Concordia Theology » Heaven Is For Real

Concordia Theology » Heaven Is For Real: Heaven Is For Real
Submitted by Jeff Kloha on May 23, 2011 – 2:00 pm25 CommentsHeaven Is For Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back.
Reviewed by Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Holding a copy of this book is a bit like drawing close to Mom or Apple Pie. It’s a bright yellow, easy-to-read paperback with a cute photo of a little boy on the front: “#1 New York Times Bestseller, Over Two Million Copies in Print.” It is a sincere account, in a Christian father’s first-person voice. Here’s a summary of its story.
In an opening prologue, the reader learns that the family’s younger child (a son, Colton) recently almost died after an undiagnosed ruptured appendix. We also hear briefly the book’s main claim: this little boy made a trip to heaven, and has returned with reliable knowledge of what heaven is like. The story then flashes back in time to tell of earlier months for the Burpo family. Illness, stresses in ministry (Mr. Burpo is a Wesleyan pastor), and times of difficulty seemed to be over for the family. The story draws you in; you identify with the Burpos. It’s not hard to imagine being their friend.
Colton’s illness then is described, and death looms. The family is in anguish; sincere, real anguish. Mercifully, the little boy lives, and the family seems to be out of the woods; even their medical bills shrink as Christians generously help. It’s a good story, and there is no reason to doubt its sincerity. Thus far chapters 1 to 11.

[click on link to read the rest of Dr. Gibbs' review]