Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

This is a book of devotions for each day of the year, 365 devotions. One for each day. This author begins this book with an introduction about how she decided to compile these devotions and what influenced her to put this book together. At the bottom of each devotion she has included Scriptures which the reader must look up. Each devotion is short, with some on the long side and others on the very brief side. Each devotion is written from the viewpoint of Jesus Who is addressing an individual believer. The devotions are divided by the 12 months of the year, and are dated by each date of that month, including leap year on the month of March. Sarah Young is a professional with degrees in in devotional writing, psychology, philosophy and counseling. She and her husband have traveled widely, planted churches and currently serve Japanese people in Perth, Australia.

I was reading this devotional for review purposes rather than as a devotional, so I went through it rapidly. I have read it categorized as "trash" and Sarah Young called a "false teacher." This is her only material I have read and because I wanted to know what made her books spiritually harmful. I read through each short devotion and I read nothing that I saw that was, of itself, heretical. What is the problem in this book is the unspoken message it sends, that Jesus is some Heavenly Lover. Yes, Jesus is Love and no one loves us as He does. That is what His death on the cross proves. This book of devotionals gives the impression that walking with Jesus is a "touchy feely" affair. Yes, the author is right in some matters, when, from the viewpoint of Jesus, she stresses the need for trust, dependence on God and waiting on Him. We are to do those things. Indeed, we are commanded to "Be still and know that He is God." When I read all of Sarah Young's credentials, I found myself wondering how many of us could possibly identify with her, especially those who are ill, poor, aged or turned off by this style of communication. Her target readership, as is so often the case in the Christian market, seems to be middle-class people. Also, these devotions, though written from Jesus' point of view, do not sound like the Jesus of the Bible. The Jesus I read of in the Bible speaks not only of love and peace, but also of holiness, judgment, God's wrath, sin, and Hell. The author does mention the issue of sin, usually sins that directly hinder intimacy with Jesus, such as not trusting Him, worry, efforts to control one's life, and the like. This book is okay if one is sound in the faith and realizes that it is not the whole counsel of God. It should not be one's primary source of spiritual nourishment. There is far too little theology here. To be fair to this author, she offers the disclaimer that her book is not inspired "in the sense that God's inerrant Word is" and I will provide a link to an article, about an interview she did on this book.

I would not recommend this book to non-Christians, as it does not tell them how to come to know this Jesus and it gives an unbalanced picture of Him as a loving, sweet, nice Deity but not also as holy, righteous, majestic, bold, fearless and our soon to be Judge. I would not recommend this book to new Christians for many of the same reasons. We are told to consider the goodness and severity of God "together." This book, like so many on the Christian market, gives only one side.

Read an interview with the author here.

Dear Rob Bell

Hello, Mr. Rob Bell:

In the past week, a post streamed in my Facebook Newsfeed by someone. It was about an article in which you were quoted as predicting that the Christian Church is close to embracing "gay marriage" and that if we do not do that, we will be "left behind" because we are reading an "outdated book of 2000 years." Now I do not want to take your words out of context. I have read them quoted but while I know you have a show on Oprah Winfrey's TV network, I have never watched it. But what I saw bothered me. I had read that article and I left a comment there.

I doubt it if you will ever read this, Mr. Rob Bell. I'm small-time and I know it. That does not really matter as it once did to me. I'm working for an Audience of One and for anyone who will read any of my posts and experience transformed lives through the power of God. Hopefully, someone who follows you or may follow you, Mr. Rob Bell, will read this. They need to know that while you may mean very well and be a nice, good, likable guy, that you are teaching things that they need to know can hurt them spiritually if they are not warned. I'm sure that if you really want the best for your followers, you will not be threatened or angry if they do their due diligence about what you teach. Right?

The post I saw was preceded with the person's own comments. This person was lauding the courage of the numerous persons who have "come out" about their sexual orientations. And before going any further, I agree with the person who posted on Saturday when I saw that post, that no one should be bullied, despised or rejected based on their sexual orientation. Those people who have picketed "gay pride" events with signs like "God hates fags," and other hateful rhetoric, have no excuse. They are behaving in an un-Scriptural, un-Biblical, and un-Christlike fashion. By the way, I have read one of your books, LOVE WINS, and I have reviewed it on an earlier post. In that book, the concerning thing was your denial of the reality of Hell as is so clearly, if uncomfortably taught in the Bible. It has been said that you do not believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, Mr. Rob Bell. I can just about believe it. For it would take questioning the Divine authority of the Bible on Hell or homosexuality or anything else, to enable anyone to reject these teachings or to re-define them.

