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A Lesson in Worldview (Brought to You by the Letter "I")
- 09/15/08
- 40
So Ray Boltz, a once-prominent figure in the world of Christian Contemporary Music, is gay. He came out to his family—he is the father of four grown children—in December of 2004 but only recently has the news trickled beyond that inner circle. Just a few days ago his story was featured in an article in the Washington Blade, “the Gay and Lesbian News Source of Record” in D.C. and it provides a rough time line of the recent years of his life. In 2004 he retired from singing and touring, in 2005 he separated from his wife and moved to Ft. Lauderdale to start a new life, and this year his divorce was finalized. He is now living what he describes as a “normal gay life.”
The news was not of too much interest to me on a personal level—I don’t know Boltz, do not own any of his albums and am not familiar with even his most popular songs (which seem to be “Thank You,” “Watch the Lamb,” “The Anchor Holds” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.”). I know a little bit about him because of my many years of listening to Christian music but to me he is little more than just another face in a crowd. So it’s not like this news involves a man whose ministry I’ve known and loved. What fascinates me about this story is its worldview implications.
There are essentially two ways that humans can understand the world. The first way is the way we all understand the world until the Holy Spirit intervenes in our lives and gives us new eyes to see. This worldview is I-centered. I am the center of my own universe and the arbiter of all truth. I may not vocalize things in just this way and may not even think them quite like this, but it is ultimately what I believe. I believe that I am capable of looking at the world and understanding the way it works—who God is, who I am, the relationship between us, and so on.
The other way of seeing the world is God-centered. Here I acknowledge God as the center of all that exists and the arbiter of all truth. Everything that is true and everything that is knowable has its source in Him. Thus I can only interpret the world properly by rightly acknowledging God. This is, obviously, the biblical worldview. It is God who tells me who He is, God who tells me who I am and God who declares the terms of the relationship between us.
The first worldview allows me to acknowledge as truth only what I want to believe about myself; the second worldview requires me to acknowledge as truth what God says about me. The first worldview has to have as its premise that I am ultimately good while the second has as its premise that God is ultimately good. In the first view I sin against myself while in the second I sin against God. The contrasts could hardly be more pronounced.
Reading this story in the Blade provided an interesting perspective on worldview. Here is what Boltz said about the freedom he has found in declaring and accepting his homosexuality. “I didn’t have to be who I was in the past. I didn’t have to fit somebody else’s viewpoint of what they thought I was. I could just be myself and I met a lot of wonderful people.” He said also, “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.”
He states with startling clarity that he rejects God’s assessment of who he is. No longer did He need to fit his worldview into anyone else’s—he was free to accept his own self-assessment. God’s assessment is that Boltz, like me, is a sinful man and one who is tempted and tormented by sin. He is a man who is corrupted by sin and so deeply corrupted that without God’s intervention he will more and more resemble the sin that inhabits him. And one sin that Boltz long wrestled with is the sin of homosexuality. This may well be a kind of besetting sin—a sin that has plagued him since his youth and one that has never lessened its pull on him. Each of us has sins we are more prone to than others and I know there are many Christians who fight lifelong struggles with sexual orientation. But I also know that God can give grace to overcome even that sin. A God-centered worldview would tell Boltz that, though he may be somehow inclined to homosexuality, this tendency is a result of sin and it is a tendency that God utterly rejects. A God-centered worldview would tell him that God assesses his sin and calls him to repentance. God does not condone his homosexuality any more than God condones any other sin.
Sadly, Boltz has an I-centered worldview. He declares without apology that he is gay and, digging a knife into God’s back, says that it is God who has made him this way. He rejects God’s assessment and instead assesses himself by his own standards and declares that he is good. He piles sin upon sin, accepting his homosexuality as good, rejecting God’s declaration that it is sin, divorcing his wife, living that homosexual lifestyle.
The lesson to me in all of this is the importance—the life and death importance—of seeing the world not through my eyes but through God’s. God has given us the Bible which allows us, like a pair of glasses that somehow illumines blind eyes, to see the world as He sees it. Through the Bible I find that I am not good but am instead utterly depraved. Incredibly and humiliatingly, I find that I have no ability to properly see and understand reality without Him. I find my desperate dependence upon Him to comprehend what may seem so plain and so obvious. I find that I need Him to interpret reality for me because, without Him, I’ll get it wrong every time. I need God to teach me to see myself.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (40)
Truly sad.
