walk by the Spirit as a key to victory (Gal 5:16)�to confess when we fall and to keep going.

The news about Ray Boltz is discouraging to me�not because he was tempted all those years, but because he listened to voices of guilt, instead of the voices of his Shepherd. And he bought into the lie that if you are tempted in this particular area, then you must just �be that way� and you will never have peace until you just give up the fight. What a trap. Let�s pray for Mr. Boltz and other Christians who find themselves tempted in this particular area, so that they will not give in to the discouragement and lies of the Evil one; but would simply resist the sin/ abstain from the lusts that wage war against them�and to do this with resilience, their entire life, just as we need to do with every temptation.

Well, as news of this approaches the one month mark, I want to share the link of an organization that is �holding the light up� as far as this issue of homosexuality goes. Their name is Exodus International. I commend them for their faithfulness despite the growing fog in this area. And I encourage people to check out their website. �Exodus� seems to deal with this issue in a way that reflects a rock-solid commitment to both truth and grace-- graciousness�especially if you�ve ever wondered how to hold to the truth without sounding like a jerk to unbelievers who disagree on this issue.

The ministry again is called �Exodus International� and their website is http://www.exodus-international.org/ I encourage you to take 60 seconds to at Click on it and scan some of the headlines� you don�t have to read the articles�just see what this community of people is all about.

Please keep them in mind and encourage others to check out this website if you sense they are being swayed by some of the fog being circulated out there surrounding this issue. Exodus international.

Grace and peace, and be encouraged in the good fight today,
Solomon-

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