Heaven is for Real, but is this story?

Lots of people are talking about the book Heaven is for Real, because it another "amazing and true account" of a visit to heaven by someone who has been there and back. Such books are always popular among people who long for more information specifically about the Christian Hope, and those who care about the afterlife in general.  Notice this covers quite a few people (a huge audience, or do I mean "market")!

I watched the video from Fox News for "Heaven is for Real"  http://video.foxnews.com/v/4419243/heaven-is-for-real.  I did not read the book and I never will. I want to be blunt about this: I don't believe the story (and I don't believe stories like this).  This one in particular is too contrived, predictable, and rehearsed.  Daddy jumps in way too much.  In fact, Daddy is in charge. The entire interview lacks credibility, and really makes me kind of weak.  I feel almost as if I'm being insulted.  

Furthermore, doesn't sound like Revelation 4, but instead comes across as an amazingly human-focused fairy tale designed for comfort.  The goal is reassurance.  I'm not listening to it, and I recommend others don't either.

But what about little Colton's sister he never knew about?  Let me be polite and say there are other explanations that are much more likely. Do you think that things that are vague are sometimes filled in with details to make them sound better?

In summary, always, be extremely skeptical of outlandish religious claims or interpretations.  Always think critically for a more plausible option.  Do not miss the forest for the trees.

Just because you identify yourself as a Christian, or a believer in God or a better afterlife, are not obliged to accept automatically what is presented to you.  I don't. 

We must watch over our itching ears as well as our wallets.

Paradise and Church Beliefs

In the Revelation Bible Study on Sunday nights, we've had the subject of the afterlife come up. (Go figure.) One church member has said in effect that they believe people don't go to heaven when they die, they go to Paradise.  Paradise is a "holding place."  When the "great white throne judgment" occurs, then they can go to heaven, but only after they are judged at the end of time along with everyone else.  Proof for this is Jesus' language to the penitent thief on the cross, "today you will be with me in paradise."

I might add also 2 Corinthians 12:4, where Paul claims to "know a person" who was "caught up into paradise."

People think of paradise, then, as a place between life and death, where the souls of the saved go as they await the resurrection and final judgments- then they go into heaven.  Paradise does not equal heaven.

On Jesus' statement to the penitent thief, what if Jesus was actually saying, "Today (right now) I tell you that you will be with me in paradise (sometime in the future)."  After all, this would fit the idea expressed in the Apostle's Creed that Jesus "descended to hell."  No mention of a detour to paradise.   

The importance of this division between heaven and paradise was exaggerated by Ireneus and Origin, two dead guys from a long time ago.  Actually, they are in paradise, still arguing with someone I'm sure. 

This idea just sounds too much like limbo to me.  Let's start telling people, "when you die you go to limbo."  Then we might add, "and its a happy place, so you play bingo."  Limbo bingo.

In thinking about the afterlife, one important passage in the Bible is 2 Corinthians 5.  I like it because it is comprehensive and doesn't get lost in the speculative details we Americans  (and clergy) just love.  Paul seems like he is expressing faith in the future with God rather than giving a class on dogmatics.  To me, this passage comes close to the normal wish we hear at times of death: "She is in a better place."  This is where we get the idea, "absent from the body, present with the Lord."  Personally, I wouldn't care if Jesus were in paradise, heaven, or Mebane if I were with him.  The important thing is being in the presence of the Lord.

I tend to think that references to heaven, paradise, hell, Sheol, etc. are no real basis for constructing elaborate cosmologies of afterlife geography.  But some folks do have fun drawing maps though, like F. J. Dake.  More things to be correct about, more things for others to be wrong about.

Even the Baptist Faith and Message isn't overly specific, and doesn't lay claims to some confirmed inerrant grand scenario.  Maybe I won't either.