This is truly sad and shows just how far we have fallen as a society. It’s all about me and what makes me look cool or what makes me feel good. I will be praying for Ray and his family. I’ve read so many blogs and responses about this and so many people (and the really sad thing is that a lot are professing Christian) defend his Choice. Well, actually they say it’s not a choice and that God made him this way. This is a choice and it is Sin. Ray has shown no remorse, guilt or any indication that he will repent. I have to believe that he has never been a Christian. If he became a Christian to try and deal with his personal perversions and has never had a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, he has no understanding of grace, mercy, repentance or anything else biblical and there for is lost. That is why he doesn’t want to debate scripture, because he knows he is wrong. Even Satan believes in God and that Jesus was the son of God and died for our sins. My heart is broken but I know God will use this for the glory of His Kingdom.
I’m shocked and saddened. I grew up listening to and singing Ray Boltz’ songs. This is sickening news on a personal level because of the disappointment I feel regarding a man from whose ministry I have benefited, and on a corporate level because it is yet another black-eye to the church’s witness to Jesus Christ.
Ick.
Surely Ray, along with his ex-wife and grown children should be in our prayers. It’s just terribly sad news on various levels.
This is truly a sad story and a shame. Like the prodigal son, Boltz has walked away from God to live a life of sin and self. Let’s all pray and hope that as with the prodigal son, Boltz will one day repent and return to God.
Tim,Excellent, well stated article that really nails the point home.
Not that I condone Boltz’s new lifestyle, but I’m not sure the “I” vs. “God” dichotomy really flows out of that particular Boltz quote. It seems that he now believes God not only made him inclined to homosexuality, but that, consequently, God no longer condemns the practice of homosexuality. Given that assumption about how God views homosexuality, Boltz may still be operating in what he considers a “God-centered” world view. For instance, he likely still acknowledges that other activities are sinful and displeasing to God, and because of that tries to avoid them in his life.
The big problem with this, obviously, is that his understanding of God, as it pertains to homosexuality, is deeply flawed. When he says, “I didn’t have to fit somebody else’s viewpoint,” I took that as a reference to other human beings’ viewpoints, not God’s viewpoint.
Contrary to your fan club, I do not think this was well-stated. Although I am firmly opposed to the gay-lesbian-bisexual movement (and think Boltz should go to hell for what he did to his family alone), i think that you misinterpret what Boltz stated. For example, rather than brusquely digging a knife into God’s back, Boltz states the opposite: he now feels closer, more intimate to God now. Although we may beg to differ with Boltz’s opinion regarding his actual level of intimacy with God, it behooves us to accurately state what he has opined. Putting words into his mouth, or, in the very least, misconstruing what he has said, is inflammatory and unproductive.
This article is also rather simplistic, and prone to wide-sweeping statements void of nuance and subtlety. It caricaturizes the gay person in the usual condescending and alarmist manner.
It also falls upon rather questionable arguments. The “I” argument is slightly laughable. Just for kicks, take a look at the sentence below. Using the same argument, would you also conclude that the author of the below sentence is somewhat tainted by an “I” worldview?
Through the Bible “I” find that “I” am not good but am instead utterly depraved. Incredibly and humiliatingly, “I” find that “I” have no ability to properly see and understand reality without Him. “I” find “my” desperate dependence upon Him to comprehend what may seem so plain and so obvious. “I” find that “I” need Him to interpret reality for “me” because, without Him, “I’ll” get it wrong every time. “I” need God to teach “me” to see “my”self.
I am very sorry to have to say this, but this is the kind of article that merely reinforces stereotypes in the average Christian’s mind, and which further distances the already-suspecting gay-lesbian community from the church whose Christ loved and died for, inter alia, the gay-lesbian community.
thank you for your excellent insights. i am so grateful to view this sad situation from this perspective. our bent towards self is sickening….so thankful for grace. amazing.
But I also know that God can give grace to overcome even that sin. A God-centered worldview would tell Boltz that, though he may be somehow inclined to homosexuality, this tendency is a result of sin and it is a tendency that God utterly rejects. A God-centered worldview would tell him that God assesses his sin and calls him to repentance. God does not condone his homosexuality any more than God condones any other sin.
