Why "Jesus Calling" Should be Added to the Bible

In our last post we looked at how the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young was a direct assault on the sufficiency of Scripture. We saw that Jesus Calling encourages Christians to seek the voice of God outside of the only way He has promised to speak to His people, through the Scriptures. Nowhere does the Bible ever direct us to go outside of itself to hear the voice of God.

In this post we will be discussing whether or not Jesus Calling is on the same level as Scripture. If it is, it should be obeyed and honored by God's people in the same way that Scripture is.

Direct Revelation

Is the canon of Scripture closed or is God still giving special revelation? If God is still giving direct revelation today then it stands to reason that books such as Jesus Calling should be added to the canon.

2Timothy 3:16 makes it clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God." And, since every word of God is authoritative, every word received must be heeded and obeyed. So, if someone claims to receive direct revelation from God and then writes down the messages they receive for all to read, they are, in essence, putting their writings on the same level as Scripture.

Sarah Young claims to receive direct revelation from Christ.

"The following year, I began to wonder if I could change my prayer times from monologue to dialogue. I had been writing in prayer journals for many years, but this was one- way communication: I did all the talking. Increasingly, I wanted to hear what God might want to communicate to me on a given day. I decided to "listen" with pen in hand, writing down whatever I "heard" in my mind," (JC P.10).

"My journaling thus changed from monologue to dialogue. This new way of communicating with God became the high point of my day," (JC p.12).

Jesus even gives her specific commands such as to listen for His directives, to walk closely with Him each moment and to relax in His "healing presence." Commands about remaining close to Jesus, walking in His presence, and giving anxiety over to Him are replete throughout the book.

"Walk closely with Me each moment, listening for My directives and enjoying My Companionship," (March 23, p.66).

"RELAX IN MY HEALING PRESENCE . As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today’s plans and problems. Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal. Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me," (Jan. 2, p.3).

Notice the phrase, "Let the Light of My Presence soak into you." Soaking prayer is a part of contemplative spirituality, a dangerous practice that comes straight from Roman Catholic monasticism, brought into the Protestant Church with the help of Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. But that's for another post. For now, we are going to focus on the direct revelation that Young is supposedly receiving from Jesus Himself.

Young claims that only the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant:

"The Bible is the only infallible, inerrant Word of God, and I endeavor to keep my writings consistent with that unchanging standard, (J.C. P.12).

Is Jesus speaking or not? If He is, you better believe His words are infallible and inerrant! If there's any doubt whatsoever, it is foolish to write down and publish what may have come from either a deceitful heart, or worse, another spirit.

Only at the end of the introduction to the book does she say:

"I have written from the perspective of Jesus speaking, to help readers feel more personally connected with Him. So the first person singular ("I," "Me," "My," "Mine") always refers to Christ; "you" refers to you, the reader," (JC p.12).

Although she says she has "written from the perspective of Jesus speaking," on the very same page she says:

"My journaling thus changed from monologue to dialogue. This new way of communicating with God became the high point of my day," (JC p.12).

In the last paragraph of the introduction, she says,

"Themes of thankfulness and trust recurred often during my listening times. These themes are quite prevalent in the Bible, and they are essential for a close relationship with the Lord."

In an interview with CBN, Young says:

"It felt a little awkward the first time I tried it, but I did receive a short message. The content was biblical, and it addressed themes that were current in my life: trust, fear, and closeness to God."

So there is more going on than just writing from the "perspective of Jesus speaking," "dialogue" between Young and Jesus is taking place.

As I said in the beginning of this post, nowhere does Scripture command us to seek God's voice through impressions, inner voices, or promptings. But the Bible itself claims to be sufficient for all of life, and for every situation:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

As I pointed out in the last post, the Word of God alone is what is needed to "complete, and equip" the Christian for "every good work."

God Has Spoken

The opening verses of the book of Hebrews make it clear that God has spoken once and for all through His Son in these last days:

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV) ​Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

(ESV Study Bible Notes) Four points of contrast occur between vv. 1 and 2: time of revelation ("long ago" vs. these last days); agent of revelation ("prophets" vs. Son); recipients of revelation ("fathers" vs. us); and, implicitly, the unity of the final revelation in the Son (cf. the "many times and in many ways" in v. 1, implying, by contrast, that this last revelation came at one time, in one way, in and through God's Son). Since God has spoken finally and fully in the Son, and since the NT fully reports and interprets this supreme revelation once the NT is written, the canon of Scripture is complete. No new books are needed to explain what God has done through his Son.

