We Didn’t Realize Jesus Calling Was This Disturbing

Overview

The video argues that the popular Christian devotional “Jesus Calling” (Sarah Young) is not a reliable representation of the biblical Jesus. It claims the book is the product of a long chain of “guidance” practices that increasingly sideline Scripture and resemble New Age / occult channeling.

1) The devotional’s roots: “guidance” practices shifting away from Scripture

• The video traces influence back to F.B. Meyer’s 1898 book The Secret of Guidance, which it says followed an order of: Scripture first, faith second, feelings last, and involved waiting and seeking counsel.
• It then describes Frank Buchman and the Oxford Group, promoting a “two-way prayer” in which people seek and record guidance from God, purportedly with “guardrails.”
• The central claim is that safeguards were later ignored or diluted, culminating in the model behind God Calling and eventually Jesus Calling:
  • Guidance becomes increasingly grounded in silence, personal experience, and recorded “messages”
  • Rather than being driven by Scripture.

2) “God Calling” as a decisive precursor—and the “channeling” critique

• The video argues that Jesus Calling was inspired by “God Calling,” attributed to “two listeners,” whose messages were edited into a book by A.J. Russell.
• It claims God Calling contains substantial unbiblical theology and highlights alleged issues, including:
  • New Age terminology and concepts, such as:
    • “universal spirit”
    • “truth is many-sided”
  • Pantheism, including ideas like “God in everyone”
  • Law of attraction / manifestation themes
  • Communication with the dead / spirit-guidance language, characterized as necromancy-like and warned against in Scripture
• The narrator supports these claims by quoting or referencing apologetics sources (e.g., Warren B. Smith, Doreen Virtue, and others) who classify God Calling as metaphysical / channeled rather than Christian.

3) Why “it feels peaceful” isn’t proof—experience is treated as suspect

• A recurring argument is that peace and warmth felt during prayer or “presence” experiences are not reliable evidence of truth.
• The video emphasizes biblical testing: messages must be evaluated by Scripture, citing ideas such as “law and testimony.”
• It also argues that Sarah Young’s spiritual method promotes an emphasis on experience over Scriptural authority, even while claiming to subordinate personal listening to the Bible.

4) Alleged contradictions and scriptural errors in “Jesus Calling”

The video claims Jesus Calling contains clear inaccuracies in its quoted attributions to Jesus, citing examples from the 2004 edition:

• Matthew 28 / “last words before ascending” claim
  • Jesus Calling allegedly presents “I am with you always” as Jesus’ final statement before the ascension, which the narrator says does not match Matthew’s context/timeline.
• Abraham/Isaac “idolatry” framing
  • It claims Jesus Calling says God needed to free Abraham from idolatry involving Isaac—an interpretation the narrator says contradicts how Scripture portrays Abraham as faithful.
• Pantheism/nature-religion overlap
  • The video highlights language it claims aligns with New Age/pantheistic poetry.

It further claims that some issues were quietly corrected in later editions after public objections, arguing that if the messages were truly from Jesus, they would not require correction.

5) “Presence” language and “spirit-guide” overlap with New Age practice

• The narrator argues that Jesus Calling’s repeated emphasis on sensing a “lovely presence,” alongside visualization and “protective light,” parallels New Age/occult channeling descriptions.
• It cites researcher Brenna E. Scott, who is presented as claiming overlap between devotional practices and documented channeling steps (e.g., meditate/connect/communicate/maintain contact).
• A further claim is that “emptying the mind,” entering silence, and visualization practices create conditions conducive to spirit contact, warning that deception is possible and that Satan can appear as an “angel of light.”

6) The “second Jesus” warning: multiple Jesuses and the danger of deception

• The video expands beyond Sarah Young, arguing that many movements offer a “Jesus” who is not the biblical Christ (including mention of A Course in Miracles).
• It cites 2 Corinthians 11:3–4 to support the idea that believers can be led astray by “another Jesus” or a “different spirit,” even when the message uses familiar Christian language.
• It includes testimony examples from alleged former New Age figures (e.g., reiki/yoga instructor “Jessica,” and Doreen Virtue), who claim they previously believed they were contacting Jesus but later realized the experience was incompatible with the biblical Jesus.

Overall conclusion of the video

• The video’s main thesis is that “Jesus Calling” is not from the biblical Jesus, but instead is connected to a metaphysical channeling lineage and uses practices and theological language the narrator claims violate Scripture.
• It argues that authentic spiritual guidance must follow a biblical hierarchy: Scripture first, faith second, feelings last.
• It warns that attempts to build doctrine or authority on private spiritual experiences—even sincere ones—are dangerous.

Presenters or contributors (as mentioned)

• Sarah Young (author of Jesus Calling)
• F.B. Meyer (historical influence; The Secret of Guidance)
• Frank Buchman (Oxford Group)
• A.J. Russell (investigated Oxford Group; editor connected to God Calling)
• Warren B. Smith (author; cited regarding God Calling)
• Doreen Virtue (quoted/cited regarding “God Calling” as channeling)
• Neale Donald Walsch (mentioned as comparable “Conversations with God” influence)
• Roland Bingham (cited as warning about heresy)
• Brenna E. Scott (researcher cited for channeling comparisons)
• Francis Schaeffer (mentioned via Young’s retreat experience)
• Andrew Murray (mentioned via Young’s devotional The Secret of the Inviting Presence)
• Catherine Marshall (mentioned via Young’s reading)
• Will Baron (testimony referenced about a false Jesus in meditation)
• Claudio Naranjo (mentioned regarding Enneagram channeling claims)
• John Ankerberg and John Weldon (cited re: New Age beliefs / channeling)
• Deepak Chopra (cited regarding silence/meditation)
• Jessica (named in testimony: Reiki/yoga practitioner with “Jesus” spirit guide)
• The narrator/presenter (unnamed in the subtitles; provides the commentary and analysis throughout)