HEAVEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 3

HEAVEN

Sir, —Under the above heading J. G. Butler attacks and belittles the Bible and those who believe its message. Yet this same word of God is that by which he will be judged! Human wisdom cannot attain to a knowledge of God nor understand His word (1 Cor.

1 18-25). This knowledge is revealed to the humble seeker after God by His Spirit (1 Cor. 2: 10-12) through his word. Heaven and hell are real: and in the course of time he will find himself in one or the other. There are no in-betweens. Heaven is the dwelling place of God, the eternal home of all who believe in Jesus Christ. Hell is prepared for the Devil and his angels. To it are condemned all who rebel against God. and reject His offer of pardon, through the atoning work of Christ. Between them there is a great gulf fixed.—Yours, etc., A. C. READ. May 22, 1953.

Sir,—ln reference to the Dean of Christchurch about heaven, after all these lectures of teaching about the hereafter he has let the cat out of the bag. If heaven is not a place, there can be no hereafter, so why bother about going to church? I would suggest turning all of the churches into flats to house the people and we could get these parsons back into production where they will be of some use to the community. So let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may be dead. But wait., I have found a text in John 14-2, in which Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” So if heaven is not a place, would the Dean tell us where Jesus went? In Matthew 7-15 Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets.”—Yours, etc., BIBLE STUDENT. May 22, 1953.

Sir, —All that we are able to know of the life beyond death is derived from the Bible. We all have “private views,” but whether they be those of a cleric or a layman, such views must be classed as human speculation. The God who made us has not left us to grope in the dark concerning these things. If Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as every true Christian believes, then we must believe that heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people, because He clearly said so. Spiritual verities are not discoverable by human wisdom. ‘The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor. 2-14). Our relationshio to the Son of God and His authoritative words will determine our destiny. He said so. (John 12-48). Yours, etc., QUO VADIS May 22, 1953.

Sir,—The “Bible Text Cyclopedia” gives, under the heading “heaven,” over 100 passages for reference. Under “God Kfng” are over 100 others. Paul Brunton, after 10 books written concerning his research throughout Eastern methods and practice of mysticism, yoga, and philosophy, in appendix writes, “The God whom we find by meditation in the heart is the first step toward the God whom we find in the whole universe. The force which drew us away from the world in our ascetic effort to become selfdetached is inevitably followed by the force which drives us back to the world in selfless service.” Christ was no impractical dreamer. He bade us daily invite God’s rule over the heart. His life was selfless. Mrs Ross does not find heaven in Auckland slums, and is on the side of its manifestation toward earth in practical terms there. —Yours, etc., UPON EARTH. May 22, 1953.

Sir, —If J. G. Butler has never read any of the many able defences of the Bible against scepticism, he (and anyone else interested) may avail himself of a recent publication, "Believing the Bible," by writing to the Librarian. 206 Madras street. This book effectually sets out the reasons why a person of sound intellect must accept the Bible as wholly true. Allow me also to point out to your correspondent that the Bible is in no way responsible for the prevailing belief in naturally deathless souls or their supposed places of consignment. The original Christian hope as taught in the New Testament and maintained in the early Church was one of conditional immortality to be enjoyed on earth by means of resurrection. This belief had been steadfastly adhered to by a minority through the centuries, and still survives today in spite of the inroads -of pagan philosophy.— Yours, etc..

THE LAW AND THE TESTIMONY. May 22, 1953.

Sir,—lt is not a question of our private views expressed by “R.C.” but facts that matter. If these theories are allowed to go unanswered it surely means we are spineless Christians and are neither hot nor cold. It is because of the apathy of so-called Christians that modernism, which paves the way for communism, has such a hold to day. I wonder where J. G. Butler would be todav without his “so-called nonsense of the Adam the Eve story” having taken place? The Bible is wholly true from cover to cover and a true Christian believes that absolutely. Nothing less will do, as it is the inspired word of God. Therefore he has not any doubts at all The Bible has all the answers even in this present age. in fact, can supply everything for past, presen' and future. -Yours, etc.. 2 TIMOTHY 3. May 21, 1953.