I see in the above quotation someone (with an I-centered worldview) looking at someone else and saying, “I can’t believe that you don’t experience the world the way that I see it.” The common Christian makes a complete mess of the situation because they don’t fathom an experience other than their own.
I’m not insinuating that homosexuality is acceptable to God whatsoever.
Christians ought to be careful not to be a tinkling cymbal. If all one does is blather on about what some other person should be doing, then you’re a tinkling cymbal regardless how heartfelt your warning may be. Christians have to demonstrate love to homosexuals, and until we do, there will people like Ray Boltz, who undoubtedly sought a God-centered worldview and God’s grace, easily rejecting the stated truth because they did not see it demonstrated.
We hear a lot about what homosexuals miss and don’t understand about the issue — what we seldom hear about Christians:
Until Christians actually love homosexuals, they really have nothing worthwhile to say to them.
We may not have anything worthwhile to say to them, and we don’t really unless it is from the Scriptures themselves. The Scriptures are the only thing that have anything worthwhile to say to this. If we base our repentance on how nice Church people are to us, then our faith is a sham and worth nothing to us at all. Yet, I do get the compassion you are trying to convey. I do. I feel the struggle too. Honor the sufferer yet honor the savior. It is a struggle.I am confused about all this stuff anyway, but if I just go to Scriptures, there I see some really sobering things. Things I don’t want to accept, yet if the savior who died on the cross and rose again vouches for each and every word, I must too. Even when I don’t understand. If we don’t have Jesus and his very words as our anchor, then we have nothing of substance to hold onto in this life or the next. As hard as they are to bear, they are still the only words of life. That is pretty hard to deal with when I just want to succumb to all my own besetting sins. It isn’t fun, but it is the only way. Gotta hold on to the end. It doesn’t feel good. It isn’t always pleasant. It isn’t always glamorous. It is a hard road and one not well traveled. You have seen those roads, bumpy, rocky, not level, rough, sometimes obscure and sometimes a really long road. A tough way. But it is the right way.
Regarding “feeling closer, more intimate to God,” I am reminded Christianity is a life of holiness lived out through adherence to Biblical standards.
I speak as a Christian, who struggles with homosexual desires and has remained celibate by God’s mercy, grace and providence for twenty-seven years.
The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments speaks of homosexuality as sin. In the final analysis, homosexuality is a love of self rather than a love for God and for others. Homosexuality is born of a heart which generates a multitude of sins, all of which cause us to be alienated from God, not brought into more intimate fellowship with Him. Regardless of what we “feel.”
The only hope for any sinner is Jesus Christ and His church … to know God and to know who we are in Jesus Christ and live in open and accountable and loving fellowship.
Unfortunately, most Christians don’t expect homosexuals to come to Christ because like the prophet Jonah, they don’t want them to come to Christ. Most Christians are “firmly opposed to the gay-lesbian-bisexual movement,” rather than beigng loving and gracious and merciful towards those who are dead in their trespasses and sins. Well said, Nathan.
Richard
I hate that letter “I”! :) What grief and loss it brings us in this life, and potentially for eternity. Very well-said, Tim (and for those who are worried about this sort of view equaling lack of love for the homosexual or any other sinner, well, you’re just wrong. Remember, the truth about how things really are is a vital ingredient in love.)
Good thoughts Tim. And interesting comments.
It’s not so much the sin of fornication, but it’s the calling sin not sin that is what Tim is getting at, methinks.
Jesus said when you have light come into the heart through the eye, then the heart is single, and so it is a good heart. But when this light, which comes in, is darkness, then the heart is desperately dark.This is Ray’s big problem I believe. Amy Grant had the same problem when she divorced her husband for Vince Gill, when she said, “God doesn’t care about marriage, it’s the relationship He cares about.” (paraphrased)
Jeri & others. . .
1 Cor 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 John 3:18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love . . .
The verses above show that speaking truth does NOT equal love nor does it necessarily equal something profitable.
