Ray Boltz Comes Out

I would agree with you brother.

 

I say that still thinking there is such a fine line . . .

 

I think that the Apostle Paul had the right outlook on matters such as this when he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit these words in I Corinthians 6 --

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. [Underlining mine.]

Just as Jesus Christ (a descendant of Rahab the harlot) took time to minister to the Samaratan woman in John 4, and forgave the woman taken in adultery in John 8, and chose first to appear in His resurrected body to Mary Magdalene (whose past was less than holy), we too need to reach out to those who are despised and rejected of men.

While never condoning their sin, He never turned His back on them either.

While some of those who name the name of Christ may loudly amen what the Apostle Paul wrote in verses 9 & 10 of I Corinthians 6, let us not forget that there's also verse 11.

This same apostle, again under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also penned this admonition in Ephesians 4:31-32:

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

Jamie, our prayers and encouragement go out to you. I praise God for your pastor, who, like Christ (in the words of the late Dotty Rambo), "looked beyond [your] faults and saw [your] need"!

If you ever sense the need for additional resources to help you, please PM me, and I'll be glad to give you some.

 

Yes, it's the new life I am working towards that helps me get through this..

Thank you very much for your prayers as they are greatly needed.

Jamie

 

Wow, isn't God great...
Just look at this thread...

What started out as a sorry OP, has turned into an opportunity for praising God...

I am so thankful for you Jaime!

 

Well, it's not the way I wanted to tell this community.. in fact I had been writing up a post to post but never could get it right.... I even PM'ed a couple of people and told them about it thinking I would soon post to the rest of the group here..

Timing is everything huh?

I am thankful for the Grace of God and the patience he showed me, waiting for me to make the decision to move forward in my life with Christ vers moving away from him.

It's tough going now, but down deep I know the Lord will provide me a better life..

A side note.. My dad is 74 and a Southern Baptist kinda guy and me and him had a falling out 20 years ago when he found out.. after 2 years of not talking, we started to talk and he came around to like Craig, but always wondered why I couldn't change.. Well when I called him to tell him of my decision to follow Christ I think he was the proudest he has ever been of me, and there haven't been many times when he had a reason to be proud of me.

God is wonderful and I love him dearly and want to walk the right path...

 

Your story about your dad reminded me of an old song our choir sang tonight in our revival services...

It is called the Apple Tree song...
Here are some of the lyrics...
I have a link somewhere with one of my old SS teachers singing it...If i can find it I will post the link.

Some time ago, an old preacher closed out a revival and boarded a train on his journey home. As he boarded the train, he sat down beside a young man and tryed to start up a general conversation about the weather or so, but the young man didn't answer so they rode along in silence.
In a little while he broke out in tears and the preacher leaned over and put his arms around his shoulder and said " Son, I'm a minister and I'd sure like to help if I can".
The young man said " preacher, I just have to talk to someone. You see about two years, I went so far as to strike my own dad. And my dad said " Son, you are just worrying your mother to death. And I'm afraid you are going to have to leave home". So you see preacher for about two years I suppose I have done just about everything. Then about a week ago I nelt at an old fashion alter and Oh, how the Lord gloriously saved my soul. And you know the first thing I thought of was dear old mom and dad. Oh, How I'd love to go back home! So I sat down and wrote my dad a letter and said " Dad, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me I want to come home".
The preacher said "Son, that's all well and good but how will you know, how will you know that your father has forgiven you".
The young man said "All my life we've lived beside these railroad tracks in an old run down house and out back stands a big tall appletree. And I told my dad that if he could find it in his heart to forgive me to just put a little flag up in the old appletree and I'd be able to see it from the train and get off . Preacher, we're almost there now and I can bear to look, would you care to look out the window for me".
The old man leaned over and wiped the dust from the train window and looked out. A big smile crossed his face and he said " Son, you don't have a thing to worry about. That
old appletree looks like it is in full bloom! And I see a little gray haired mom and dad under it with a big white bedsheet a waving it. Saying come on home son we still love you!

And you know friend, that's just like our heavenly Father and Jesus standing by His side
with His arms open wide, nail prints in His hands saying Come Home, child, Come on Home! No matter how far you have drifted from the shore, Jesus is alway standing there to welcome you back home. Or maybe you have never known the love of God, He is saying to you Come Home.

 

Found the link to the song...

http://www.esnips.com/doc/056ecffb-d8b9-4b65-8d1c-44a7933ad91a/THE-APPLETREE

I realize it is old style gospel.. but I hope the words bless you...

 

Jamie, it is wonderful that you found the path to turn from that particular sin. I have always believed that the Bible weighs no sin heavier than another. My husband struggles with "a sin is a sin is a sin" - and none of us are perfect. Daily, I struggle with sin, and I lean on the Lord for guidance and power to obtain the victory....but it definitely isn't easy.

You pray for me, and I will pray for you! :1_grouphug:

 

Very sorry to hear of Ray Boltz and his situation. Its always a sad thing when revelations like this occur. There have been others of course through the years that we are all familiar with.

I am greatly encouraged however by Jamie in. N.H.

Thank you for posting about your situation, brother. Our God is a great and mighty God, is He not? May God streghthen and settle you in the years to come and grant you His peace.

God bless!

:godisgood:

 

Crabby, there is no place in the church for the liar, etc. who is unrepentent. Yes, I've told some big ones, and I know that I'm not perfect. But, here's the catch. I know I'm wrong. I daily I seek God's forgiveness. I don't make excuses for my sin. I am guilty as charged. Seems Ray is wanting to justify his sin. Ray wants to make it ok by saying that God made him that way when the scripture says otherwise. Ray's church, if it is a Bible believing church, should remove him from the fellowship until he repents.

 

Welcoming but NOT affirming...

 

Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you.