Today I want to share new post with an interesting perspective from Kristen Powers a weekly writer for USA TODAY. She talks about Heaven being in the headlines and movies lately. Here are a few highlights from her post:

Heaven is making headlines.

The film Heaven Is for Real, based on the best-selling book by the same name, surprised last week by opening at No. 1 at the box office. It recounts the near-death experience of a 4-year-old boy who awoke with reports of visiting heaven. It belongs to the popular genre of real life stories of the hereafter such as 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life and Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife.

Even Michael Bloomberg has been musing on the pearly gates. In an interview last week he said, “I am telling you if there is a God, when I get to heaven I’m not stopping to be interviewed. I am heading straight in. I have earned my place.” Though nobody knows exactly what goes on in heaven, it’s probably not like a New York City nightclub where you blow past the bouncer because you are a Big Deal. But Bloomberg creating an afterlife in his own image is hardly unique.

Nor is it original for him to assume that he’s headed for the prime real estate. In a 2013 survey, 62% of respondents said they are going to heaven. Only 1.5% think they’re hell bound. Is this old fashioned American optimism or its evil twin of epidemic narcissism? Only God knows.

In another survey, 74% of Americans said heaven is real; only 59% believe the same of hell. But the Bible is quite clear. According to evangelical pastor Tim Keller, “Jesus taught about (hell) more than all other biblical authors put together.” To cling to the idea of heaven and then ignore hell is curious. Even Buddhism accepts the notion of hell, though it’s a temporary place and not governed by a god.

It seems the omnipresent self-esteem movement has expanded its reach to the afterlife. I’m OK, you’re OK and I’ll see you in heaven. Books about euphoric visits to heaven rocket up the best-seller list, while those recounting bone-chilling sojourns to Hades languish. You might be surprised to learn they even exist.

Personally, I’m skeptical of near-death experiences. But if I took these tales seriously, as so many people seem to do, I wouldn’t limit my inquiry to only those that affirmed my hopes. After all, forever is a mighty long time.

To read this post content in its entirety, click here

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.