*Love a homosexual by having him over for a meal.*Love a homosexual by allowing him to be honest about himself.*Love a homosexual by allowing him to express himself in ways that aren’t sinful, but that you might not understand.*Love a homosexual by making positive statements and having a positive attitude about your willingness to do whatever it takes to help him meet biblical standards.*Love a homosexual by not being a busybody matchmaker.*Love a homosexual by greeting him like you greet anyone else.*Love a homosexual by keeping your disdain to yourself.*Love a homosexual by not shuffling him off to some extra-biblical reparative therapy group.*Love a homosexual by not comparing him against your idea of manhood. (don’t fool yourself into thinking that YOUR idea is necessarily God’s — love the homosexual enough to check and double check your reasoning in this matter)*Love a homosexual by offering relationship and community that you know he will eventually find elsewhere if you don’t.*Love a homosexual by realizing that your obligation STARTS when you open your mouth rather than ends there.etc.etc.
If these are the things that I would find at church rather than the robotic gong exclaiming, “It’s a sin, it’s a sin, it’s a sin,” I would find a much easier go at doing something that is nearly impossible without it. Homosexuals need authentic relationships. If you deny them that, then don’t be surprised when they come to the gut-wrenching conclusion that church doesn’t work for them and then leave.
What did Paul say? Something along the lines as ‘such as were some of you…’ God through Christ justifies sinners of every sin and gives them the Spirit and word to know and be enabled to live godly lives. Yes we all will continue to sin - and we all look forward to the day when this old body will be made new in heaven. Until that day we all will struggle to do the things we should be doing and to not do the things we shouldn’t be doing….. My own sin is of lust for women. Did God cause me to be sexually orientated that way? Me thinks not. The old man Adam did - but thanks be to God He has made me a new creation and has enabled me to say no to sin and to live to righteousness…. yet for now I still struggle. But I am justified in respect to all my sin. For this poor fellow - I would say as a fellow traveller beware that satan hasn’t deceived you into rationalising away sin. Your urges may to find your sexual pleasure in a homosexual relationship. Mine might be to lust after women or to lie to my business partners or clients or to lust for wealth or whatever..Being justifeid people whose sin has been buried with Christ - nailed to the tree…. it behoves us to get on with life and be done with sin. It’s a battle … seems our brother may need love and gentleness to see the error of his ways. May God bring this brother a knowledge of where he is erring in his deception and be rescued from it.
Jeri … The church’s greatest difficulty is balancing the truth and holiness of God with His indescribable love and mercy and grace toward sinners. Jesus Christ reserved His most critical words for those who believed themselves righteous and bestowed words of mercy on those entrapped in sin. Believe me, there is not a homosexual anywhere in America that does not know Bible-believing Christians proclaim homosexualtiy is sin. In 2007, the Barna research group released a survey showing 91 percent of young non-Christians believe Christians display “excessive contempt” toward homosexuals and lesbians. This is not the way of Christian love and compassion. Perhaps if we focused more on the Savior rather than the sin, perhaps if we remember the remnants of rebellion in our our hearts, we would then remember “that the kindness of God leads (sinners) to repentance.” (Romans 2:4)
Richard
Thanks Richard for sharing your struggles. Many people, including my self don’t appreciate the struggle that gays go through in remaining faithful to Christ. Having been a long time supporter of EXODUS , a ministry to homosexuals and reading their newsletter which usually contains a personal story of someone overcoming their desires, one thing keeps popping up regularly, churches. Time and time again I read where someone went to their church pastor or leadership and were essientially told to please go somewhere else, we can’t handle this or dont “want your type in our congregation.”. I know we have to do a better job making our churches welcoming to people who want to overcome this. Ray is responsible for his sin no doubt, but being in the body for so many years did he ever feel safe coming up to someone and saying help me I am a homosexual? I hope Mr Bolz realizes he sin and returns home.
But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with any who claim to be fellow believers but are sexually immoral or greedy, idolaters or slanderers, drunkards or swindlers. With such persons do not even eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11 TNIV)
An excellent article that condenses the core message of the Word of God, one that pierces through the self-deceptiveness of our depraved and sinful heart. Thank you!
Hypothetically, if Bible-believing Christians understate what Scripture really declares about same-sex behavior, do GLBT’ers get more upset at Scripture or at Bible-believing Christians who understate Scripture’s teachings on same-sex behavior?
