If you’ve stepped into a bookstore at least once over the last four years, you’ve probably seen this book.
And you’ve probably heard that it has recently been made into a movie. It’s still in theatres, so if you find yourself wanting a good couple of hours at the movies, make it the next one that you go to see.
In the wake of the popularity of this new franchise (and I don’t say that negatively, but that’s exactly what it has become — a franchise), you see mixed opinions about it, and it seems that after experiencing this remarkable story (either through the book or the movie), everyone frantically turns to their pastor/church leader to grab their perspective on it, such as this guy:
This pastor is obviously incredibly convicted on the subject, but let me interject. I sat in the movie theatre tonight with two pastors who have been in ministry for over 30 years, and a soon-to-be ordained pastor friend of mine, who were just as fascinated and awestruck by the fantastic-ness of this story as I was.
David Platt (the guy in the video above) makes a point to charge pastors and leaders to show people the truth of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and I completely, absolutely agree with him. But in my heart, I cannot agree with the way in which Platt completely derails the entire story that is the basis behind “Heaven Is For Real”. Sure, he has some Scripture to back up his opinions, but there are just as many Scripture references that are to the contrary of what he is referencing.
“I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know — only God knows.” 2 Corinthians 12:2
This was described by Paul. Or take the entire book of Revelation, just packed full of John’s experiences of Heaven, and the Divine. But then again, this is the 21st century, the age of the Internet — where everyone is an expert and everyone has an opinion. Different pastors and commentators say different things — most, I am sure, after careful prayer and studying and being in the word. The entire premise of this story puzzled me, so I did the same — I prayed, I spent some time with my Bible, and then had conversations with people who were smarter than I am, people who have made it their life’s work to study the Bible and its validity and relevance.
Am I any closer to figuring out what I think about the whole thing? Not really. I know on the outside, it sounds like a crazy story, but then again, Jesus has a reputation for dealing in stuff that seems “crazy”, like raising people from the dead and walking on water and making five loaves of bread & two fish enough to feed a crowd of thousands. Is it so far outside the realm of what I know about Jesus to think that He would give this experience to a 4-year-old? Not really.
At the end of the day, I can’t tell you what’s real or not real — you have to decide for yourself, perhaps using the same methods I did. And maybe you’ll arrive at a different answer. But don’t leave those questions unasked.
I will say this to David Platt, though. True or untrue, passing fad or timeless story, fiction or non-fiction … the book is a best-seller, and the movie has beaten out “Captain America” at the box office. People are talking. People are asking questions they may not have ever asked before. People are seeking out the truth about Heaven and Jesus and their eternal realities. That, to me, is a ministry tool. And a powerful one. It’s being used by God for something big. Don’t be so quick to discredit it.
The Story of Us 