This article was originally written in 2015. After seeing conversations online between Christians, I see that it is time to republish the article. The lack of discernment within the body of Christ is alarming.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
Original Article from 2015
We have been searching for a Bible based church. For a long time, my husband and I have been worshiping from home; watching pastors and preachers whom we have come to trust and love via Youtube. We do miss fellowship and we are aware that God wants us to be in fellowship with other believers.
For the last two Sundays we visited a Baptist church. This church ordains women as pastors. The head pastor is a man. We do not believe that the Word of God supports women being pastors.
Knowing that we will probably not find a church where we agree on every point, we know that some things are essential, while others are non-essential to salvation. I have often spoken of the slippery slope in many of my articles that leadership finds itself on when they stray from the Word. It is inevitable.
A baby was being dedicated on the first Sunday we visited the new church. A book was presented to the parents of the baby. The name of the book was Jesus Calling. I had read about this book, and knew that it was very controversial, but I had no idea how wrong this book was for any Christian to be reading.
I know that this article is going to upset many people who have come to love Jesus Calling. My job as a writer is to speak truth. I have no control over the readers’ reaction, but I must speak truth; and hopefully I will reach some Christians with the truth. I pray that this piece will help many to see that Jesus Calling is not a book that Jesus would have them read.
Jesus Calling is a New Age mystical book which Christians should completely avoid.
SOLA SCRIPTURA
From gotquestions.org
Question: “What is sola scriptura?”
Answer: The phrase sola scriptura is from the Latin: sola having the idea of “alone,” “ground,” “base,” and the word scriptura meaning “writings”—referring to the Scriptures. Sola scriptura means that Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian. The Bible is complete, authoritative, and true. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). [1]
It says in Timothy 3:16, that all Scripture is God-breathed. Just as He breathed life into Adam, He breathed the Words of the Bible – penned by men, but under His inspiration. It is so vitally important for the believer to read God’s Word. It is food for the soul. God speaks to us through His Word.
Have you ever read a verse of Scripture that you have read many times before, but suddenly the words just jumped off the page and into your heart? God was speaking to you through His Word, and helping you with whatever you were going through at that particular time.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)
JESUS CALLING
The author of this book, Sarah Young, modeled her book after God Calling, a book written in the early 1930s. This book was written by two “listeners” who said that they would come into the presence of God and begin to write what they thought He was saying. It is a New Age practice called automatic writing. The New Age followers believe that they are channeling spirits who impart knowledge to them. We know that these so-called spirits are demons.
Isn’t it just like Satan to deceive the children of God? In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young also claims that she came into God’s presence and listened and then wrote what she felt He was saying to her. She writes as if Jesus Himself is speaking.
Doesn’t it make you wonder who was saying the things for Miss Young to write? I have skimmed through many of the writings in this book, and on the surface they seem innocuous. But I have wondered why so many millions of Christians would resort to reading this book, when we have the Word of God. Why do they need more? Who is whispering to them that they need more?
I see that Sarah Young now has a book out for children, and even a Jesus Calling bible! This alarms me, and makes me wonder why so many Christians lack discernment. It is obvious to me that Satan is confusing and deceiving God’s children. But if these same people would read the Word of God, they would see that everything they need to know is right there in His Word!
Harper Collins publishes “Jesus Calling” books. Harper Collins also publishes the Satanic Bible. Coincidence? I think not.
Back to the church that my husband and I visited; we had the pastor come to our home to speak with us about some of our concerns. I had already told him about being alarmed that the church would present Jesus Callingto the parents of a baby being dedicated. When we began to speak with him about this, he shut us down by saying that his wife loves Jesus Calling and that all of these books bring her peace. So, the book is okay because his wife loves it? I was speechless.
I began to connect the dots. I thought to myself that this pastor believes that it is okay to ordain women as pastors, and he was influenced by his wife about the spiritual legitimacy of Jesus Calling. My mind traveled back to the Scriptures about the Garden of Eden. It was Eve who was deceived by Satan. Adam sinned willfully. I believe that he did this because of his love for Eve. He put her above God.