Speculatively, on a larger scale, does God get more upset at Bible-believing Christians who understate Scripture’s teachings on same-sex behavior or at Bible-believing Christians who accurately and lovingly teach Scripture about same-sex behavior, but are still perceived and subjectively judged as hateful and intolerant by GLBT’ers?
Stan #19: Are you posting that verse in response to something someone said? If so, what?
Truth #21: To answer your second question, clearly the former. Why would God be upset with one who “accurately and lovingly” teaches scripture? But of course, you knew that. Let me pose a different question. Would God be more upset with the one claims to “accurately and lovingly” teach scripture regarding homosexuality, but in reality does so inaccurately, exaggerating its importance relative to other sins, and without love, or the one who, in humility, considers himself the chief of sinners and treats others accordingly?
That question also has an obvious answer.
Stan got it right here. We are not dealing with homosexuals in general in this situation, but a man claiming to be a brother who has embraced his sexual immorality. This man should not be showered with kindness and acceptance, but should be put out of the church so his spirit may be saved. There is a difference in how we are to treat those in the world and how we treat our own. It is a hard thing to do and should make us grieve and mourn, but it must be done. His spirit is at stake, and our gospel. I am sure even if we were perfect in our love for the world, our judgment against our own would make us look intolerant and self-righteous, even if we are not.
There is nothing hateful about saying that “homosexuality is a sin,” but if that is where your message ends, then it isn’t very loving either.
In my experience, I have found no one willing to say, “Come and go with me…” In the conservative churches I have attended over the past 30 years, no one within the church has been willing or has dropped any kind of hint of being willing to put forth an honest effort to help me.
A smug Christian may look at Ray Boltz’s rejection of God as rebellion based solely on his own perversion, but perhaps Ray also rejected God because he was snubbed by Christians who proclaim God’s love, but fail to show it in any meaningful way.
In my opinion, the climate and expectations of the church in general makes Ray Boltz’s decision very logical, yet they are still sin. . .
Thanks, Chuck. I have never been involved in the Exodus ministries or Love Won Out (from Focus on the Family) because both emphasize the language of psychology and reparative therapy rather than Christian discipleship within a local body of Christ.
Thanks for remaining true to God’s Word, Stan; but, what do you do for homosexuals who proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and still struggle with homosexual temptations?
Reflecting Nathan’s comments, twice I have revealed my struggle with homosexual temptations to elders in conservative Bible-believing churches only to be, either overtly or subtly, rejected. The evangelical church views homosexuality as a “special” sin of which not even the power and presence of Jesus Chist can change or control.
I don’t know whether Ray Boltz is a prodigal or one of those for whom the cares and riches of this world have caused him to fall away. I pray he is the former and one day will come back into his right mind to the praise of glory of the One who called him out of a life of sin. I don’t know Ray’s heart but I do know God’s heart is one of love and grace and compassion to those entrapped by their sins.
Lastly, Nathan, I will pray for you every day that you grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and that God bring Christian men into your life to love and disciple you.
What is so sad is the abandoned wife and children.
Grace, I agree. Whatever the sin, there is no justification for abandoning ones family and then claiming to feel “closer to God.”That demonstrates to me the selfishness of the whole thing.
To all,While it’s true that the gay community has often been ignored by the church, it is also true that the gay community, by and large, has called the church hateful because of it’s firm stance and not because of a personal encounter with an unloving person.
To the unrepentant sinner, anyone refusing to call the sin anything other than sin will be identified as unloving. And while we should listen to those who make the claims against us, we can hardly expect non-believers to rightly identify or define love. Nor should we allow those who hate the church to slander God’s people without cause.
This doesn’t come up soley in relation to the gay community, but with abortion, co-habitation…you name it.
We all run into unloving (we imagine) Christians from time to time, that never allows us to bail out and point the finger.
What Boltz has done is wrong, no excuses, just wrong. In fact, given the years he has spent in the church, he is more guilty (if there is such a thing) than most because he knows exactly what he is doing. He cannot claim ignorance.Those who know him must love him, but love him in the way that a parent loves a child whom they are disciplining. Spanking hurts, but it IS love. So is being put out of the church in a case like this.Pray for him, yes, but pray too for his pastor and family, they are the ones who have to deal with the fallout.
J.P.H.: “Would God be more upset with the one claims to “accurately and lovingly” teach scripture regarding homosexuality, but in reality does so inaccurately, exaggerating its importance relative to other sins, and without love, or the one who, in humility, considers himself the chief of sinners and treats others accordingly?”
