For a while now people have been asking me to read and comment on the book Heaven is for Real written by Todd (not making up his last name) Burpo. For some reason, because I am a pastor, people think I am going to love this book about a little boy who went to heaven and met Jesus. Then Jesus sent him back (like you put your unfinished cookies back in the oven when they aren't finished).

Well, here goes…and don't hate me for being honest. I did not like this book what-so-ever.

This book plays into our current climate of people going to SPEND (pick your amount of time) minutes/hours/seconds IN (pick your place) heaven/hell/purgatory/Burger King in AN EFFORT TO (pick your reason) grow your faith/make you feel good/make some money. It is not just the writing style of an adult trying to sound like a kid who sounds like an adult trying to sound like a kid, it is the poor theology that people are so willing to buy into.

First, let me just say that Todd Burpo sounds like a Christian, I am not questioning his faith. But a bit more discernment may be in order…and the fact that we do not build theology based solely on our experience (especially that of a 4 year old). As an example, scripture teaches that Jesus won our victory on the cross, he said our sins were paid for, "it is finished." Yet Jesus still has to fight (pg136-139)? If Jesus is all-powerful what is the point of him handing out swords and bows and arrows?

It seems much of the book is written to fit into a particular mindset and belief structure. Colten (the boy) will say something and the dad will interpret it with a verse that seems to make it all make sense…but it doesn't! When trying to describe Jesus, Colton is convinced that his style from the 1st century has never changed. He has brown hair, a beard, white robe with a purple sash (Jesus is the only one who gets to wear purple by the way), a crown, and red marks in the center of his palms (even though that is not where the nails would have gone) and on his feet (page 65-66.)

This goes on and on…from people getting wings to God and Jesus apparently sitting in their big chairs all day (except when Jesus is going up and down like an elevator)...oh, I almost forgot; all Angels also have to carry swords to keep Satan out of heaven (Page 133).

I do not just want to blast the book, but this is the problem with what Christianity has become…according to the book the reason Jesus died on the cross was so that we could go to heaven.

Question, is that why Jesus died?

Modern Christianity makes salvation all about us, when salvation is about Jesus. Jesus died because we were so awful, our sin so great, that we destroyed everything. Jesus' death pays for our sin not so that we could go to heaven but so we could be a redeemed people living redeemed lives in Jesus' name. Jesus rose from the dead conquering our enemies of Satan, sin, and death. Jesus' death and resurrection are about life, bringing heaven to earth in how we, as God's people, live this life.

Never once did Jesus, in the scriptures, talk about the goal being to get out of here and go somewhere else. The purpose of His coming was to restore relationship between God and us again by removing what stood in the way, namely our sin.

As Christians we must get away from the idea that Jesus died so we could get out of this place and watch it burn. Jesus died AND ROSE; the heart that Jesus had for this world should burn in us with a passion and intensity to see the lost know Him.

Heaven IS for real, but heaven is NOT the point. The point is Jesus…that is what we should remember.