Heaven is for Real has been a hot topic lately. It is the true story of a four-year-old boy who almost dies, and then a year or so later begins sharing with his parents incredible stories about what seems to have been a trip to heaven. He tells them about meeting Jesus and relatives who died, including a little sister he never knew about because she was lost in a miscarriage before he was born.
It's the miscarriage connection that caught my eye and the eye of others I know who have babies in heaven. Even if we believe that our babies are with Jesus, it seems comforting to know that they're really there. Hence the interest in the book.
So now I've read it, and I have mixed feelings. It's an intriguing and engaging story. I have no reason to think that it's not "true" in the sense that Todd Burpo, the boy's father, is sharing what happened to his family and what his son has told them. Some details in the book do not make sense with each other in my mind (e.g. he met his grandfather as a young man, but his miscarried sister as a child; so what age are people in heaven?) and some I think are questionable (people had wings), which leads to the question, which of his memories are accurate and which aren't?
But what mostly disturbs me is when I hear people say that their beliefs about heaven and Jesus were solidified or changed by this child's story. God has told us that He had given us everything that is necessary for life and godliness. He has revealed a great deal about heaven in the Scriptures (Randy Alcorn's book Heaven is a good resource for this topic), but not everything. Which leads me to conclude that what He's revealed is enough.
My belief about the destiny of my children who have passed away should be firmly grounded in the Scriptures, not in someone's experiences (check out Safe in the Arms of God and I'll Hold You in Heaven for more about what the Scriptures say about it). It should not even be more sure because of the account of another. The Word of God should be enough. I'm reminded of Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), in which a rich man who dies and goes to hell begs for someone to be allowed to warn his brothers so they will not end up there, too. He is convinced that if someone can only return with news of hell, they would repent and listen. He is told, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). I think the same is true about heaven. If I'm not convinced about heaven from the Scriptures, then the Burpos' story will not convince me either. If I am already convinced, then I need to be careful to read Heaven is for Real as one child's account, NOT as Scripture.
I'd love to hear opinions from others who have read this, too. Feel free to comment!
It's the miscarriage connection that caught my eye and the eye of others I know who have babies in heaven. Even if we believe that our babies are with Jesus, it seems comforting to know that they're really there. Hence the interest in the book.
So now I've read it, and I have mixed feelings. It's an intriguing and engaging story. I have no reason to think that it's not "true" in the sense that Todd Burpo, the boy's father, is sharing what happened to his family and what his son has told them. Some details in the book do not make sense with each other in my mind (e.g. he met his grandfather as a young man, but his miscarried sister as a child; so what age are people in heaven?) and some I think are questionable (people had wings), which leads to the question, which of his memories are accurate and which aren't?
But what mostly disturbs me is when I hear people say that their beliefs about heaven and Jesus were solidified or changed by this child's story. God has told us that He had given us everything that is necessary for life and godliness. He has revealed a great deal about heaven in the Scriptures (Randy Alcorn's book Heaven is a good resource for this topic), but not everything. Which leads me to conclude that what He's revealed is enough.
My belief about the destiny of my children who have passed away should be firmly grounded in the Scriptures, not in someone's experiences (check out Safe in the Arms of God and I'll Hold You in Heaven for more about what the Scriptures say about it). It should not even be more sure because of the account of another. The Word of God should be enough. I'm reminded of Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), in which a rich man who dies and goes to hell begs for someone to be allowed to warn his brothers so they will not end up there, too. He is convinced that if someone can only return with news of hell, they would repent and listen. He is told, "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead” (Luke 16:31). I think the same is true about heaven. If I'm not convinced about heaven from the Scriptures, then the Burpos' story will not convince me either. If I am already convinced, then I need to be careful to read Heaven is for Real as one child's account, NOT as Scripture.
I'd love to hear opinions from others who have read this, too. Feel free to comment!
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