Could it be one reason the SBC seems to be faltering in some areas is because we are becoming an ungrateful lot. I have met some from other denominations who can but wish their denominational publishing houses could produce a mere fraction of what LifeWay turns out. Count me as one that is appreciative to Dr. Draper’s leadership while there and look forward to the directions Rainer and company lead LifeWay in the days to come.

90 Minutes in Heaven?
Several people have asked me to share my opinion of the new book 90 Minutes in Heaven written by Don Piper and co-authored by Cecil Murphy. There are so many red flags about this book that I really don’t know where to begin so I simply did what John taught believers to do in situations like this. I applied the “spirit test” (1Jn.4:1) to Mr. Piper’s book, and so I compared it to God’s Word.
My first concern arose when I discovered that Mr. Piper’s book deals with him and his life experiences more than his supposed 90 minutes in Heaven. Only one chapter deals with his visit to Heaven, which I find odd. John was caught-up into heaven but he managed to write 22 chapters about his experience so if you want to know what Heaven is truly like, I would suggest you read chapters 4 and 5 of his Revelation.
Another concern was that Mr. Piper used a co-author to help him write his book. “Oh, Donnie, a lot of people use co-authors to help them write their books.” Sure they do, if their intention is to write a book but when one receives such a vital message or vision from God, you would think that God could help that person write what he saw. After all, He helped Ezekiel, Daniel, Paul and John and their visions were perfectly clear. Mr. Piper’s is at best sketchy.
My greatest concern came when Mr. Piper said that he didn’t see Jesus. (p.22) That’s odd also because, when John arrived in Heaven, the first person he saw was Jesus. “Come up here…and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one (Jesus) sat on the throne.” (Rev.4:1-4) The absence of Jesus didn’t seem to bother Mr. Piper. He seemed more enamored with what he called a “celestial welcoming committee.” Not me! Let me tell you how I feel. If I ever get a pre-shot at Heaven, the first person I’m looking for is Jesus. I’ll have all eternity to visit with loved ones. I want to see my Savior!
The use of the word awesome in the NIV Bible is in error: “He was afraid and said: How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” The word awesome is never found in scripture so dreadful is used in Genesis 28:17. Dreadful comes from the Hebrew word yare and translates: fear, afraid, frightful or dread. The word awe can be found three times in scripture but it’s never translated from the Hebrew word yare. So Jacob’s experience was not one of delight, as was Mr. Piper’s. He was gripped with fear when he realized he was in God’s presence, as was Isaiah and John. Neither felt the sense of joy that Mr. Piper said pulsated through him. (p.21)
Also, this is the only time “gate of heaven” is used in scripture. In fact, the Bible never speaks of the gates of Heaven like we hear in songs or like Mr. Piper described in his book. The Bible does speak of gates into New Jerusalem but Mr. Piper didn’t happen to see that beautiful city either, as big as it is. One important thing to remember here, Jacob was not in Heaven when he saw a gate. He was awake and standing on the ground, looking up at the sky. (v.16) What Jacob saw was an opening (shaar) in the sky or clouds (shameb) not the gates of Heaven. So once again it’s odd that Jacob saw an opening in the clouds and John saw a door in the clouds but Mr. Piper saw an “ornate gate” (p.22), an “adorned gate”, in Heaven. So the question arises: Where was Mr. Piper when he saw an ornate gate?

Mr. Piper goes on to talk about the music that he heard in heaven. This is another thing that I found odd because again the Bible never speaks of the type of music he heard. First he said that he never saw what produced the music (p.30) but John did. (Rev.5:8) John saw only harps but Mr. Piper speaks of hearing many instruments. He goes on to say that there were hundreds of songs being sung at one time but John heard only one song and all of heaven was singing it in unison. Mr. Piper tells us that he heard many of the old songs and hymns being sung (p.31) but John tells us this: “And they sang a new song.” (Rev.5:9) Scripture mentions nothing of old hymns or choruses so, once again, Mr. Piper makes a gross error. This one though hinges on blaspheming God’s Word, especially in what he says next. (P.30)
He said that he didn’t hear any songs about the sacrificial death of Jesus, especially sad songs because there are no sad songs in heaven. (P.31) Well, let’s compare this to what John said he heard. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels, round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” (Rev.5:11-12) In Heaven, the sacrificial death of Jesus is not a sad song but a glorious praise to the Savior for dying for our salvation. So, I must ask: Why didn’t Mr. Piper hear what John heard?
Here’s the main question that needs to be answered: “Why wait almost twenty years to write about such an important experience?” Mr. Piper’s accident occurred in 1989 and yet his book is fairly new to the market. But one would think that such an important message from God would have been proclaimed immediately. After all, today this book is being recommended to people who have recently lost loved ones and is being heralded as truth by some TV preachers so why wasn’t this all-important book published back in 1989?
I believe I can answer that question because I was around in 1989. Back then; such a story would have met with scorn and laughter from the many godly preachers who knew the Bible and adhered to truth. They would have put this book in the New-age section of the Bookstore under fantasy just like the many other I went to heaven tales that were showing up, especially in Supermarket Tabloids. Acceptance of this book is just a reminder of how far off course the Church has strayed from biblical truth. It appears to be just another book about an out of body experience, even though that’s not how it’s titled. But the immediate problem that arises is that the Bible doesn’t confirm people going to Heaven and returning.
Some people have attempted to use Paul’s episode where he was caught-up into third heaven to substantiate Mr. Piper’s visit to Heaven but they manipulate scripture. Unlike Mr. Piper, Paul played down his experience. He would not even talk about what he saw or heard: “And heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” (2Cor.12:4) Also, unlike Mr. Piper, the men who did get a vision of Heaven talked about Jesus not themselves or their loved ones. This book reminds me of new-age teaching and will confuse the minds of believers since it is being sold in Christian Bookstores. If Mr. Piper’s tale is true, it will stand in the Judgment. If not, I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes when he actually visits Heaven to stand before Jesus.
Written by Donnie Guy March 2008 – http://www.donnieguy.org

Rob,
I, too, have noticed that items are “out of stock” when we need them. We were thrilled with the G-Force curriculum … perfect for our combination of large and small groups for kids. But, alas! LifeWay elected to produce only three years of the undated material. Three years short for moving a child all the way through the program. Very short sighted thinking, from my point of view.
I would agree that I am not all that surprised about difficulties. I know for sure that the web site is slow as molasses…

Rob

David

I used to get a little upset that I could go into a Cokesberry (Methodist) bookstore, tell them I was a minister, and get an automatic discount, but couldn’t at a Baptist Bookstore. They said the discount was already in their pricing structure, but I couldn’t find a nickel’s worth difference in the two at retail. But that was a minor irritant, and the plus was a good selection of books. Go in a LifeWay store now, and it seems half their floor space is given over to trinkets, pictures, and assorted “junk.” Then there is Sunday school literature. Most of our Sunday school classes and teachers–even the senior citizens, the most “brand loyal” of them all–are less than satisfied with LifeWay stuff. Personally, I find it shallow, but I have not influenced the class’s decisions, who now want other options.

John Daly and Bob Cleveland are on target, I think.

Is the economy partly to blame for LifeWay’s decision? Certainly; there is less discretionary spending, BUT part of that is that people are having to become more savy customers, and want the most bang for their scarce, hard-earned buck. They recognize that LifeWay is not giving them that. Like Bro. Daly said. . . .

John Fariss