So, we have all read or heard about the Gospel singer Ray Boltz being a homosexual, right? Well, I can remember in many church services (UPC/Apostolic and Baptist alike) at many churches his song “The Anchor Holds” was sung and brought a mighty move of God’s spirit. This was before we all found out he was gay. This causes me to wonder:
a) Does God indeed honor homosexuals contrary to what we conservatives believe?
b) If God does NOT honor homosexuals, how can their songs be channels for such supposed moves of God? Was it God’s spirit in those services, or have we received a glimpse of just how powerful music is, regardless of the circumstances or the artist?
c) Did God know, even though we did not, that Ray Boltz was a homosexual, and He simply supported our ignorance? That seems to make sense. Even though we did not know the song was written by a gay man, our own feelings were sincere, so God honored our sincere, though misled, brokenness.
This causes me to wonder about other songs in the past, present and future that have brought, and will bring, supposed moves of the spirit. Is it God, or is it the music? What would happen if we rid ourselves of the music? Would we run into situations like this?
I think the songs speak to things that we can relate to and they move us.
We have all been through situations where it seemed like the whole world was crumbling around us and yet God was our one constant.
The words of a song like "The Anchor Holds" speak to us and remind us of those times. Those remembrances are moving and remind us that God is our one constant that we can always have faith in. That moves us to praise Him and worship Him.
When the song is being sang and heard by those in attendance the words are sand and received on an individual basis by those present and their reaction and interaction with God as a result of those words have everything to do with their own life and life experiences in relation to God and nothing to do with whomever took a pen to the words the first time nor their lifestyle.
If someone sings that song in your church next service and the Spirit of God moves. He will be honoring their own faith and worship and the faith and worship of those hearing the song at that moment. Not Ray Boltz or anyone else who had to do with the writing of the song.
I have always wondered why god would give a gay person the "Holyspirit" I don't know how God looks at them but he must not look at them like we do if he allows them to have the holyspirit???Just my 2 cents
If someone sings that song in your church next service and the Spirit of God moves. He will be honoring their own faith and worship and the faith and worship of those hearing the song at that moment. Not Ray Boltz or anyone else who had to do with the writing of the song.
Very well said.. I believe just about anyone can write a song. However, I feel the anointing is brought forth through the Holy Ghost in the person singing the song. I also do not feel that a homosexual is Holy Ghost filled..
I don't think it's about God "honoring" any one person. Anyone.... anyone... can write a song from the depths of their heart and their feelings. If the words are true, if they're God-honoring, if they cause an individual's heart to sing praise to God - then the song can be used to glorify God.
It's the words themselves that matter, not who penned the words.
An adulterer, a murderer, a gossiper.... whatever. Any of them can have heartfelt feelings as their spirit reaches after God. Maybe they themselves never heed the call, or never obey God's voice. But they can still have the thoughts and feelings that prompt them to write a song.
People love to tell the story of the man who wrote "It is Well with My Soul". The man who lost his wife and children when their ship sank, and yet he could write "It is Well with My Soul". It is a great story..... but. Most people don't mention the fact that he went on to take his own life. At the moment that he wrote the song, his heart was reaching out to God, and he had reached a place of peace. But, he was eventually consumed with grief again, and took his life.
But that still doesn't ruin the song. Even though the author of that song went on to not hold on to that faith, the song is still true and good.
Are you saying when a gay person speaks in tongues that it is not real as evidence of the holyghost? Which is another topic all together....
That is how I feel. However, I do believe they can be filled with the Holy Ghost, and then speak in tongues.
Also keep in mind this is how I was brought up and how I believe. I am the last person to judge someone or to tell someone how they believe or feel is wrong.
No sin is greater than another, therefore for me to judge them, would be just as bad as being like them..
I don't think it's about God "honoring" any one person. Anyone.... anyone... can write a song from the depths of their heart and their feelings. If the words are true, if they're God-honoring, if they cause an individual's heart to sing praise to God - then the song can be used to glorify God.
It's the words themselves that matter, not who penned the words.
An adulterer, a murderer, a gossiper.... whatever. Any of them can have heartfelt feelings as their spirit reaches after God. Maybe they themselves never heed the call, or never obey God's voice. But they can still have the thoughts and feelings that prompt them to write a song.
People love to tell the story of the man who wrote "It is Well with My Soul". The man who lost his wife and children when their ship sank, and yet he could write "It is Well with My Soul". It is a great story..... but. Most people don't mention the fact that he went on to take his own life. At the moment that he wrote the song, his heart was reaching out to God, and he had reached a place of peace. But, he was eventually consumed with grief again, and took his life.
But that still doesn't ruin the song. Even though the author of that song went on to not hold on to that faith, the song is still true and good.
So, we have all read or heard about the Gospel singer Ray Boltz being a homosexual, right? Well, I can remember in many church services (UPC/Apostolic and Baptist alike) at many churches his song “The Anchor Holds” was sung and brought a mighty move of God’s spirit. This was before we all found out he was gay. This causes me to wonder:
a) Does God indeed honor homosexuals contrary to what we conservatives believe?
b) If God does NOT honor homosexuals, how can their songs be channels for such supposed moves of God? Was it God’s spirit in those services, or have we received a glimpse of just how powerful music is, regardless of the circumstances or the artist?
c) Did God know, even though we did not, that Ray Boltz was a homosexual, and He simply supported our ignorance? That seems to make sense. Even though we did not know the song was written by a gay man, our own feelings were sincere, so God honored our sincere, though misled, brokenness.
This causes me to wonder about other songs in the past, present and future that have brought, and will bring, supposed moves of the spirit. Is it God, or is it the music? What would happen if we rid ourselves of the music? Would we run into situations like this?
P.S. I’m not a music hater. I love music.
I didn't stop being moved by that song simply because it was discovered the author was gay.
Should we toss out David's Psalms because he was an adulterer and murderer?
If we start doing a background trace on every hymn or Christian song's author, I think we might have to narrow our music down to only a handful, and even then, their ancestral purity may come into question.
I choose to thank God for His inspiration, and not worry about the faults of the person who wrote the song.
__________________
"God, send me anywhere, only go with me. Lay any burden on me, only sustain me. And sever any tie in my heart except the tie that binds my heart to Yours."
--David Livingstone
"To see no being, not God’s or any, but you also go thither,
To see no possession but you may possess it—enjoying all without labor or purchase—
abstracting the feast, yet not abstracting one particle of it;…."
--Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, Song of the Open Road
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