Did God create Ray Boltz gay?
- Sep 23, 2008 - 3
“If this is the way God made me, then this is the way I’m going to live,” Christian singer Ray Boltz said in a recent article disclosing his decision to divorce his wife and live as a homosexual.
But did God really create Ray Boltz as a homosexual? The media certainly would have us think so.
Time recently ran an article (“What the Gay Brain Looks Like,” Jun. 17, 2008) attempting to demonstrate the “science” supporting a “gay gene.” Interestingly, the article referenced a study done by Simon LeVay in 1991. The study had major gaps in its methodology, and even LeVay, a homosexual neuroscientist, has said that it didn’t prove what he hoped it would.
An article such as this demonstrates the difficulty of speaking truth into our culture today. Studies attempting to normalize homosexual behavior are introduced with much fanfare, and we hear about “important” new discoveries that are accepted as facts. We don’t hear, however, about the studies which don’t pan out or which could lead to a different conclusion.
Dean Hamer also came out with a study in 1993 which trumpeted the likelihood of a gay gene. Most major media outlets reported on this. But in February of 1999 the Boston Globe said, “Six years later, however, the gene still has not been found.”
In his book The Language of God, Dr. Francis Collins, head of the Human Genome project, made the following comments:
“An area of particularly strong public interest is the genetic basis of homosexuality. Evidence from twin studies does in fact support the conclusion that heritable factors play a role in male homosexuality. However, the likelihood that the identical twin of a homosexual male will also be gay is about 20% (compared with 2-4 percent of males in the general population), indicating that sexual orientation is genetically influenced but not hardwired by DNA, and that whatever genes are involved represent predispositions, not predeterminations” (p. 260, The Language of God).
Dr. Collins has since stated that this should not be taken out of context. He further stated: “That certainly doesn’t imply, however, that those other undefined factors are inherently alterable “I would urge anyone who is concerned about the meaning to refer back to the original text.”
I would certainly encourage readers to do that, paying particular attention to pages 257-263.
The need for Christians to be prepared to deal with this issue is shown in another comment by Boltz: “I guess I felt that the church, that they had it wrong about how I felt with being gay all these years, so maybe they had it wrong about a lot of other things.”
Notice the emphasis on “how I felt.” Far too often we allow “feelings” and the validity of each person’s “story” to trump the authority of Scripture. In Boltz’s case, his struggle with homosexuality apparently caused him to doubt other tenets of the faith. Beliefs to which he had held all his life were reconsidered. This is not uncommon among strugglers from Christian backgrounds. When we fail to help them deal with this issue, other fundamental beliefs are questioned.
Another sad byproduct is that his former wife has joined a pro-gay advocacy group. I’ve often thought that many people turn to various pro-gay groups because the church was not there at the time of their crisis. The end result is that not only is the struggler lost, but family members as well. Tragically, they often become very effective instruments in the hands of homosexual activists.
I grieve for the loss of the testimony of Ray Boltz. I grieve for those who will follow his example. I grieve for his family. I pray that one day Ray will realize that God did not create him a homosexual and that there is a way out.
We are in desperate need of children of Issachar, who understand the times and know what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32). Far too many in Southern Baptist churches are struggling with a temptation they neither seek nor understand, but they are terrified to ask for help. Ray Boltz said, “I read every book, I read all the scriptures they use, I did everything to try and change.” Scripture (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) tells us that people can leave homosexuality.
Those with long experience in this ministry will tell you that very few people have left homosexuality without the support and involvement of others. But the fear of being found out keeps many in bondage, and that bondage is intensified when the world continually trumpets, “You’re born that way. Just accept it.”
I pray for the day when all of our churches take seriously the need to train their leadership to redemptively provide the tools needed for the people like Ray Boltz in their midst. I long for the day when every community has Christians who are prepared to present a positive, joy-filled alternative to the lifelong struggle he has endured.
Are your church and your community prepared? Are you?
This article has been slightly revised since its original posting on September 23, 2008.
Bob Stith is the SBC’s National Strategist for Gender Issues. He is available for speaking engagements and interviews and can be reached at bstith@sbcthewayout.com.
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Sexual Purity, Homosexuality
3 comments (post your own) feed
1 On Sep 24th, 2008, at 7:18am, Robert wrote:
We Christians need to be ready to respond to the issue of homosexuality BEFORE we are faced with it. I have seen that those who are not prepared will react with initial shock, anger, rejection, or some other attitude that basically shuts down the person reaching out to them. While I understand the negative reaction, I try to think of how Jesus would react and I try to pattern my reaction after that. The Holy Spirit lives within us and should control our lives. May we remain submitted to that leading and react to all of God’s children with truth in love. Pray for our world.
2 On Sep 24th, 2008, at 12:47pm, Paul Culbertson wrote:
Bob wrote a great article. This issue should not drive us to throw out Ray Boltz cd’s and rip up his t-shirts… it should drive us to our knees. We also need to take responsibility for not reaching out to the homosexual community. For years for the most part we have built up walls and condemned homosexuality like it is a “worse” sin. It is time that we confront the issue with truth and GRACE. Love the people and pray that they would come to know the true healing power of Christ. I Cor. 6:9-11 covers this beautifully. In vs. 11 it says “and such WERE some of you”. When we refuse to call it sin we rob people of understanding forgiveness. The healing power of Christ is what changes lives. We can preach all day but without Christ we have just empty words.
ALL4HIM, Paul
3 On Sep 28th, 2008, at 11:06am, JJ wrote:
The Genome research stated there is not proof of a “gay” gene. But, it also says that there are several factors that make a person who they are. If you really look at research among Gay people it clearly shows that this is true. How can one child out of several siblings turn out gay? They are in the same environment, same upbringing, same values, etc. And even with twins, only one of the twins will be gay more than 50% of the time in studies. So we can’t just say “Well there is NO GAY GENE according to the Genome project! So they have NOT found a single logical explanation. So let’s move off this subject.
As Christians we need to Love everyone as Jesus did! And the Bible has been used for many centuries to promote Slavery, Discrimination among the sexes, there has been more bloodshed based on religion than any other! Can we unite rather than exclude? It seems to me that Ray and his family have come to terms with all of this. They don’t need out judgment!