Dear J.P.H.,
Arguably, we have an example in Scripture, don’t we? That would be the apostle Paul. He considered himself the chief of sinners. And from that foundation of humility he treated others accordingly. And yet, if I recall correctly, he was still stoned and beaten on occasion.
Furthermore, would you argue that the Holy Spirit exaggerated the sin of same-sex behavior relative to other sins since the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to explicitly name same-sex behavior as sin in the Epistles?
I agree that the proponents of the LGBT community wrongly consider true Biblical teaching as unloving and hateful, but they don’t define love, God does. God demonstrated His love through self-sacrifice; He gave everything. Love goes beyond reciting truth.
Are you willing to give of yourself to help? Even if it requires a lot? If not, then I have to question what you yourselves are calling love.
Truth #28:
“And from that foundation of humility he treated others accordingly. And yet, if I recall correctly, he was still stoned and beaten on occasion.”
He did and he was. I haven’t contended that teaching the truth in love won’t earn you hatred and derision. However, teaching a distorted view of the truth without love will also earn you hatred and derision. In my experience, many who are labeled “hateful and intolerant” are, in fact, hateful and intolerant. They brush off their accusers with the same sort of example you gave: Paul “did it right” and was still reviled. Ergo, I can totally dismiss the criticisms of those who revile me, even if they are in fact valid.
“Furthermore, would you argue that the Holy Spirit exaggerated the sin of same-sex behavior relative to other sins since the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to explicitly name same-sex behavior as sin in the Epistles?”
I would not argue that, no. I would, however, argue that homosexuality having been explicitly called sin does not elevate it to any special position relative to other explicitly named sins, of which they are many.
Nathan and J.P.H.,
Let’s now bring specificity to our generalized discussion. Would you consider this particular blog post by Tim Challies about divergent worldviews as explicated through the example of Ray Boltz as being “hateful” and “intolerant” and “unhelpful” toward the GLBT community?
Why or why not?
I wouldn’t describe Tim’s post as hateful or intolerant. I do, however, think he overstates the extent to which Boltz’s quote implies a wholly “I-centered” world view, which is what I posted in my original comment in this thread.
Nathan: “I agree that the proponents of the LGBT community wrongly consider true Biblical teaching as unloving and hateful, but they don’t define love, God does.”
I appreciate this explicit admission.
“Love goes beyond reciting truth.”
Truth is the Living Word and the Written Word. Nathan, please describe this “love” that you’re speaking of … a “love” which you say “goes beyond” the reciting of the Truth of the Living Word and the Written Word.
Good question Truth Unites/Divides.
I see three problems with the article which make it not entirely helpful and borders on hurtful — especially the first one:
Tim stops the article short.The article doesn’t conclude anything that is particular to homosexuality in and of itself, yet uses it as a sole example. Since many use the “Bible says so” hook to hang their discriminatory and hateful hats, more care should be given to give encouragement to God-centered Christians to extend their hands to help the situation. Yet, this article only implores them to shake their heads in disgust and watch out for themselves.
Tim oversimplifies Ray Boltz’s decision. Tim assumes that Ray divorced his wife and abandoned his kids. Perhaps, they were the ones that rejected him and weren’t willing to work through a tragic situation. I’m sure Ray made whatever decisions he did after years of struggle. Where is THAT story? I agree that Ray Boltz’s current view is not Biblical, but HOW does someone come to such an “I-centered” view? Well, a very good way is if the only person willing to be there through the struggle is oneself.
Tim is unclear about causation. Tim doesn’t know specifically how one is inclined to homosexuality, but he knows that the inclination must be sin. Even in the light of Romans 1, realize that this conclusion is based on Tim’s own I-centered worldview. Tim can’t fathom how one would have a physical attraction to the same sex and so says that there is some kind of sin at hand. I say that the physical attraction exists emotionally & biologically (a conclusion based on my personal experience), but that does not exempt me from adhering to Biblical standards regarding what I do with that attraction. Is my viewpoint God-centered? Or does a God-centered view necessitate an instantaneous transformation at all levels?
