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“Another Jesus”Calling

“Another Jesus”CallingHow False Christs Are Entering The ChurchThrough Contemplative PrayerWarren B. SmithLighthouse Trails PublishingEureka, Montana

“Another Jesus” Calling 2013 Warren B. SmithPublished byLighthouse Trails PublishingP.O. Box 908Eureka, MT 59917(see back of book for publisher and author contact information)All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, whether electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recordings, or otherwise without prior writtenpermission from the publisher. Excerpts and quotes may be used withoutpermission as the US Fair Use Act allows. Scripture quotations are taken fromthe King James Version. Cover design and interior design by Lighthouse TrailsPublishing. Cover photo from bigstockphoto.com; used with permission.The author and publisher of this book have included quotes from copyrighted material in accordance with the U.S. Fair Use Act, which allows acopyrighted work to be reproduced for the purpose of criticism, comment,review, news reporting, teaching, or research.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataSmith, Warren B.ANOTHER JESUS CALLING : How false christs are entering thechurch : through contemplative prayer / Warren B. Smith.pages cmIncludes bibliographical references.ISBN 978-0-9895093-3-6 (softbound : alk. paper) 1. Christianityand other religions--New Age movement. 2. Young, Sarah, 1946- Jesus calling. I. Title.BR128.N48S64 2013239’.93--dc232013041600Note: Lighthouse Trails Publishing books are available at special quantitydiscounts. Contact information for publisher in back of book.Printed in the United States of America

DedicationFor my friends in La Crete

AcknowledgmentsThank you to all the peoplewho had a hand in helpingwith this book.

ContentsNote to the Reader. 10Prologue. 14PART ONE—GOD CALLING: Ten Concerns. 231. Channeled Book From Jesus?. 242. Permeated With New Age Terminology. 273. God’s Universal Spirit?. 294. God “in” Everyone?. 315. Name it & Claim it. 346. Experience Replaces God’s Word. 367. Jesus Needs Us More Than We Need Him?. 398. New Truth & New Revelation. 429. The New Age & Psalm 46:10. 4510. New Age Christianity. 48PART TWO—JESUS CALLING: Twenty Concerns. 511. Inspired by a Channeled New Age Book. 522. Channeling Jesus?. 543. Test the Spirits. 574. Jesus Contradicts Himself?. 595. Jesus Tells Us to Laugh at the Future?. 626. The Flattery of Jesus?. 64

7. Who Wants Us to Rest by the Wayside?. 678. Visualizing Jesus?. 709. The Dark Night of Jesus’ Birth?. 7410. Abraham Guilty of “Idolatry” & “Son-Worship”?.7611. Contemplative Prayer, the New Age, & Psalm 46:10.8012. Practicing What Presence?. 8813. “Co-creating” with God. 9414. Quantum Leap, Quantum “Christ”. 9915. “Cocoon of Light”. 10416. The “Great Work” of “Divine Alchemy”. 10717. Jesus is Above All & “in” All?. 11118. Moving Toward a New Age/New Worldview. 11419. Would Jesus Magnify His Presence Above theWord of God?. 11920. “Another Jesus” Calling. 125Epilogue. 133Appendix A—Ten Basic Warnings About Deception.140Appendix B—The Gospel of the True Jesus Christ .144Appendix C—Ten Ways to Be More Discerning . 148A Note From the Publisher . 153Endnotes. 156Index. 169

For if he that cometh preacheth anotherJesus, whom we have not preached, or ifye receive another spirit, which ye havenot received, or another gospel, whichye have not accepted, ye might well bearwith him.—2 Corinthians 11:4

Noteto theReaderIn April 2013, I received a phone call just prior to travel-ing to Canada to speak at a prophecy conference. Two womenfrom the La Crete, Alberta conference were concerned about abest-selling book titled Jesus Calling. The author, Sarah Young,had published personal messages she said she received from JesusChrist. The two women had an uneasy feeling about the bookand wanted me to look into it. I was aware of the book butdidn’t realize it had become so popular. So the next day when Iwent to our local Christian bookstore, I was surprised to see JesusCalling piled high in two stacks on the floor in front of a shelfwhere it was already fully stocked. It was obviously very popular.I noticed that Jesus Calling came in a variety of sizes andstyles. There was the standard compact, rust-colored, hardcoveredition that I held in my hands. A small egg-shaped picture of aninviting outstretched hand was in the middle of the front cover.The title read, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence. Anda line at the top of the front cover read, “Devotions for EveryDay of the Year.” Another edition of the same book had what

