From time to time people have asked me to review books. I read many for research, and wish I had the time to write reviews that would be worthy of helping someone glean insight. I am glad that there are talented writers with discernment who can help people decide if they want to delve into a book that might introduce ideas that are slightly off the narrow path of biblical doctrine. Over at Steak And Bible, Julia has sent me an excellent review of the very popular book, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young. There are some serious concerns to share.
Christians, especially women, are eating this up. As of six months ago the book has sold nearly 3 million copies. There is also a Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions For Kids , Jesus Calling – Teen Edition and the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible under the same franchise, and those are selling like ice cubes in July as well. Here is an excerpt from Julia’s blog. Make sure you read the entire review here:
Is Deception Calling? A review of Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
…Young writes that “One morning as I prayed, I visualized God protecting each of us. I pictured first our daughter, then our son, and then Steve encircles by God’s protective Presence, which looked like golden light. When I prayed for myself, I was suddenly enveloped in brilliant light and profound peace…”
This sounds very similar to New Age and Occult accounts. Visualization is a popular occult practice because practitioners believe that they can create reality by imagining it into existence. Let Us Reason Ministries and others have warned about the “Christianization” of such practices. Slapping a “Christian” label on a pagan practice does not make it acceptable to God. The Bible actually warns against divination, witchcraft (Deut. 18:10-12) and adopting pagan religious practices (Matt. 6:7 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”)
Related articles
- Is Deception Calling? A review of Jesus Calling by Sarah Young (steakandabible.com)
- What Do You Do When You Ask Jesus Into Your Heart But He Doesn’t Stick Around? (defendingcontending.com)
- Why Jesus Isn’t Your Boyfriend: A Critique of Dating God (christianitytoday.com)
- Agree to Disagree: 4 Ways to Know its Time to End Discussions (thecripplegate.com)
Such a timely article. My daughter only yesterday told me she had received a copy of Jesus Calling and was anxious to read it. I was familiar with God Calling, and was not sure if the two were alike, so I made no comment.
And now I know they are.
Thanks for the article.
Thank you for writing about this book. So many of my friends read it and cling to its words now more than they cling to God’s Word. We left a supposed “bible-teaching” church over issues that stemmed from this book. We were deemed “closed-minded” and “legalistic” by that pastor, which we found incredibly sad. The parts of this book that I have read made my skin crawl because they sounded so New Age – Jesus as a “cocoon of light”, etc. I pray that the eyes of my friends will be opened to see this for what it is – heresy – and get back to reading the Word of God.
Cindy – the very first entry I ever read started with this phrase – “Find your security in God alone!” I also remember things like “Emmanuel, God is with you!” as well as “His Spirit is with you and in you.” This is not heresy but very much in accordance with scripture. I don’t believe that Jesus Calling is leading people astray – anything that turns someone to his precious word can only draw people closer to his precious kingdom!
Hi Cindy. Gods’ blessings on you. I listen to a lot of preachers/evangelist and some – even though they are Spirit filled & speaking the truth I must test it in accordance w/ Gods’ Word & the Holy Spirit in us. If I feel anything negative, I search it out in Gods’ Word & pray. The Holy Spirit search out for you. I don’t listen to all men of God or agree w/ them. God made us all in His image & we are all unique. Many books I lay down, for me inspire me. I must be careful not to judge. What doesn’t bless me may certainly bless the next guy or gal. A child of God in church today gave testimony. When he finished the book, “JESUS CALLING”, many years of nicotine addiction gone. What’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander. Numbers 6:24 – 26, “the Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make thy face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace”. God bless you. Love in Christ, Samuel.
I’ve used Jesus Calling as my morning devotion for two years in a row now. I never really paid attention to the intro and was not familiar with her story. What I am familiar with is this – each day leads me to scripture that serves as a daily reminder that Jesus is with me! I am a born again believer in Jesus, and I have developed a closer relationship with him because of the SCRIPTURE that accompanies each entry. God’s Word will not return void. It certainly hasn’t in my own spiritual walk.
I’ve used Jesus Calling in devotional time and it always points me to Jesus. I love the references to scripture. God uses a lot of imagery in the scriptures. Just because the enemy chose to copy and misues imagery doesn’t mean we throw out all imagery. We need to use discernment.
People are different and should embrace what works for them as long as they are not judging or harming others. Diversity is beautiful. Viewing the world with new eyes can be stimulating.
Sorry, your “review” is itself heretical. The devotional is a great resource that quite clearly helps millions of readers grow in Jesus. The idea that “visualization” is somehow evil is infantile. Without a vision, the people perish. We all visualize things. As believers we do it in the context of our relationship with Jesus. Pagans also pray and dream. Should we quit those as well?
Jeff, your comment has inspired me to post a new article on this topic:
Is “Jesus Calling” in your library?