If this pastor believed the Word of God, and studied it as any pastor should, he would have seen the error of his ways. God would have spoken to him through His Word. But instead he did what he thought was right.
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
WARREN SMITH ON JESUS CALLING
Warren Smith wrote a book entitled Another Jesus Calling. In this insightful book, Mr. Smith asks the question “Is this really our Savior speaking?” I would encourage any readers of this article, who are defensive about Sarah Young’s book, to purchase Another Jesus Calling. Warren Smith believes (as I do) that this is just part of the Emerging Church movement, where contemplative prayer and eastern mediation is encouraged.
Please pass this article on to anyone you know who is reading Jesus Calling. I pray that the Lord will bring many away from this counterfeit book and back into His book – the Bible.
Blessings in Yeshua
MARANATHA!
Geri: I’m grateful for your wisdom. I’m learning so much recently as I’ve been reading more and more things about the Emergent Church, ECT, Word of Faith Movement…I had no idea about all of theses things. When Jesus first saved me I had been indoctrinated by the Catholic Church but had been away from any type of church for over 7 years. When Jesus saved me almost 5 years ago I began attending a nondenominational church (a Mega Church) in Dallas. I know the Lord has been teaching me through each experience with the churches I’ve attended as I’ve moved around and the online preachers I’ve listened to as well as Jesus Calling and The Shack. But in recent months He has been removing these false teachers from me. I have prayed for that and He is showing me very clearly those who are in error. My eyes are being opened to all of these things but how do you think it is that upon my surrender to Christ, I drew closer to Him by means of all those stated above? I don’t understand this journey, but what I do know is this: I continue to seek Him and I continue to surrender to Him and ask for His truth and He is revealing it to me. Sometimes through articles such as this one. I feel confused at times because I went right from one false teaching into another yet believe I was saved that day when I wanted to take my own life and He saved me. But what about the people who don’t continue to seek Him? I believe the Bible…and Jeremiah 29:13 says that You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart. I believe if I keep searching for His truth He will continue to reveal it to me through His word…and that is my prayer for everyone. Thank you for what you share here.
Jackie – praise God that He is teaching you what is from Him and was it not. He is giving you discernment. I was saved in 1983 and I did not know about the false teachings for many years. Here is what I would recommend to you. Thank the Lord for His discernment and pray that He keeps giving it to you. Concerning books like “Jesus Calling” and “The Shack” – don’t beat yourself up that you fell for these. SO many believers have as well! Here is a rule of thumb for every child of God – The Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God. It was penned by men who were under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit – so in other words, it WAS written by God the Holy Spirit. You must realize that God revealed EVERYTHING we need to know in His Word. When people write things like Jesus Calling – that is very dangerous for a new believer. It sounds so good, but Satan comes as an angel of light! The Lord wants to keep us safe from all harm! He is Father God. Read your Bible every day. Become part of a Bible based study if you can. Everything we need to know is in the Bible.
When I write articles which warn of false teaching, I am NOT telling the reader that they are not saved. Don’t let the devil lie to you! You are a child of God. I am merely trying to do my best as a watchman on the wall. I could not live with myself if I didn’t warn about dangerous false doctrine. Much love to you in Yeshua.
YES! Geri, thank you. I have been reading the Bible…and He is teaching me. I do believe I am saved and feel as you that I must tell others of these dangers as I am beginning to see them for myself. Thank you so much for what you are doing and for your encouragement! Btw…I had joined a Bible study at my current church but they decided to study from a Christian Book Author instead and I wasn’t interested. I believe it’s a decent book…but I want to study the Bible not an author right now (no matter how good they are). Growing up Catholic, I never studied the Bible…it has been an eye opening experience to me and I am never short of amazed at how He speaks to me through His word! Keep up the good fight! Placing my helmet of salvation snuggly on my head…covered by the breastplate of righteousness, protected by the shield of faith, feet shod with the gospel of peace and wielding the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God…on to fight another day! I look forward to fighting the good fight with you sister!
