I heard from Jared (through Facebook) that singer/songwriter Ray Boltz has publicly announced his homosexuality. I guess he doesn’t perform much music anymore, but it’s still a disappointing revelation.
“This is what it really comes down to,” he says. “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.”
I think I can understand that feeling, but it doesn’t make him right. God did not make him homosexual, and the Bible has strong words against homosexual acts.
But I wonder if the grace of salvation cannot overcome bad theology like this. That’s probably a fruitless debate. The larger point is that Boltz, like all of us, needs to repent of what God’s law clearly condemns (1 Timothy 1:8-14). I’m disappointed he didn’t get the sound Bible teaching he should have received all these years.
Is 1 Timothy 1:10 the reason Christians condemn homosexuality as sinful, but eat blood sausage and shrimp (also condemned by Leviticus, in language that isn’t much weaker)?
Also Romans 1:24. And probably other passages that don’t come to mind at the moment.
In general, Christians accept the Old Testament moral law wholesale, but consider the dietary restrictions part of the ceremonial law, superseded by the work of Christ according to New Testament theology. Note in particular Acts 10:9-23, where God commands Peter (in a vision) to kill and eat various unclean animals. Kosher wasn’t the actual point of the exercise, but the church took it as indicative. Also it’s clear throughout the New Testament that the apostle Paul adamantly defended the right of Gentile converts to eat what they liked, unless it was a matter of conscience, as in food sacrificed to idols.
The Romans verses are the ones I think of first for this, but I was looking for the list of diverse sins similar to those in 1 Timothy 1 that come saying people who practice such things will not enter heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is what I was looking for. I didn’t take enough time to find it.
In Boltz’ case, these are verses he must apply directly, because he can’t say that he has been washed clean of his sin while practicing one of things listed as an act of unrighteousness which will bar him from heaven.
This makes me very sad.