I don't doubt it's a good, inspiring movie. I will
try to explain my issues with this type of book/movie.
I believe the Bible is the infallible, inspired Word of God.
(2 Timothy 3:16)"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Everything in life, for me, must be held up to it, to determine
truth. (1 John 4:1) "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
We are commanded not to add or subtract from anything
in the Bible. (Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18-19) Proverbs 30:6-
"Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
I agree with John Macarthur when he says, "By insisting God is still giving new revelation to Christians today, the Continuationist Movement opens the gates to
confusion and error." I don't think we need to believe every account of "visions of heaven" that is told to us, even though they may be sincere.
If this movie had been one child's opinion of heaven without insisting that it actually happened, I would not have the same reaction. My skepticism is raised because this is presented as
a factual account of heaven.
Of those few raised from the dead by Jesus, none gave
an account of their experience. If we were to know what had
happened in their experience, it would surely have been
told and written. 1 Cor. 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."
After this statement, John was
given a vision of Heaven, and again told to never change what's been written, so
everything God want us to know about heaven is already there. The Bible is no longer being
written, and it stands complete as is. Because the Bible is the inspired
word and must not be added to, or subtracted from, we cannot
take the word of every person who now says they saw something
that in any way differs from what God has told us. Satan is the
great imitator. We're told throughout scripture to be wary of those
who come in His name, and look genuine, although they are not.
The problem this movie presents, is that it claims to prove that
heaven is real, when the only proof we need is that the Bible says
it's real. God doesn't need confirmation from an outside source to
be proven right. From all accounts and reviews, this movie doesn't
present the Gospel, or mention that repentance of sin and belief in Jesus
is the only way to heaven. Many who seek proof of heaven's existence are
now clamoring to the movies and bookstores to study a someone's account, and
instead of seeking God directly through His Word. The Bible says we are sinners
from birth. Anything from sinners, therefore is clouded by that sin. If we
want to know the unclouded truth of Heaven, we need only to seek Him
through is word, and not the added words of a sinner that don't quite
measure up to the inspired word of God. But don't take my word for it
either, for I am also a sinner. Hold everything up to the Scriptures to determine truth.
Interesting items from the Interwebs, from all over the world.
