By Chris Lawson
Spiritual Research Network
Is Jesus really “calling” to us through Sarah Young and her contemplative prayer journaling technique, or is the “Jesus” of Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling a counterfeit Jesus, equal to, if not greater than, the deceptions that Paul the Apostle warned about nearly 2000 years ago? Paul the Apostle warned:
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him [put up with false teachers]. (2 Corinthians 11:4)
Messiah Jesus Himself warned:
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:1-5)
Considerations for parents and children
Here is something to seriously consider for parents and children who are reading Jesus Calling, and the kids devotional too. Parents and kids who are being influenced by the kids version of Jesus Calling, titled Jesus Calling: 365 Day Devotional for Kids, are getting much more than they bargained for. They are also getting a lot more than the straight words of Jesus of Nazareth as are found in the Bible. Sarah Young’s mystical New Age rendition of “Jesus Calling” us has been “adapted” by Tama Fortner. In the Jesus Calling devotional versions, “special thanks” is given to Kris Bearss “for her work on the “journaling prompts.” Three ladies and a New Age book!
Reading the kids version of Jesus Calling (or any version for that matter) and then trying to “journal” and feel “The Presence” of Sarah Young’s “Jesus,” through utilizing the “journaling” versions of Jesus Calling, is a recipe for spiritual disaster. This type of spiritual practice can induct one very quickly into Gnostic perversions of Scripture and/or direct spirit contact with entities that are not, shall we say, human-friendly (i.e., demons).
Contemplative prayer and romantic mystic impressions
Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling material appears to be the fruit of contemplative prayer mixed with romantic mystic impressions, creatively written as if from God. Mixed with New Age “Consciousness”/”Oneness” philosophy (which apparently is coming from her “Jesus”), this alleged “Presence” of God/Jesus expresses itself in Young’s book as “My Presence.” Vast volumes of Jesus Calling literature in the marketplace today reads much like “channeled” literature in occult bookstores. Both are sprinkled with the name “Jesus” and both include many Bible verses. It is not hard to find this material at all if one knows what to look for and where to find it.
Before reading further, please carefully note the following. Irrefutable evidence proving that there are New Age teachings in Sarah Young’s book can be thoroughly examined in Warren B. Smith’s excellent work titled “Another Jesus” Calling: How False Christs are Entering the Church through Contemplative Prayer. One can also read the Critical Issues Commentary, Issue Number 125, online. This issue titled Toxic Devotion: A Review of Sarah Young’s – Jesus Calling is a thoroughly scriptural and concisely written refutation of Jesus Calling. There is also an extensive list of articles at the end of this article you are now reading. Click here to continue reading.