AS I read the article that was shared this past Saturday, I was saddened as it made clear that an entire generation has been raised with the idea that right and wrong are relative, the lines between good and evil have been blurred and redefined, and we are slowly progressing to a "higher plane." The social acceptance of abortion, homosexuality, and premarital sexual intercourse are only symptoms of what is wrong with us today. And it is only getting worse. It is expected that "gay marriage" will one day be legal in all 50 states in the US. It is already legal in 39 states. I live in Missouri, where it is still illegal, but I know that one day it will be legalized in my home state. I agree with those who subscribe to liberal, progressive values, that many of us Christians have proved to be mean-spirited, judgmental, offensive and un-Christlike in how we have dealt with those whom we disagree with. There is no excuse for that, as Scripture tells us to be "gentle, patient teachers of those who are wrong" and to be always ready to answer those who question us about what we believe "with gentleness and respect." But the answer to this is not to react by redefining right and wrong, calling right wrong and wrong right. This is what has happened today.

Mr. Bell, I wonder if you are aware that James has declared, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1, NIV). That is you, Mr. Rob Bell. As a writer and speaker who has probably millions of followers, you teach and influence many people. This also includes people I know. They agree with your values of tolerance, love, brotherhood, peace and understanding. Scripture values these things also, but only in the context of truth. Jesus says of Himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6, NIV). If you actually read the four Gospels and let them speak for themselves, you will understand that Jesus was not Mr. Nice Guy and did not worry Himself about offending people or keeping everyone happy. Ever read all the material in Matthew 23? Does any of that sound like a mealy-mouthed, Nice Guy Jesus? He let the Pharisees have it. He cursed them and called them snakes, saying they were going to Hell and leading their followers there, also. You want to know why He spoke to them so harshly? He blasted them because they were teaching the people false teachings and leading people to Hell. No, I don't dislike you. I have no reason to. I don't even know you. I just know what you are teaching and I have problems with it.

What would Jesus say to you, Mr. Rob Bell?

Sincerely,

Lisa DeSherlia

Is It Okay For A Christian To See Psychologists or Psychiatrists?

Psychology. Psychiatry. Mental health. Mental illness. These are controversial in the Christian community.

The Controversy

I'm aware of the Christian mental health books that have been written and the Christian mental health clinics that have opened up and have been operating, at least in the US. I know that many use these services. Yet I know of others in some Christian circles who frown on seeing any mental health professionals, even when these professionals profess a faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Why? They believe that the study of mental health is "psuedo-scientific" and when combined with the Scriptures, undermines and undercuts reliance on the all-sufficiency of Scriptures. The concern with it all? The Scriptures diagnose the root of our mental, emotional and spiritual problems as wrapped up in one nasty three-letter word called S-I-N. Psychology and psychiatry have renamed many of those things that were once labeled as "sin" and that need repentance. In modern psychology and psychiatry, many of these have today been categorized as "illnesses" in need of "treatment" and their "victims" are in need of "healing." Both psychology and Biblical Christianity are hostile to each other because their diagnosis of the root of man's problems are opposed. They are opposed to each other especially because their solutions to man's problems are dramatically different. From my research, those in the Body of Christ who differ with each other on this differ on how all-sufficient for our every need Scripture actually and whether it should have a part in counseling or should be all that is used in the counseling process. Nouthetic counselors are counselors who depend totally on Scriptures in addressing people's problems, referring to professionals only to "rule out" any organic problems; these counselors label many problems as "sin" and call their "counselees" to repentance. While I commend this approach in many ways in this age of "victimism," I am still not comfortable with this approach that smacks of spiritual behavioral modification. Yes, Nouthetic counselors will deny that it is any such thing, and that they care about the heart and hold that behavior is what should be the focus in counseling. They rightly realize the God, the Creator of the human mind, is the One Who would best know how to approach all emotional or spiritual problems. When Scripture was written, people did not know many things that we know today. Yes, we can study the people in Scripture who did not know of modern psychology or many modern medical discoveries. Many of them, especially God's people, appeared to manage, without the benefit of many diagnoses that exist now. But did they really?

The Sufficiency of Scripture; Does It Eliminate Psychology Altogether?