I know that there are pros and cons to every situation, but I find it discouraging, when Christians decide they can judge. That is the worst example, we can set for our fellow Christians, and esp. non Christians. I read my Bible every day, and I find other sources that help me on my day to day path toward a closer relationship with my Lord and Savior. He walks with me, and talks with me, and I know He is with me. AS I study, I have often kept a journal of my day to day experience that results from my relationship with God. This book is just that, someones journal that reflects their experience with God. The Bible is full of stories that tell of many men and God relationship journeys. I gain from those stories; if God was a help in those days, then surely, He will be my help. To say that this author’s stories are “new age”, is a judgement. Surely, if the NEGATIVE REVIEW of this book, keeps one person from gaining in their walk with God, then it is worse for one to read this article, than the book, which inspires a closer walk with God. Just for those reading this review, I do need to add one very important fact, not mentioned in the review. EVERY daily devotion is followed by several relevant scripture! We are surrounded by many evils in this world that are clearly evil, and we need to speak against them, but this isn’t one of those evils. Let’s not waste our time tearing down that which binds us to the ONE that can lift us out of despair! In His Love
Jesus Calling is being passed to women in prison as a ministry. Many were lead to the Lord. Sarah simply shares her quiet time with Jesus and shares what Jesus is speaking to her. Following every reading are Scriptures to look up in your Bible. This book helped me tremendously when I went through three years of trial and suffering. It is a kind word, uplifting, and a blessing. I have given cases of this book to women who
are broken and hurting, and it has blessed them. Jesus is calling each of us to spend time with Him on a daily basis. It is an encouragement for many. I have read my Jesus calling every day after reading my Bible for several years. It always seems to speak to the core of my situation. It is amazing and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to share time with Jesus.
I sat in church pew on Sunday mornings looking at the empty chair placed in the front of the church, on the raised platform beside the pastor’s pulpit stand. The old wooden chair was empty and we (the pew sitters) were all told to “visualize” Jesus in that chair as we sat throught the one hour long service. This was a part of the Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” Bible study the church was conducting at the time. In this study Mr. Blackaby recommended this exercise to teach how we should conduct ourselves if we could “see” Jesus with us. So I searched the Scriptures to find the passages where believers are commanded to “visualize” Jesus or seek to hear His audible voice. I could not find any for faith comes by hearing and not by sight. After studying new age practices and philosophies after having a demonic experience (slain or drunk in the spirit complete with seeing bright lights and hearing audible voices) in a charismatic church system, I discovered that all of these practices to try to earn a closeness to God, are in fact of the evil one. I was deceived into believing that my experience was of God, causing tremendous problems in my marriage because I wanted to keep going back to this church system to have “more” of God and experiencing that tremendous peace that accompanied this new age practice. I want to emphasize again, that I was deceived. Just because I “felt” total piece, saw incredible bright colored lights, heard a voice say audibly “I love you,” does not mean that this was from God, my Father. This happened in a church building with a pastor leading the cause….he was a divorced man who believed he could hear from God and then pass on “personal words of prophecy” to all who stood before him. I had never experienced this form of church service ever in all of my years growing up in the church system, so this was exciting, exhilerating, and I felt a growing sense of hyper spirituality and elitism because god had chosen me for this experience. Since reading my Bible, meditating on the Scriptures, studying the cross refernces for each passage, and through a life of prayer, God, the Holy Spirit, has become my Teacher in whom I place my trust.
A friend of mine has given me this book in the hopes that it will lead me to Jesus & God. It has done so. It is a review like this which is more inclined to put me off Religion. I think Jesus calling is beautiful and will lead many to the Lord.
Carol, I got saved from reading Norman Vincent Peale’s book, Power of Positive Thinking, which is not a book that I would recommend to ANYONE now that I have been a Christian for 30+ years. There was on small bit of truth in that book that changed my life. But there was a whole lot of error in it as well…though I was oblivious to it back then. At the time though, God did use it because there was nothing else in my possession with ANY truth in it. I had no Bible. One small truth from that terrible book kept going around in my mind and finally brought me to my knees. God can use anything when He is ready to save a person. My case proves it. But, all the same, I would never recommend a book like that to others, nor would I recommend this one because, though it may contain some truth, it can also lead people astray into a false gospel. Once a person gets saved, the very best book to read is the Bible. You don’t need anything else. I do read Christian books from time to time, but always with a discerning eye…does it line up completely with what the Bible teaches? If it contains error, why continue reading it when I have the Word which is flawless.
Would I eat a cookie, no matter how delicious it appears to be, if I knew there was a little bit of poison in it? A little bit can still hurt me.
I would just say first, AMEN, and second, it wasn’t the Norman Vincent Peale book that saved you at all, but only the power of the Holy Spirit. Glad you are here, Rose!
That is exactly right, Amy. It was the Holy Spirit completely and was truly a miracle. Thank you for your kind words.