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

[agedman]

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.

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.

Actually, Lazarus was renown throughout the land. So much so that the pharasees desired to kill him that he be shut up. Because of Lazarus's testimony folks believed.

Look at the account: John 12

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.​

 

[Amy.G]

Would you please show were Paul taught against making money off such things?

2 Corinthians 2:17
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

 

[agedman]

2 Corinthians 2:17
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
17 For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.

However, the Scriptures also teach that a workman is worthy of the hire.

The variable type printing press was not around in Paul's day, so if a person wanted a copy of a book, they would purchase it from the book dealers, or have a scroll made for them. That is what Paul is declaring in which he did not participate. He was saying that there is more to his message than what a typical peddler has to offer.

Paul lived off his craft of tent making, not scroll copier.

These authors live off their craft, just as the authors of Christian music lived/live off their craft. Gaithers, Sankey, Bliss, Carmichael, Hamblen, Kaiser, Crouch (Andre not Paul and shaggy), Rodeheaver, Peterson ...

 

[Mexdeaf]

Actually, Lazarus was renown throughout the land. So much so that the pharasees desired to kill him that he be shut up. Because of Lazarus's testimony folks believed.

Look at the account: John 12

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.​

While this is true, the work was of God and not from Lazurus' self-promotion.

 

[agedman]

While this is true, the work was of God and not from Lazurus' self-promotion.

Perhaps, but then apply that to the other outlets: Is it applicable for an assembly to be listed in a phone phone book, to be included on a web page, for a sign indicating name and even denominational affiliation, flyers for campaigns even vacation bible school, to offer hotdogs in the bus ministries...?

Is it applicable for a preacher or even a layman to have a business card to hand out, to have their name on a church marque, to broadcast messages on the radio, internet, and/or TV, to speak at conferences and colleges?

Did Moody and Sankey merchandise the gospel by "self-promotion?"

How about Sunday, Jones, Graham, and others of the last century?

Is "self-promotion" a sin in itself?

I am unsure how to carry the application.

Perhaps it is when the self-promotion is deceitful.

I once knew a SB evangelist what would position himself at a political event and have someone take his picture as if that politician were a friend. That was deceitful. Perhaps that is the standard.

Are the two authors deceitful in the promotion of their craft?

 

[Mexdeaf]

Perhaps, but then apply that to the other outlets: Is it applicable for an assembly to be listed in a phone phone book, to be included on a web page, for a sign indicating name and even denominational affiliation, flyers for campaigns even vacation bible school, to offer hotdogs in the bus ministries...?

Is it applicable for a preacher or even a layman to have a business card to hand out, to have their name on a church marque, to broadcast messages on the radio, internet, and/or TV, to speak at conferences and colleges?

Did Moody and Sankey merchandise the gospel by "self-promotion?"

How about Sunday, Jones, Graham, and others of the last century?

Is "self-promotion" a sin in itself?

I am unsure how to carry the application.

Perhaps it is when the self-promotion is deceitful.

I once knew a SB evangelist what would position himself at a political event and have someone take his picture as if that politician were a friend. That was deceitful. Perhaps that is the standard.

Are the two authors deceitful in the promotion of their craft?

Ding, ding, ding!:laugh:

 

[Amy.G]

Are the two authors deceitful in the promotion of their craft?

The authors of these books about their supposed visit to heaven or hell are not promoting their "craft". They are promoting their "experience", which in my opinion, is fake. If you want to spend your money on their books, that is your right. I will keep mine.
I do not trust their revelations of God. I trust the scriptures.

 

[HAMel]

Yeshua1, I sent you a PM.

 

[agedman]

The authors of these books about their supposed visit to heaven or hell are not promoting their "craft". They are promoting their "experience", which in my opinion, is fake. If you want to spend your money on their books, that is your right. I will keep mine.
I do not trust their revelations of God. I trust the scriptures.

No doubt that is a very good standard to hold, and I would not argue against it.

I do think that authors and more especially very good ones do have a right to promote and live off the craft. There are a number of writers who happen to be Christians that have written a great number of good stories and books.

I don't have a problem with that nor the "self-promotional" aspects of media outlets.

What I do have a problem with are the double lives lived (Amy Grant, P & J Crouch, Gaithers, Carmichael, ...) in which they promote and hold fellowship with deceitful works(ers) of darkness.

 

[Berean]

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?

There is no such thing as an after death experience, near death possibly.
Once the soul or spirit leaves the body you are not only clinicaly dead but dead dead. But the idea sure helps in selling books

 

[dh1948]

Put me in the non-believers camp!

 

[Jedi Knight]

It's appointed Unto man ONCE to die and after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27. I would rather trust scripture on this matter.:sleeping_2:

 

[Yeshua1]

It's appointed Unto man ONCE to die and after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27. I would rather trust scripture on this matter.:sleeping_2:

As we all should, but just seems that a creative story still sells well!

 

[Mexdeaf]

As we all should, but just seems that a creative story still sells well!

Two words- "itching ears".

 

[Jedi Knight]

Two words- "itching ears".

Yeeeep! :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Yeshua1]

Yeeeep! :smilewinkgrin:

How about "charasmatic Chaos" to quote an author!