You might think twice . . . .
Author Warren Smith elaborates on the strange December 25th “message” that is presented as the Christmas Day “devotion” in Jesus Calling. In his book Another Jesus Calling: How False Christs are Entering the Church Through Contemplative Prayer, Smith suggests that Young’s “Jesus” sounds more like the Grinch who stole Christmas than the man from Galilee; more like a stranger than a savior.
The following excerpt is one of the “20 Concerns” Smith presents in his excellent book Another Jesus Calling:
The Dark Night of Jesus’ Birth?
In Jesus Calling, [Sarah Young's] “Jesus” states that he was born in a “filthy stable” “under the most appalling conditions.” He says that the night of his birth was a “dark night” for him.
IN WHAT CAN only be described as the ultimate revisionist description of the night of Jesus’ birth, Sarah Young’s “Jesus” openly bemoans what he describes as that “dark night for Me.” He states in Jesus Calling:
Try to imagine what I gave up when I came into your world as a baby. I set aside My Glory, so that I could identify with mankind. I accepted the limitations of infancy under the most appalling conditions—a filthy stable. That was a dark night for Me, even though angels lit up the sky proclaiming “Glory!” to awe-struck shepherds. (emphasis added)
This doesn’t sound like the voice of our Savior—it sounds instead like the voice of a stranger (John 10:5). And when you really think about it, wouldn’t it be more likely that Satan — not Jesus — would be the one to describe the night of Jesus’ birth as that “dark night for me”?
As to the bemoaning of this “Jesus,” Scripture tells us to be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves:
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
(Philippians 4:11)
(Philippians 4:11)
In whatever way this devotion in Jesus Calling is looked at, it is a very unbiblical message. The conditions of His birth were not “appalling” but, rather, God’s “sign” to the shepherds, and then they, after seeing “the babe lying in a manger,” glorified and praised God for “all” they had “seen”:
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.... And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.... And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
(Luke 2:11-20)
(Luke 2:11-20)
A NOTE TO READERS:
Become informed! For further reading about the dangers of Sarah Young's “Jesus,” read the following webpages:
1. Chris Lawson at Spiritual Research Network has posted links to a compendium of articles critical of Sarah Young's book(s). See his Jesus Calling webpage.
2. Lighthouse Trails, which distributes and/or publishes Warren Smith's books, offers several easy reading tract-like booklets that explain the dangers of Sarah Young's “Jesus.” Read:
- Changing “Jesus Calling”—Damage Control for a False Christ
- The New Age Implications of “Jesus Calling”
- The Daily Beast Writes Feature Article About Jesus Calling – Asks Questions Christian Leaders Ignore and Remain Silent On
3. See Amy Spreeman's review of Changing “Jesus Calling”—Damage Control for a False Christ
4. Read Sarah Leslie's review posted on Herescope titled “'Another Jesus' Calling: Which Jesus is Calling on You?”
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14)
(John 1:14)
Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
(Heb. 1:3)
(Heb. 1:3)
Thank you to Gaylene Goodroad for taking the photos illustrating the holiday sales promotions for Sarah Young's book(s). Gaylene found this display at a local grocery store.
Thank you to Warren Smith for permission to reprint this excerpt from his book.
