Essay Questions

What were some of the things that Colton described that indicated to his parents he might have visited Heaven?

Colton Burpo's story of his near-death experience and visit to Heaven has captured the hearts and minds of people around the world. In the book "Heaven is for Real," written by Colton's father Todd Burpo, Colton describes in detail the things he saw and experienced during his time in Heaven. There were several key things that Colton described that indicated to his parents that he had indeed visited Heaven. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence was Colton's description of meeting his great-grandfather, a man he had never met or heard about before. Colton was able to accurately describe his great-grandfather's physical appearance, including details about his clothing and even the fact that he had died before Colton was born. This revelation was particularly shocking to Todd and Sonja Burpo, as they had never shared any information about this distant relative with Colton. Colton also described meeting his sister, whom Sonja had miscarried several years before Colton was born. Colton described meeting this sister in Heaven and described her appearance in detail, including the fact that she had grown up in Heaven while Colton had not. This revelation brought immense comfort to the Burpo family, as it confirmed to them that their unborn child was indeed waiting for them in Heaven. Another compelling detail that Colton shared was his description of Jesus. Colton explained how Jesus had eyes that "shone like the sun" and how he had a calming presence that made Colton feel at peace. Colton's description of Jesus matched the traditional depictions of him in Christian art, further adding to the legitimacy of his experience. In addition to these specific details, Colton also shared general insights about Heaven that resonated with many people. He described Heaven as a place of unimaginable beauty, with vibrant colors and lush landscapes. He also talked about the overwhelming sense of love and peace that he felt while in Heaven, a feeling that he struggled to put into words. Overall, Colton's descriptions of his visit to Heaven contained many details that indicated to his parents that he had indeed had a supernatural experience. The specific references to family members he had never met, the accurate depiction of Jesus, and the general sense of peace and love all contributed to the authenticity of Colton's story. While some may question the veracity of near-death experiences like Colton's, his detailed descriptions and the impact of his story on those around him have led many to believe in the reality of Heaven.

Why was this book controversial and disapproved of by the church?

You would think that the Church would be happy about a boy who had a very strong case for being able to prove the existence of Heaven; however, not all Christians and Christian organizations were happy about the book and the claims that it made. One such naysayer was the Berean Call, a monthly newsletter, who stated that there was no proof that Colton had ever been clinically dead at any point, thereby dismissing the entire account as a dream, without explaining how a three year old boy could dream about people of whom he had no knowledge.

John MacArthur, a pastor turned author, dislikes the distinctly un-Biblical portrayal of Heaven, and the childish interpretation given of the afterlife. He was rather unhappy about the rainbow-colored horse that Colton had claimed to see Jesus riding on, concerned that the colorful and almost children's book-like experience would give Christians the wrong impression about the eternal life that was waiting for them after their passing. To some, though, it made perfect sense that Colton's view of Heaven would be childlike and crude; he was, after all, a three year old boy. Despite criticism, Colton Burpo, now older, was steadfast in his claims, and told his parents only what he knew to be true about his near-death experiences, which they then wrote and published.