Note to the Readerwas called a “leather look,” while another had a genuine cowhidecover. There was a sage-colored version, a pink-colored version,a special edition for teens, as well as a Jesus Calling (Bible Storybook) for children. Prominently featured on a display rack werenumerous copies of the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible. Off tomy left were more Sarah Young titles—Dear Jesus, Jesus Today,and Jesus Lives. I would later discover there was a 40 Days withJesus booklet and a Jesus Calling Devotional Calendar. The copyof Jesus Calling I was holding in my hands informed me thatthe book was “now available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad,and all Android devices.” It was also available on an audio CD.When I asked the clerk how many copies of Jesus Calling theyhad sold, he replied “thousands.”I said, “Really?”He said, “Really.”The copyright page informed me that Jesus Calling wasoriginally published in 2004, and I would learn that over time iteventually became the number one best-selling book for Christian retail in 2010. It has already sold over nine million copies.And as I write, it continues to be the #1 best-selling book inChristian bookstores, as well as #3 on the Wall Street Journal’sbest-seller list for all non-fiction books—secular and Christian.In the “Introduction” to Jesus Calling, Sarah Young said shehad been inspired to receive personal messages from “Jesus” afterreading a book called God Calling. I remembered God Callingbecause it was a book I had when I was involved with NewAge teachings. I found it troubling that Sarah Young had beeninspired by a metaphysical book like God Calling. So that afternoon after purchasing Jesus Calling at the Christian bookstore, Ialso bought a copy of God Calling at a used bookstore. I wouldlater find out that God Calling was being featured along withJesus Calling in another local Christian bookstore.The following day while traveling to Alberta, I started reading11

“Another Jesus” CallingJesus Calling. I learned that Sarah Young, the daughter of a collegeprofessor, majored in philosophy at Wellesley College and laterearned her master’s degree in counseling and biblical studies atCovenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Young related howshe and her third-generation missionary husband served twofour-year terms in Japan doing church planting work. Returningto the United States after the second term in Japan, she obtaineda further degree in counseling at Georgia State University whileher husband was employed at a local Japanese church in Atlanta.Later, after moving to Australia and while also continuing hercounseling practice, Young assisted her husband in planting thefirst Japanese church in Melbourne. It was in Australia that shefirst read God Calling.By the time I arrived in Northern Alberta, I had finishedreading both Jesus Calling and God Calling. Because of my concern about what I had just read, I made Jesus Calling the subjectof one of my talks at the prophecy conference. I later felt thatmy concerns needed to be covered more completely, which iswhy this book was written.Because Jesus Calling contains personal “messages” that SarahYoung says were given to her by Jesus Christ, it is importantto determine if these messages were really from Jesus. Are theyconsistent with the teachings of God’s Word? Is anything newor questionable being subtly introduced? In short, can we trustJesus Calling as a godly devotional book?Having been formerly involved in the New Age movement, Ibecame immediately concerned when I read the book. It was troubling for me to see a number of New Age practices and conceptsbeing presented as completely normal for Christians. Even moretroubling, there were no warnings or disclaimers about what wasbeing introduced. By the end of the book, Jesus Calling and its“Jesus” had subtly and not so subtly introduced occult/New Agechanneling, spiritual dictation, creative visualization, meditation,12

Note to the Readerdivine alchemy, co-creation with God, and practicing the presencelike it was everyday Christian fare. New Age terms and conceptswere brought into the messages like they were no big deal. Andadded to this were indirect references to a pantheistic poet andtwo classic New Age books, along with a hearty endorsement ofGod Calling—the channeled book that inspired Sarah Young totry and receive her own personal messages from Jesus.The unusual use of language by the “Jesus” of Jesus Callingwas also disturbing. It seemed to run the gamut from “everydayJoe” language to strange word choice, unwarranted flattery,worldly clichés, repetitive phrases, disparaging comments, andnot-so-subtle mockery. All in all, Jesus Calling seemed to be anobvious attempt by our spiritual Adversary to get an even furtherfoothold inside the Christian church.While I was surprised that Sarah Young’s devotional had become such a huge best-seller in the Christian marketplace, I wasnot completely surprised. Deceptive occult/New Age teachingsare swallowing up much of what calls itself Christian these days.In this book, I have done my best to raise some of my questions and concerns. I am sure my conclusions will upset a greatmany people who are devoted to Jesus Calling. Obviously, whatyou do with these conclusions is completely up to you. But Icouldn’t imagine not bringing what I discovered to your attention.Hopefully, you will consider what I have presented here.Warren B. Smith13

Jesus booklet and a Jesus Calling Devotional Calendar. The copy of Jesus Calling I was holding in my hands informed me that the book was "now available for the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and all Android devices." It was also available on an audio CD. When I asked the clerk how many copies of Jesus Calling they had sold, he replied .