Is Jesus Calling on the Same Level as Scripture?

I think we can answer that question by looking at just one passage of Scripture.

Psalms 19:7-11 (ESV) 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple:

Can Young say that the words she supposedly received from Jesus are "perfect" and "sure," making the simple wise?

8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;

Are the words of Jesus in J.C. "right" and "pure, enlightening the eyes" as Scripture claims to do?

9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

Is every word of Jesus in J.C. "clean," "true, and righteous altogether?" Does J.C. cause us to fear the LORD as Scripture does?

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Scripture has the right to make these claims, does J.C.?

11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

I think you can see my point. If Jesus has truly spoken to Sarah Young then His words to her are on the same level as Scripture; they have to be. Every word God speaks is authoritative and must be heeded and obeyed without question.

I'm sure Sarah Young would never have the audacity to say that J.C. is on the same level as the Bible. But if Jesus Himself spoke to her, and,"Every word of God proves true" (Proverbs 30:5) then the words of Jesus in J.C. should be added after of the book of Revelation.

 

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Jesus Calling: An Assault on the Sufficiency of Scripture

An article on the sufficiency of Scripture opens appropriately with the words, "The Scriptures today are under attack." This is true not only regarding the inerrancy of Scripture, but even more so, I think, regarding the sufficiency of Scripture. Quoting James Montgomery Boice, Tim Challies wrote:

"James Montgomery Boice once said that the real battle in our times would not be the inerrancy or infallibility of Scripture, but its sufficiency.

The Battle for Sufficiency

Sadly, the battle for the sufficiency of Scripture is taking place right inside the doors of the Church. This has much to due with a form of false teaching that comes straight from Roman Catholic monasticism called contemplative spirituality. Contemplative Spirituality has wormed it's way into the Protestant Church thanks to authors like Richard Foster and Dallas Willard. In this post, we won't have time to go into what contemplative spirituality is. Here is an article that explains it.

The Bible is sufficient. It is all we need for life, godliness, and direction. God has given us His final and complete Word in 66 books.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 " All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Paul says that "the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." "Complete," meaning he needs nothing more, and "equipped for every good work," meaning Scripture itself shows us how we are live and act as children of God in a crooked and depraved generation. Seeking to hear more from God is never encouraged in the Bible.

An Attack on the Sufficiency of Scripture

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young does not attack the inerrancy or infallibility of Scripture. As a matter of fact Young makes it clear:

"The Bible is the only infallible, inerrant Word of God, and I endeavor to keep my writings consistent with that unchanging standard" JC, p.12.

However, what Jesus Calling does attack is the sufficiency of Scripture. How does it do this? By encouraging others to seek the voice of God apart from Scripture. For example, on page 10 of the book she says:

"The following year, I began to wonder if I could change my prayer times from monologue to dialogue. I had been writing in prayer journals for many years, but this was one- way communication: I did all the talking. Increasingly, I wanted to hear what God might want to communicate to me on a given day. I decided to "listen" with pen in hand, writing down whatever I "heard" in my mind."

My question to Sarah would be- How do you know that what you heard in your mind was from God?

Elsewhere she says:

"My journaling thus changed from monologue to dialogue. This new way of communicating with God became the high point of my day" JC. p.12.

There's something very disturbing about that quote. Notice that it wasn't reading the Scriptures that was the "high point" of her day, but "This new way of communicating with God" became the high point of her day.

According to Sarah Young, Jesus Himself told her that He speaks in ways apart from Scripture:

"I speak to you continually: through sights, sounds, thoughts, impressions, scriptures. There is no limit to the variety of ways I can communicate with you. Your part is to be attentive to My messages, in whatever form they come" July 25, p.216.

Is this not a command from Jesus Himself? If so, should we not be obedient to commands that Jesus gives in this book? But that's for another post. In the meantime, notice, Jesus is not only saying that He speaks in multiple ways apart from Scripture, but Scripture comes last in the list of ways that He does supposedly speak!

Impressions and Promptings?