An ‘I’ centred world view doesn’t stop with homosexuality. How about greed, lust, materialism, god haters, lying, gossiping, laziness, idolatry, gluttony, drunkenness, adultery, divorce, lust, speaking foul language, etc etc…? Do we hear of church members unrepentant of these sins, being vilified and excommunicated? Me thinks not…. The fact that Tim has pointed to one man with one very ugly sin (I also speak as one who’s own Christian brother also walked out on 5 children and a wife to live with a man….) does point to a lesson. The problem with the article is that it doesn’t go far and wide enough pointing to the sins that cling to middle class western Christians, that also display a ‘me’ world view. I’d hesitate to say that the majority of Christians still cling to a ‘it’s all about me and my happiness worldview’. It leads to a “I don’t want to give up my drunkeness”, “I don’t want to give up my pride”, “I don’t want to give up - lets say mortify - my lust of the eyes”, “I don’t want to mortify my greed for money”, “I don’t want to mortify my pride”, “I don’t want to mortify my gluttony”, ………. (name your ‘darling’ sin here …)
We best be careful that we don’t become like the Pharisees who spent their time puffing up their own self righteousness. A good dose of Romans is needed….
anon,The point here is that Ray says God made him this way. It’s not sin to have sex with another man.
We can surely put our ‘darling’ sin, or sins, out there for all to see, and hopefully we would hate our sin. Some don’t like you say. But I have to wonder were they ever born again.
I believe there will be those who go to church, and grab the religion part of the church, and speak the right words with their lips, but their hearts are far from the grace of Christ.
I thank the Lord for His grace and mercy every day, and even every hour. And for His Spirit of truth and love which abides in me, in order to set me apart for my Father in heaven, who seeks to be worshiped in Spirit and truth.
Hating our sin, and loving Christ are two sides of the same coin for the genuine child of Jesus.
Good post Tim! I would agree with what others have commented in regard to separating Mr. Boltz from the church body, according to the Biblical teaching on church discipline. This would not only be of benefit to Christians in the church, but also to Mr. Boltz himself. That separation will help him to realize his alienation from God (which right now might wrongly seem intensified to him right now.)
As someone who has a past history with this particular sin, I do think that our conservative churches do have a bit of a challenge dealing effectively with this issue.
Why is it that most people who come out of this specific past (or alcholism? or many other besetting sins?) typically must pass thru the halls of parachurch ministry first (Love Won Out, Exodus, etc) before fully finding home in a local church body? Perhaps it is a matter of requiring a diet of milk before they mature to more solid meat.
Or perhaps once we become “mature” disciples, thoroughly built up in sound doctrine and theology, we tend toward our own form of selfishness — resulting in insular, ingrown tendencies that don’t care much about loving the unlovely or being ambassadors of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost.
That’s why I like challies.com, because he is clearly a guy who gets the solid meat of sound docrtrine and theology, while at the same time being firmly rooted in the grace of the Gospel.
I’ve struggled with homosexuality ever since my teen years, and I’m a baby boomer. By God’s grace, I’ve never had sexual relations with another man, but I’ve made excuses for myself when I did lots of other quirky things. In my heart, I knew those things were also sin. I deeply respect Richard for the things he’s said here. My experience has been different. I’ve mentioned my struggle to several Christian friends. Each one has been supportive, though I think one was privately horrified. Because of special circumstances, I can’t blame him.
I agree with others here. When we speak or write truth, people say we are unloving, discriminating, or doing hate crimes.
#38, Anon2,
I really appreciated your post and I wanted to let you know.
Thanks for humbly denying yourself, repenting, and asking the Spirit to give you strength to follow Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
God bless you.
Please allow me to clear up, and perhaps correct, the tone of my previous posts:
Saying a statement like, “Homosexuality is a sin,” is not unloving, but I consider making that statement alone as not being loving enough.
If one’s “recitation of truth” includes not only the spoken word, but also actions to demonstrate the love of Christ to others, then true love is at work. How does one demonstrate the love of Christ? God demonstrated His love by giving His life for unworthy sinners.
Love is where your WWJD sandals meet the road. I gave a dozen or so practical ways listed above that would be very meaningful to homosexuals used to be ostracized and demonized by so-called God-centered Christians. I respect those Christians’ desire to contend for the faith and defend Biblical standards, but implore them to go beyond a trite response.