Jackie, you will never be drawn closer to Jesus Christ by reading books such as Jesus Calling or The Shack. You will drawn to Him by reading the Word of God and listening to Bible believing preachers. I had to say this because you included those two New Age books in the mix, saying that they helped you draw closer to our Lord. You have to understand how cunning the devil really is. When you allow things like Jesus Calling into your mind, you are putting yourself at risk. The devil will make you feel warm and fuzzy feelings, but trust me when I say that when Satan sees a child of God reading his garbage it makes him very happy. You should read C.S. Lewis’s “The Screw Tape Letters” to understand that there really is a battle going on for your mind.
I have read most of that book by C.S. Lewis…just got it out again the other day and started it over again. It’s very good. I guess I was hearing enough of God’s word at that time and His Light will always overcome the darkness. But I can see how people are deceived. So many things I see now as the enemy’s tactics to keep me “feeling” warm and fuzzy but God Himself has called me away from those things. It truly is a battle. I want to help others see the truth as well.
Thank you Geri, for highlighting the word of God as the only written word inspired
by the Lord. So many of the new age writings are making successful inroads on
weak Christians that are easily swayed by lovingly written manuscripts inspired by
the spirits of the authors choice. Sarah Young is no doubt enjoying her new found source of maga buck income. Same as WN. Paul Young author of The Shack,
Is this same name a coinsidance? That volume will no doubt have resulted in millions of folk learning completely unscriptural rubbish that does not reflect any of
What the word of God tells us. Ooooo those itchy Ears. Wishing you success in your search for a church you can support. In the mean time we keep selecting poastore from the online ministries, there are some wonderful preachers that lift us up every Sunday morning as we worship together with family and friends in our home church on the farm, here in South Western Western Australia.
Love your blog.
Bill Heggers.
God bless you, Bill.
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So does that mean that every pastor who prays for God to give him a sermon and then writes down what God tells him is listening to demons. I am so confused. Is it not ok to expound on the word of God. Does that mean that writings by such authors as C.S. Lewis (i.e. the Screw Tape Letters) are not of God because they are not scripture. Should we not read anything other than the word of God? Should I have even read what you wrote as I assume you felt inspired by Jesus and the Holy Spirit to write it. Please help me understand and give examples of how Jesus Calling is demonic and New Age so I can spot these things more easily. Thank you and God Bless.
C.S. Lewis’s Screw Tape Letters is about demons and the way they manipulate human minds. I felt that it was a great look about how the devil’s demons operate.
Jesus Calling” is saying that Jesus Himself is giving the author His Words. NOT TRUE. His holy Word is complete in the Word of God. Books about the Word or about Jesus are a far cry from books which declare that JESUS is speaking through, in this case, Sarah Young. God bless you.
Hi Geri,
Thank you for re-posting your article on Jesus Calling. I, too, found myself reading this book (years ago) on a daily basis, for about a 3 year period. I think my saving grace was that I also opened up my Bible along with reading Jesus Calling to re-read the scriptural passages mentioned in my own ESV Bible. Sometimes when re-reading the scriptures, I got caught looking at the references for those passages and ended up with an extended study in the Word! When I learned that some people had serious misgivings about Jesus Calling, at first I didn’t understand, I believe because I kept the Bible nearby to check on it. I eventually switched to another devotional book, At the Name of Jesus, by Sarah Hornsby that became a teaching tool to show me how Jesus shows up in the Old and New Testaments. Since then I’ve been using a daily devotional offered by ICR that my husband also reads. I have not gone back to Jesus Calling. Unfortunately, I have given a copy of Jesus Calling to a few people back when it first came out.
Now I am really into reading the Word and even memorizing chunks of it. My passion has grown to see other women in my church get into the Word and apply it to their lives.
Again thank you for your article and for being one of God’s watchmen!
elfmom52
Everything you’ve said is absolutely TRUE! The church here in America has lost its way and so much is based on “feelings” and personal “beliefs” and NOT on the Word of God!! It very disturbing, but Jesus himself warned us that this would happen!
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