Nowhere in the Bible are we commanded to seek impressions or promptings. Even the apostle Peter, who had probably the greatest experience in all of Scripture, seeing Christ in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, elevates Scripture above THAT experience:

2 Peter 1:16-21 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

Peter says, over and above his experience, "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed." What is he referring to? The Scriptures! If the apostle Peter’s experience (and it was a genuine experience) was not greater than the Scriptures, you better believe Sarah Young’s experiences with Jesus isn't either. But again, that's for another post.

Over and over again the Bible affirms it’s sufficiency:

Psalms 19:7-11 " The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward."

Notice the descriptions- "perfect," "sure," "right," "pure," "clean," "true," to be more desired than gold, "even much fine gold," "sweeter also than honey." Can Sarah Young say this about her book Jesus Calling? If Jesus is really speaking to her she has to.

Words of Warning

Since Jesus is supposedly giving direct revelation to Sarah Young, and she has written down what she heard in her mind, like it or not, this is adding to Scripture. We will discuss this in a later post. For now, let me close with some warnings from Scripture itself:

Proverbs 30:5-6 " Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar."

Deuteronomy 4:2 " You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you."

Deuteronomy 12:32 " "Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it."

Revelation 22:18 " I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,"

 

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Beware of "Jesus Calling"Steven Long 3/17/13

The book Jesus Calling is making waves in the evangelical church. The book is a devotional type book by Sarah Young. The devotionals cover a year and meant to be read every day. However, don't be too quick to pick up this book  to hear "Jesus calling" you. The book is a mixture of a dangerous practice called Contemplative Prayer. Even from the description given by Amazon one can see the dangers of such a book:

Jesus Calling is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue. She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus' point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah's fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.

I've put in bold some things that caused some red flags to immediately go off in my brain.

1. My first concern was the fact that Young admits that she believed these were the things Jesus was saying to her. There are many problems with this: First, we don't base what God is saying on what we believe He is saying but what His Word actually says what it is saying. If we live the Christian life looking for what God is saying rather than obeying His clear, written word, we will never be certain of anything. Does God actually expect us to guess what He wants us to do?
2. Another concern was with the sentence 'her journaling turned from monologue to dialogue.' The connotation seems to be that Sarah moved from simply listening to God speak to interacting with Him through her journaling. Journaling is nothing new and the practice of writing down things we learn from Scripture is not in and of itself a dangerous thing. But to actually state that you dialogue with God through journaling leaves one to believe that her methods are a way to intimately communicate with God. Scripture is clear that God's Word is sufficient for everything a believer needs (2Tim 3:16, 2Pe 1:3-6).
3. The next red flag came when the review stated that people all over the world were "using her message." This is a concern mainly because people in the Church lack so much discernment that they would abandon the sufficiency of Scripture for a new and "fresh" message. I wrote a little diddy about that danger in a previous post.
4. My last concern was the idea that these devotionals were written from "Jesus' point of view." This is, whether Young would admit it or not, an affirmation of extra-Biblical revelation. When we claim to have revelation from God then we abandon God's already sufficient Word for what we "believe" God is telling us.
   

For those who think I am being a bit over-critical, blogger and author Tim Challies offers a review of this book. In his review he gives a direct quote in Young's own words of her first encounter with Jesus.

One night I found myself leaving the warmth of our cozy chalet to walk alone in the snowy mountains. I went into a deeply wooded area, feeling vulnerable and awed by cold, moonlit beauty. The air was crisp and dry, piercing to inhale. Suddenly I felt as if a warm mist enveloped me. I became aware of a lovely Presence, and my involuntary response was to whisper, ‘Sweet Jesus.’ This utterance was totally uncharacteristic of me, and I was shocked to hear myself speaking so tenderly to Jesus. As I pondered this brief communication, I realized it was the response of a converted heart; at that moment I knew I belonged to Him. This was far more than the intellectual answers for which I’d been searching. This was a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Challies' full book review can be found here.

Reading her own description of her encounter one would be left with the idea of an esoteric experience. Are we really supposed to put our trust in warm mist that envelopes us? The esoteric experience is what John warned his congregation about in 1John. The book is written to warn of false teachers called gnostics. The Gnostics believed in the the higher power of knowledge and that this knowledge would lead one to "experience" the same kind of things that Young has described in her book.

All-in-all, Jesus Calling is something to stay away from. At best, the book leaves you with the warm fuzzies, and at the worst will lead your soul to trust in something other that God's promise to His people. For more information you can listen to the podcast Beware of Jesus Calling.