Reflections on Life, death, and 90 Minutes in Heaven

It has been a long time since I have used this blog to write. Life is very busy and tonight I cannot sleep. Most of you at BFCC are familiar with all the circumstances surrounding several of our members. Pat Tierney is now on hospice and we have several others being treated for cancer. I am greatly humbled by Pat and Brenda's faith and strength, as well as, that of all of those within our body who are suffering. Visiting with Pat and Brenda last evening (Thursday April 3) I found myself so limited on what to say. However, I was reminded of the passage of scripture in Hebrews "Jesus, for the joy set before him, endured the cross" (ch. 12). Pat and his family know that heaven is that joy that we all are created to enjoy eternally with Christ. God certainly has the power to miraculously heal, but all healing is temporary. By faith in Christ and through his grace we have confidence when facing our own mortality. I thank God we have heaven and the presence of Christ awaiting each of us.

On the subject of heaven, I must address the issue of Don Piper's book 90 Minutes in Heaven. I know it is a best seller and I don't want to question Mr. Piper's sincerity, but as a teacher and student of God's Word and as a leader of this congregation I am compelled to put the claims to this book about heaven in context of God's inspired word. No one can argue with experience, but my experience and that of others must align with God's Word.

What is great about 90 minutes in heaven is that it reveals our world's thirst for answers to life after death. The popularity comes from the question, "What happens after I die?". Many people are reading this book hoping to find answers, hopefully we can use this book to relate to them the good news of Jesus Christ. Mr. Piper also clearly states his faith in Christ as the source of salvation, rather than many movies and books in our culture that speak in generalities about faith and being a good person.


However, the limited description of heaven in 90 minutes, does not resemble that of the three inspired views of heaven that we have in the New Testament. (Stephen, Paul and John) Don Piper's description is more reflective of our modern cultural view of the afterlife than of the Biblical view of heaven.

Here is one apt summary:

"Piper’s heaven was a place of reunion with loved ones, a place of beautiful music and a place of literal pearl (or “pearlescent”) gates and literal streets of gold. It is a heaven that can be so easily described to a human mind using mere human words, as if it had originated in a human mind. Piper is able to describe it in some detail, but what he presents is surely far too human to be heaven."

Callies.com book review

It seems (I have read only excerpts of the book) that little is mentioned of Christ in these 90 minutes, whereas the Biblical descriptions are completely based on the presence of God. The reason I write this is to encourage all of us to be biblical-minded readers of this very experience oriented book. Our faith is based on the Word of God and not only on experience. We must not get caught in the rapture of experience as the basis for our faith. God works daily in our lives that is not a question, but be careful not to fall into believing for believing sake. Heaven is beyond are comprehension, what we can know and need to know is clearly revealed in Scripture. We must be rely on Scripture to interpret our experiences, not allow any experience to reinterpret Scripture.

We live in a time of experience and feeling, therefore we all must be vigilant to study Scripture to effectively live, experience and teach others how to know God and enjoy a life and relationship with Jesus Christ. I am extremely thankful for so many in this body who are no only witnessing to others about Jesus Christ, but praying for and ministering to others who are hurting in this body. Thanks for all you are doing in His name!

May God bless,


John