1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Featured Do You Accept ANY After death Story As being from God?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Yeshua1, Jun 26, 2012.

  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Do you hold that any of those stories written in Christian books are valid or not?

    Sych as one where small boy stated died and talked tojesus/Angels?
     
  2. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    This is a really difficult subject because there is so little the Scriptures have to offer.

    Paul spoke of knowing a man that ascended.

    John the apostle was shown many things while at worship.

    I read the story of the young child and that of the horrible car wreck and recovery of a pastor. In both, there are credible points that can be aligned with Scriptures.

    What I don't know, and no one can point with certainty, is if the accounts are from human mind processes, or from actual spiritual encounters.

    I hold a great amount of skepticism, to most of these types of stories.

    But, these two accounts were so realistic and seemingly unwillingly shared by those that went through the experience that there is room to at least give a thoughtful look.

    And, as a good starting point about the completed work of Christ when visiting someone and they bring the story(ies) up.
     
  3. mandym

    mandym New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2011
    Messages:
    4,991
    Likes Received:
    0
    Nope, no reason too.
     
  4. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    remember rreading a book by a Dr , who while head of surgery at a hospital, had a patient die many times, come back, and was yelling that he was in hell...

    the surgeon went to interview people shortly after coming back from surgery, and many had similiar stories...

    he became a Cjhristian, and noted MANY had "hell experiences", far more than heaven!
     
  5. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
  6. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I don't put any stock in what these people say. We don't need someone to come back from the dead to convince others of anything.

    'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I know these stories are all over in charasmatic churches, but Baptist too?
     
  8. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2004
    Messages:
    7,406
    Likes Received:
    101
    A couple of academic peers I know have been compiling NDE stories for years. Their results and the stories are pretty compelling. I would have to say there are valid reasons for considering them authentic.
     
  9. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Authentic? How?

    No one is saying these people didn't have the experience. I am saying whatever they experienced it wasn't Heaven. Most likely it was a very realistic dream.
     
  10. just-want-peace

    just-want-peace Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2002
    Messages:
    7,727
    Likes Received:
    873
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Since the Word does not address this particular topic, I am a bit skeptical, BUT I will not discount anothers experience as long as there is no contridiction with God's Word.
     
  11. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I want to state again, that I have only read two accounts that I would consider worth some consideration.

    The one book was 90 minutes in heaven by Don Piper. It is an incredible read and I have not seen any attempt at self glorification nor bringing any honor to other than God in any accounts of the story to date. If you have information, please post it that all may know.

    The other book was Heaven is for real by Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent. This is an account of a child who kept recounting events and scenes and after many months finally stirred the parents to ask more questions. I have not followed any after accounts of the living testimony of any involved in the story. If you have information, please post it that we all may know.

    Because there is so very little indicated in Scriptures (outside of prophetic phenomena), the major difficulty in any NDE story is how is that person's relationship to Christ impacted. Frankly, I am a bit more skeptical if the living doesn't match up to the testimony in the story.

    Perhaps others who have read these two accounts would be able to provide more insight. I would recommend their reading (just for information only) so that as you encounter others, the talk may be a springboard into a testimony of Christ, the Cross, and Redemption.
     
  12. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Messages:
    2,752
    Likes Received:
    0
    I put no belief in tales about people who claim to have died and gone to heaven or hell and returned. Of course, I could be wrong. I suppose it could be just a vision like I believe John had; I don't think he actually went to heaven but had a vision about heaven.
     
  13. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2012
    Messages:
    52,624
    Likes Received:
    2,742
    Faith:
    Baptist
    based uon what I have read, the hell experienced seemed MUCH more biblical accurate than the heaven ones!
     
  14. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2010
    Messages:
    24,988
    Likes Received:
    2,268
    Faith:
    Baptist
    What about Luke 16? The rich man and Lazarus. The rich man wanted Lazarus to bring him some water, but the Bible says you cannot pass from Hades to Abraham's Bosom, so I assume you can't pass from earth to Heaven and back again.

    Luke 16
    ...between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

    27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
     
  15. jprieto

    jprieto New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Wow .... interesting read
    thanks for sharing

    Currently, I side with that article.
    Why? Had these people really seen hell, or heaven, they would not be writing angry emails .... but rather, their communications would have been totally lovingly.

    So I think it is a closed case for me - I also do NOT believe these storys!
     
  16. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2006
    Messages:
    13,103
    Likes Received:
    4
    I have no reason to believe any of these stories. However, I do believe that Lazarus was dead for 4 days and his spirit went somewhere. I assume it went to paradise, but the bible doesn't say. So there is one true testimony.

    Paul also told of a man who went to heaven. Most believe that he was speaking of himself. But he was unable to speak about what he saw.

    So I know of two people who really did have afterlife experiences, but they are the only ones that I believe.
     
  17. Mexdeaf

    Mexdeaf New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    Messages:
    7,051
    Likes Received:
    3
    They also did not write books or brag about the experiences, some may say, "Paul did", but remember it was a painful experience for him, if indeed he was referring to himself.
     
  18. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2006
    Messages:
    13,103
    Likes Received:
    4
    Agreed. Paul taught against making money off such things. And I certainly could not imagine him appearing on TBN to tell Paul Crouch and his purple haired wife about it!
     
  19. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    My problem with the article is that if one is to take that stand, then Revelation is as much a lie as any other book that has an account of one spending time in heaven and returning to earth.

    Paul witnessed that He knew of a man who experienced that same journey.

    There is no reason to discount the experiences based upon the slim assumptions of Scriptures that this man makes. That any accounts are untrue or true in the two books that he specifies is not proven.

    From the start of the article, it is obvious that a bias is assigned to the authors seeking wealth and fame, Yet, no act factual information as to the inappropriateness of money gained and spent is given.

    John R. Rice had millions of dollars flowing through his fingers because of the Sword of the Lord. Doesn't mean he was corrupt. However, if we were to apply the same principle from this article to Dr. Rice, he would have been smeared as publishing for the selfishness of wealth and fame.
     
  20. agedman

    agedman Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2011
    Messages:
    11,023
    Likes Received:
    1,108
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Would you please show were Paul taught against making money off such things?

    Paul was a tent maker. Did he not make money at the craft?

    Is not the craft of any author to write, publish and gather support in that use of that craft?

    I would give TBN a dime, but Christians have appeared on a great many TV and radio shows over the years. Appearing on a show does not make one supportive of that show's views.
     
Loading...