Don't put your conviction on me...

I heard a popular Insta-pastor use this phrase recently.

Not good.

At least I know where my younger Christian sisters are getting it from.

I’ve heard it a lot lately.

It got me thinking…

What other phrases do we Christians use to avoid judgement?

Don’t judge me, but I decided to ask ChatGPT.

The answer was surprising…

“Many Christians—often sincerely—use spiritual-sounding phrases to soften, excuse, or avoid confronting sin in themselves. The issue usually isn’t the phrase itself, but how it’s used to avoid repentance, accountability, humility, or obedience.”

Here are just a few of the dozens of phrases AI gave me…

“God knows my heart.” or “He knows my intentions.”

This phrase is used to dismiss outward behavior, accountability, or the need for change.

*Good intentions do not automatically make something or someone righteous.

“Nobody’s perfect.” or “We’re all sinners.”

True, but often used to normalize ongoing sin instead of pursuing holiness.

“Only God can Judge me.”

This can be used to reject any correction, even loving biblical correction. Jesus condemned hypocritical judgment, not all discernment.

“I’m under grace, not law.”

*My Lord, how many times have I heard this one!

Grace is sometimes twisted into permission rather than empowerment to obey God.

“It’s just my personality.” or “God designed me to be…”

Used to excuse anger, harshness, laziness, pride, lust, gossip, etc.

*I hate to break it to you, sis, but when you were saved and baptized with The Holy Spirit, the old you died. God designed you perfect and pure. In His image. With all the fruits! The world stained you and weaved together your faults, not God.

“I have peace about it.” or “I prayed about it.”

Feelings of peace are sometimes treated as more authoritative than Scripture.

*Praying, meditating, or simply thinking about an issue (which is not praying at all) without wise counsel or biblical truth are just empty words. We ought not say that personal peace or God’s silence is our final answer.

“God is still working on me.”

True for every believer, but can become an excuse for refusing real growth or repentance.

*How long has he been working on this particular fault of yours???

“The Lord told me…” or “He laid it on my heart.”

Sometimes used to avoid accountability or shut down disagreement.

*The Lord has spoken to me directly in the past, many times, it’s terrifying, let me tell you. He has also laid things on my heart, but sometimes we don’t follow through His way. I’ve also found that when He “lays” things on my heart, He means for me to pray more on it, and even wait before I act. The best way to know if God wants you to go ahead and act on what He’s laid on your heart, is if it’s scary and you don’t want to do it. I’ve found that my flesh will act quickly, and usually the wrong way.

“At least I’m not as bad as…” or “At least I’m not doing that…”

Comparison with others instead of comparison with Christ.

“I don’t want religion, just relationship.” or “My home is my church.”

Sometimes used to reject discipline, doctrine, obedience, or church involvement.

*If we don’t go to church, who is leading us, your husband, yourself, Insta-pastors? As someone who used this phrase in the past more times than I can count, I can now safely say, we were all meant to do church with others in person. Hearing the message from an anointed preacher, partaking in communion together, getting to know people in our community, helping one another, it may not matter to you, but it matters to Him.

“I’ve been hurt by the church.”

Real hurt exists, but pain can become justification for bitterness, isolation, or disobedience.

*This excuse kept me for years (and still one of my brothers) from going to church as an adult. Even in severe abuse situations, we can’t lump together every single place that calls itself a church as a place of hurt. In abusive situations, I implore that person to get sound counseling so they can get back into a real church. As for folks like me and my brothers who simply grew up and ultimately turned off by an unhealthy, progressive church, pray God points you to a healthy, Biblically-sound church soon.

“That’s between me and God.”

Sometimes true, but often used to avoid needed counsel or reconciliation.

“God wants me to be happy.”

Happiness can be elevated above holiness, faithfulness, or sacrifice.

*Or discipline or suffering.

**Where does it say God wants you to be happy in scripture. I’ll wait.

***Happiness is a situational feeling. Not an eternal gift from God.

“I’m being authentic.” or “At least I’m being honest.”

Honesty about sin is good; celebrating or defending it is different.

*This can also be a mask for hypocritical judgement or gossip.

“I’m not convicted about it.” or “Don’t put your conviction on me.”

Personal conviction is not the final standard if Scripture speaks clearly.

*If you feel someone is putting their “conviction on you”, back your lack of conviction with scripture.

**He might be using the person right in front of you to thump you on the forehead and say here’s your sign, dummy. Just because we are not directly hearing God tell us the same thing he’s telling someone else doesn’t mean He’s not “convicting” us.

We’ve got to stop with all this, ya’ll.

Get off social media and stop watching Insta-pastors who say stupid phrases and are leading you astray and go to a real church and really study The Bible.

We can do so much better. We’re supposed to be the best of His creation, after all!

May we be humble about our weaknesses, honest about our sin, eager for repentance, thankful for grace, and willing to be corrected. (1 John 1:9 and Romans 6:1–2)

Lord, please humble us. Let us have ears to hear and hearts ready to obey.

‘Cause we need it. We need You. Especially among one another!

~Casey

What’s a phrase you hear a little too often from Christians?