Letter: Samuel Parker on ‘Heaven’

Dear Editor:

I want to thank Mr. Gonzalez for the research he does on this column, but I have some questions about the latest article in the January 19 edition titled, “‘Heaven’ more fiction than fact, thank God.”

The author mentions that Todd Burpo is a pastor; he believes God has called him to teach the Bible.  James 3:1 says, “We who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

In other words, those who claim to teach the Bible are held more accountable to God, so if he claims to be a teacher of God’s word we would assume that he has read this verse and applies it to everything in his life.

In the book, Todd claims many times that he was extra cautious to not sway his son’s opinion.  If Mr. Burpo is lying about what he said, then he should be pitied.  Take this into account then and assume that he is telling the truth.

The best way to judge this book with reason is to test it against the book that Colton’s dream is measured upon, the Bible.  The Bible says that Jesus was crucified. Whether they pierced through his hands or wrists I don’t know, I would argue though that evidence from one or a few crucifixions would not necessarily apply to every crucifixion.  Luke 24 recounts Jesus’s resurrection [sic].

When his followers went to the tomb they found it empty.  Where did Jesus go, heaven perhaps?  Later on Jesus appears to a few of his disciples who don’t recognize him (maybe he looked a little different).

When he appeared to his close followers (it says that he suddenly appeared among them making him seem like a ghost to them) he showed them the scars from his wounds and let them touch him. The Bible doesn’t say that Jesus doesn’t have scars in heaven.

I’m not defending this boy’s dream as much as the Bible. I believe the Bible is God’s word and if Colton said something that defied the Bible I would question his dream.  But frankly he doesn’t.

He comes close to crossing the line but only says things that the Bible doesn’t talk about (angels with wings or men with swords are a couple examples).

I couldn’t care less if there are swords in heaven, or if angels have wings. Does it really matter?  Those things do not confirm my belief in God. That is what the Bible is for.

Finally I want to discuss the idea of reason. Romans 1 condemns people who shun God and trust in their own thinking.

I am not saying that God hates thinking, but he does desire that we think Biblically.

I understand that some people don’t believe in heaven, but think about one thing before I close. I have nothing [to] worry about if I am wrong about God. I will just stay in my grave and rot, but if those who don’t believe in God are wrong then they have a lot to lose.

If there really is a God then there really is a Heaven and a Hell. I’m not saying this to offend anyone; I only want people to read God’s word with an open mind before they make a truly life-changing decision.

—Samuel Parker,
sophomore of Harrison