I am fascinated with Near Death Experiences. I love to try to play detective and determine if they are faithful to the Bible or not. I try to determine if the person telling the story is a reliable witness or not.
One NDE that I find intriguing is from Howard Pittman who is featured on Spirit Lessons website. I do warn that you must be very careful when listening to these type of experiences almost as much as reading some of the garbage the modern Christian writers are churning out these days. But I am not focusing on his NDE story in this blog, just the forward to his booklet called "Placebo". In my opinion he describes the modern church perfectly. He uses the placebo pill used by doctors as an analogy of many churches in our land, it describes believers who are not saved yet are being coddled into thinking everything's fine, not being challenged in the Word and therefore think they are saved.
Go ahead and read below and see what you think.
Below taken from Spirit Lessons website:
On August 3, 1979, Howard Pittman, a Baptist minister for 35 years, died while on the operating table during surgery and had a near-death experience. After angels showed him the second and third heavens, he was taken before the very throne of God where he was given a message to share with the world.
The following is an excerpt from his booklet, Placebo, which documents his amazing near-death experience. You can purchase his audio tapes and booklets at the Lake Hamilton Bible Camp store.
Forward
Webster's Dictionary defines "placebo" as "a medication prescribed more for the mental relief of a patient than for the actual effect on his disorder, or something tending to soothe."
The doctors tell us that if we know we are being treated with a placebo, it does not work. In our minds we must think that it is a real medication and has the strength or power to heal. If the patient believes this, then the treatment has been known to work wonders in many cases that otherwise could not have been treated. Placebo treatment is, in fact, nothing of substance, but in the mind of the patient it is real. In order for this kind of treatment to work, the doctor must convince the patient of the work of the medication.
My friend, I declare unto you that this is the exact "treatment" that most "mouth-professing" Christians are using today. The doctor administering this "medication" is Satan himself. He gives the "patent" a sugar-coated religion, a shallow experience, and whispers half-truths into his ears. He then tells the "patient" that it is real and that it is all the "patent" needs. The "patent", having been taken in by Satan, believes this and goes on his merry way declaring to all that he has been born again, his salvation is real, and this experience is all that he needs. Doctor Satan will allow his "patient" to continue to go to church and will allow him to take part in any church, that is, singing, leading in prayer, teaching Sunday School, and even preaching. He will allow the "patient" to make any kind of statement in connection with his "mouth-professing" religion, even to the point of the saving power of Jesus. Yes, he will allow the "patient" to do all and say all with one exception. That exception is that the "patient" will not be allowed to live the life that he confesses with his mouth ...
