Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Book Review Bringing Heaven to earth

This book is a quick read, but Biblically it raises reg flags with some of what the authors write, maybe it has something to do with their Progressive Christianity. Foe example on page 33 they say heaven is less a location and more a reality defined by God's will being done and on page 68 "Usually when Christians talk about heaven, the discussion becomes either abstract or exclusionary. The conversion turns to streets of gold and gates of pearl of the talk soon turns to who is in and who is out. I think God will be more generous then any of us image. That's the meaning of mercy none of us deserves it (which is true) yet all of us are in desperate need of it (also true). Keep in mind the sheep and goats story. You might be convinced you're a sheep, and you find out it's better to be a goat. (We don't decide who's a sheep or a goat, God decides that . Matt 25). Also on page 68 the authors write here is what the gospel points us to : the world one day is going to be set right. What Jesus accomplished through His death,burial, and resurrection reverses the curse of the Fall. What the authors leave out is: heaven is for those who have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, no where do they ever mention that we are sinners and need Jesus to save us, nor can we decide ourselves whether we want to be a sheep or a goat, that Jesus decides this is clear in Matt 25.

A second red flag I see is on page 160 where the author quotes 2 Peter 3: 7-9 and said's it's important to note the fire mentioned by Peter is not a reference to any intentions on God's part to destroy the world. Well I guess the authors should have went on and quoted verses 10, 12, of 2 Peter 3. Theses verses are clear that the world will be destroyed by fire. 3:10-But the days of the Lord will come like a thief and then the heavens will pass away with a roar and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved and the earth and the works that are done will be exposed. vs 12- waiting for and hastening the coming of the Day of the Lord because of which the heavens will be set on FIRE and dissolved and the heavenly bodies will melt away as they BURN. Then the new heaven and the new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.. come down out of heaven from God. Rev 21:1&2. 

There are more red flags but this review is long enough. The authors basis principle is heaven comes to earth every time Christians show compassion, justice, etc. to people . I

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