Certainly God and His word are all-sufficient to meet our every need. God is all-powerful, all-knowing and makes promises that, if we comply with their conditions (His promises always have conditions) are meant to meet our every need. All of us, as followers of Jesus, agree that we are to trust Jesus with every area of our lives. Where we differ is in what this means and how it is applied in every situation. One huge example is whether followers of Jesus should contact mental health professionals for mental health conditions, even taking medications as a partial solution to tackle these conditions. Those in the Body of Christ, who object to medication to address mental health conditions, do so on the grounds that such medications often are no more than a cover-up for what is going on inside the person. Medications, they reason correctly, cannot address the sin issue. Also, most psychiatric medications have potentially serious side effects. I know this by personal experience. When I was a teen, back in the 1970's, I was diagnosed with "anxiety disorder," which psychiatrists addressed by prescribing depressants, like Valium, Haldol, Darvon, and others. These were in combination with another, unrelated prescription drug, along with a home remedy for constipation. All of this, taken together, resulted in profane, exhibitionist, shameful behavior that I cringe to even think about. I became severely depressed, despondent, even suicidal as a result of this "drug cocktail." But these medications are recognized, today, to be unsafe to use in children and teens today. However, may in the Body of Christ object the the anti-depressants that have, in many cases, become over-prescribed. I personally wonder, and others have also pointed out, that so often mental health professionals are often contacted because many of us in the Body of Christ do not feel safe being real in our local congregations. Church leadership adds to this problem by letting the culture make them believe that only mental health professionals are qualified to counsel. But isn't Jesus our Counselor, and hasn't He delegated this role to the Holy Spirit? And don't we in the Body of Christ have the Holy Spirit inside us? While we should look to God as our ultimate Source, it does not seem wrong to contact mental health professionals for conditions that are organic or chemical in nature. That is, as long as we are also depending on Jesus as our ultimate Source and Helper.

Let's Agree To Disagree

The night before He went to the cross to die for us, Jesus prayed for our unity. That was and is His main desire for us as His Body. He wants this to happen because only when we are united despite our differences do we gain credibility with the world. We are to stand united on the basics of the faith, such as Creation, Holy Trinity, the Diety/humanity of Christ, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His Second Coming, salvation by grace alone and by faith alone and based on Scripture alone and the world to come. We are to unite on these things. But on many matters, we are free to differ, as long as we do so without criticizing each other and judging each other for differing. In other words, we are to "have unity in diversity."

An Open Letter to ISIS

Hello to Any Member of Islamic State Who May be Seeing This Now:

I hear about the things that members of your organization do, and I hear about them daily in the news:

Last year, one of yours beheaded a journalist in my country who was reporting on Syria;

Last year, one of yours beheaded a humanitarian aid worker who was serving in the Middle East also;

Last year, we were alarmed that your members have begun recruiting boys and girls even of my own daughter's age;

Even before your members touched anyone in the West, we who follow world affairs knew that your members have been beheading, crucifying, and murdering men, women and children in two countries, namely Iraq and Syria;

This year, one of yours beheaded a hostage from Japan and soon after, a second hostage from Japan;

A few weeks ago, one of yours burned a pilot in Jordan, alive, in a cage;

Over a week ago, may of us were horrified as some of your members beheaded 21 followers of Jesus and the whole world saw it caught on video; recall that the last words of these victims was to a Person Whom they call Jesus;

I can go on and on. I have done enough research to know that you have been raised to think totally differently from those of us in the West. Let me try to share this for you to think about. You sincerely believe that you have a cause and that anyone who disagrees with that cause is an "infidel" and must be eliminated, right? I wonder, why are people who disagree with you in any way, shape, or form, such a threat to you that they must be removed from the planet, whether by beheading, crucifixion, burning, or any other method? Believe it or not, as heinous, horrific and evil as your acts are, there is one thing that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus can learn from you: You leave zero room in your hearts for Jesus or for goodness. As you are 100 percent on the side of darkness, we followers of Jesus in the West can learn from you how to be 100 percent on the side of the Light and on the side of Jesus. The followers of Jesus whom you have beheaded, crucified and persecuted have been 100 percent on the side of Jesus. That is why they are willing to die for their cause, while you are willing to kill for yours. In your wholehearted zeal for a cause, you are correct. But your wholehearted zeal is not for the correct cause. Let me ask you, what has Allah done for you?

I know that members of Islamic State get on the Internet because I hear in the news how you do. I hear about how your members have just recruited three girls who are missing and may have been recruited by your members. I have heard about how you have issued death threats against those who work with Twitter, the social network, especially the head. I know that you obviously think differently from the rest of us and that you will not stop on your own. But I hope that, if any of your members happen to "stumble" on this post, that you will know that there is One Who, even now, is willing to forgive you and change you from within if you repent and follow Him with the same wholehearted, "all-in" zeal that you now follow Allah with. This Person is Jesus, the One Who many of your victims follow. He is much more than a Prophet. He is the Son of God and He has died on the cross and risen again. Unlike Allah, Jesus is alive! Yes, I am praying for you, that even as you plan your next atrocity in the name of Allah or prey on your next recruit, that Jesus will reveal Himself to many of your members and show you that there is a far better cause that the one you are currently fighting for. It is one into which you can re-channel your zeal for Allah.

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