A reader has given me a book to review. Billed as a national bestseller, it was on the New York Times bestseller list for five months. The blurb on the back cover states: "On September 17, 1975, after being electrocuted by a bolt of lightning, Dannion Brinkley died. When he revived twenty-eight minutes later in a morgue, he had the story of a liftetime to tell---a profoundly moving account of what happened to him during his near-death experience." Excerpt from the cover of Saved By The Light by Dannion Brinkley with Paul Perry, Harper Books, 1994.
Fascinating! But how does his book compare to Bible teachings?
Point #1 Is Mr. Brinkley a prophet?
He says, "Once, after speaking to a church group about my life, a woman approached me with a look of puzzlement on her face. She had heard many people speak about God, she said, but never one quite like me. ‘I'll bet you drink,' she said. ‘Yes, ma'am I do.' ‘ And you obviously like women, don't you?' ‘Yes ma'am, I do.' ‘Then I will say this, Mr. Brinkley," she said, giving me the evil eye. ‘When God was looking for prophets, he must have been scraping the bottom of the barrel to have found you.' I couldn't agree more. Why me? I often ask.....I never got on my knees and asked the good Lord to change my life. Why me?" Page 203
The Bible says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." 2Peter1:21 Emphasis supplied.

Point #2 Mr. Binkley's statement about righteousness
He states, "There are many paths to righteousness, I said, and that is good news for all of us, since no one seems to be on the same path, so far as I can tell." Page 202
The Bible says, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteounesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6.

Point #3 Mr. Brinkley's purpose on earth
He says, "He [a being of light]then told me my purpose on earth. ‘You are there to create spiritualistic captialism,'he said. ‘You are to engage this coming system by changing people's thought processes. Show people how to rely on their spiritual selves instead of the government and churches. Religion is fine, but don't let people be entirely controlled by it.....Then the Being let me know what I was supposed to do back on earth. I was to create centers where people could come to reduce stress in their lives. Through this reduction of stress, said the Being, humans would come to realize, ‘as we do,' that they are higher spiritual beings. They would become less fearful and more loving of their fellow man." p. 59
The Bible says, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good: and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Micah 6:8.
The Bible says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:33,34.

I'm reminded as I read books like this that the great themes of the Bible are missing. These themes are: man's total helplessness to do anything to save himself and the need of a Divine rescue. The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23. The Bible says, "Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone." Acts 4:12 CEV

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

There is never a charge for my articles, and if you have a good reason, there is no limit to how many you may request. However, if you find them valuable you may want to order my latest book, History, Mystery and Facts About the Bible. Order at 1-800-845-7618 (ext. 301). You may also order from Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book go to support this ministry.

Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

p.s. A new column is posted weekly. Be sure and bookmark the site or put it on your favorites list.