"Happy Birthday in Heaven, ....."

[Alcott]

Another one of these 'wishes' just casually appeared on my Facebook page, this time about a celebrity. While I don't think anyone in heaven knows what we're doing or saying-- it seems to me it would cause too much grief-- this seems to becoming more widespread. I can't regard it as my responsibility to 'correct' anyone who says a facsimile of this, as I can't prove they're wrong, nor do I have a desire to make them feel bad.

Do you respond to this with a) agreement, b) accommodation, c) exception, or d) attack?

Perhaps I am wrong to presume that anyone who says something like this means it any other way but figuratively. After all, some take it even to the preposterous level of saying it about fictional characters. I remember after Eddie Albert died, a posting said "Good bye, Oliver [Douglas, Green Acres]. Enjoy Lisa's hotscakes in heaven." The next post said "That would make it hell!"

Finally, how do you deal with people who say they are going to meet their animals again in heaven. I had one of those just yesterday.

 

[Reformed]

I usually side-step the comment unless it leads to a gospel conversation. Comments that like are based on emotional attachment. You cannot argue the merits of their statement because you may be viewed as attacking them. However, if someone says, "I will see Fluffy again in heaven" you can ask them a number of questions that may spark a gospel conversation. Question suggestions:

"How much do you know about heaven?"
"Have you ever wondered how a person gets to heaven?"
"What do you think it takes to get to heaven?"
"Did you know that God provided a way to know you are going to heaven?"

Those were just off the top of my head but I am sure there are dozens of questions that can be asked. If God is gracious, He may turn the situation into a divine appointment in which you have the opportunity to present the gospel.

 

[Ziggy]

It worries me more when people are more worried about Fluffy or other animals than people (including aborted babies).

I said this to a Greenpeace dude trying to solicit funds to save the whales, and he just walked away in a huff (before I could give a gospel presentation that probably would not have been effective anyway).

Usually, however, I can defuse the animal question and turn the discussion to people and the gospel by noting that Jesus does come riding out of heaven on a horse, so Q. E. D.

 

[Reformed]

I said this to a Greenpeace dude trying to solicit funds to save the whales, and he just walked away in a huff (before I could give a gospel presentation that probably would not have been effective anyway).

We never know whether it [gospel presentation] is effective or not. When I look back I can see how the Holy Spirit worked in my life to finally bring to faith in Christ. I was given a children's Bible when I was 8 years old and I used to love reading it. In 3rd grade, a girl in my class invited me to an AWANA-type club at the Evangelical Free Church in town. It was at this club that I first heard the gospel. A year later we moved across the street from a church I would eventually attend after I got out of the Air Force. I was invited to go to their VBS program and again heard the gospel. In my teenage years, I heard the gospel again but thought I was too enlightened to believe it. I was arrogant and condescending to anyone who approached me with the good news. At that time in my life, anyone who tried to share the gospel with me probably thought I was a lost cause. However, all these times that I was exposed to the gospel was the work of God. Finally, in April of 1979, I came to faith in Christ at a small church in Harrison, NJ. I try to keep my own experience in mind when talking to other people about Christ. I have no idea where they are in their journey. Perhaps God will be as gracious and merciful to them as He has been to me.

 

[Van]

Liberals say never waste a crisis, as they are an opportunity to enlarge government. When someone makes a sincere comment involving spiritual reality, we have an opportunity to reinforce their view and perhaps expand it in a fruitful way. Fluffy might be an angel of mercy, opening the door to joining loved ones. Remember Jesus uses broken reeds.

 

[Alcott]

I usually side-step the comment unless it leads to a gospel conversation. Comments that like are based on emotional attachment. You cannot argue the merits of their statement because you may be viewed as attacking them.

Based on emotional attachment--and denial. It could be that we, who believe and push the gospel, become the unbelievers to those think of heaven only at such times. And besides feeling attacked, they also express that type of thought that if heaven is not what they want it to be like-- meaning particularly who and what are there-- then they don't want to go. And that, of course, can play into the whole idea of the Christian faith being based on emotional attachment and denial.

Meanwhile, even serious believers seem to think of 'heaven' in terms of reunions, and often have not the slightest doubt that everyone they *want* to be there will be and we'll forever talk about what we did on this earth. Is that because that's all we can imagine? That we're not told enough in scripture about what is really going on? If we express thought otherwise, we can't show their truth ... Which takes us back to the original question about wishing happy birthdays to the deceased and expecting to see our pets again.
So we 'might as well' think of it according to what we think will make us happy, as the real truth must be beyond us??

 

[percho]

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. ? Into the kingdom of God?
And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Just some thoughts.

Happy Birthday, in heaven, how's Fluffy?

 

[Alcott]

[QUOTE="percho, post: 2504926, member: 9897"Just some thoughts.[/quote]

Oh, is that what those are?

Happy Birthday, in heaven, how's Fluffy?

I don't know anybody named Fluffy. If you're referring to my hair, it needs cutting.