Five More Things Christians Should Avoid Saying

Are there things that, as Christians, we just shouldn’t say? You bet there are! In a recent blog, I talked about how the tongue is one of the strongest muscles in the body because, as we know from Scripture, the power of life and death lies there. I also shared five of my top 10 things I believe we as Christ-followers should not say. Here are numbers 6-10 of things that just shouldn’t come out of our mouths.

#6 – “Well, that’s just Mother Nature!”

References like this to “Mother Nature” are a personification of climate and storms and all kinds of weather that elevate forces and seasons, created by God, above God—the One who created those things.

So, a little history…the earliest written and most reliable dated references to Mother Nature are found in Greek transcripts that date about 12 or 13 BC. The term Mother Earth is transliterated as maga or Mother Gaia. This notion had its roots in the pre-Socratic philosophers who had invented nature out of thin air, and it was further championed by the well-known Greek philosopher, Aristotle. Other cultures have embraced the notion that nature had its own spirit and relevancy unique from God the Father. The American Indians are one such culture that believes that there’s something called an Earth Mother that provides the water of life and gives the abundant provision of food. In reality, though, no one but God provides our basic needs of food, shelter, water, and life.

The term Mother Nature is also used in a general way to refer to the environment as a whole. It’s sometimes used in association with political and cultural ideologies, such as global warming, environmentalism, and climate change. Some news outlets’ reporting of rising temperatures and sea levels, savage wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and the emergence of new and even ancient diseases and pandemics demonstrate that Mother Nature is a kind of capricious goddess who wreaks havoc throughout the earth.

The issue I have with crediting the make-believe goddess of nature is just that; she isn’t real. It is God who controls the forces of nature. Here’s what Scripture has to say:

  • In Jeremiah 10:12-13, Scripture says, “but God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouse.”
  • Jesus demonstrated His divine power over nature by calming the raging sea (Matthew 8:26).
  • It’s also true that there are natural laws at work in our environment. These are systems God implemented (Genesis 8 22).
  • God created our world; human sin damaged it. Romans 8:19-22 makes that plain.
  • Yet God still holds our world together. Colossians 1:16-17 makes that plain.

There is no capricious goddess at play whatsoever, so seemingly innocent phrases like this take credit from God and place it squarely on nothing more than mythology.

#7 – “This Is God’s Wrath for <fill in the blank>!”

Closely related to the phrase about Mother Nature, this saying looks to blame God for all catastrophes in our fallen world. Yes, we live in a fallen world, broken and sinful. We’re the ones who broke it, and we break it a little more every single day. Evil acts, like the terrorism we see far too often on our smartphones and TV screens, are prime evidence of that brokenness and of our inherent sinfulness (sinfulness, by the way, that we all share).

The Bible says there’s no one good, not even one. No matter why terrorists do the things they do, one thing is clear: they aren’t sent by God. If you think they are, then you have to be in favor of what happens. No believer in the Prince of Peace—that’s one of the many names for God—could ever do that.

#8 – “I Just Need to Pray About It.”

Don’t misunderstand me on this one. The Bible tells us to be in a constant state of prayer—or a conversation—with God. The Apostle Paul put it this way in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when he said, “Pray without ceasing.” But when Christians throw out, “I’ll need to pray about it,” regarding clear-cut commands in Scripture, they are using prayer as a deflection so they can kick “the obedience can” down the road.

For example, if someone is deciding whether or not to have an abortion, the decision is really whether or not to disobey God and murder a baby. The decision is between obeying God’s Word or completely blowing it off, not about waiting for God’s voice to resolve the mystery of murder. And I know that’s a bit crass, but that is what it boils down to. We don’t need to pray about what God has already established. Some things require much prayer, maybe even the addition of a period of fasting. Breaking God’s laws are not about them.

#9 – “Let Go and Let God.”

I understand the heart behind this, I really do. People who still say this (and, thank goodness, there are a few) mean to emphasize a reliance on God over doing things in just our own strength. However, most hear this and think Christians are just being intellectually, emotionally, and even physically lazy. And they might be right.

Salvation is where we let go and let God because salvation is only up to Him. There’s nothing we can do. However, sanctification is a partnership where God actually allows us to decide how close we want to get to Him. Isn’t that awesome?!

#10 – “The Devil Did <fill in the blank>.”

Let’s get this: only God is Omniscient and Omnipresent. Satan is limited in both these areas, so the chances that the devil himself is assigned to you personally are, well, zero; and the chances that he is pulling levers regarding every single bad event going on in the world today is an impossibility at best, and an excuse for our own sin at worst.

In James 1:13-16, we read, “Let no one say when he’s tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it’s fully grown brings forth death.”

When I was a little kid, there was a comedian by the stage name of Flip Wilson who helped popularize this idea by blaming everything bad he did on the devil, with the famous tagline, “The devil made me do it.” It was definitely funny and definitely false.

This certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but I think if we start with correcting our speech by eliminating these 10 statements, we will be on the right path to right speaking. And be sure to check out my video series, “Ask P-Ro,” on my YouTube channel, where I share on topics like this and others every week. I’d love to know what you think! 

Until next time, watch your words, speak life, and have a safe and memorable New Year!!

~Pastor Rob

aka, “P-Ro”

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

Make It the Best Year

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

The First Three Chapters

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.

 

Make It the Best Year Devotional 

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

 

Exclusive Private Virtual Event – “Narcissism and Breaking Its Hold”

Narcissism is at an all-time high. And it’s not just because we’ve become a society obsessed with how we look and making sure we’re #1. It’s because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our lives instead of God. Join Pastor Rob in this 45-minute private event, where he will discuss the challenges facing society today and how we can make powerful changes in our lives to break the self-centered hold and embrace a God-centered life.

The First Three Chapters 

Why wait until the book is released to start reading it? With your pre-order, you will receive the first three chapters immediately, so you can begin reading it right away. Pastor Rob sets lays the groundwork for all that he will be sharing, and you will get to start on his end-of-chapter “Change of Heart” exercises.

 

Out of Egypt Devotional

In this 6-day devotional, Pastor Rob will walk you through Scripture, much like the Israelites following God out of Egypt, and show you that God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary and how to discern the truth over all the noise. You can also join the private Out of Egypt Facebook Group where you can connect with Pastor Rob and others in a supportive and encouraging environment.

 

Social Media First Aid Kit

Every home, office, store, church, and public gathering place has a first aid kit. Something to help patch up those bumps and scrapes we get from time to time. So it seems only appropriate that we treat the bumps and scrapes we sometimes get from social media. In Pastor Rob’s Social Media First Aid Kit, you will find valuable tools to not only treat the wound but to also prevent the wounds from coming in the first place.

 

Included in the kit you’ll find:

  • 5 Bible Verses to Look at Before Engaging Social Media Today – Get the Scriptural foundation you need before checking in with your social media platforms.
  • 3 Decisions to Make TODAY to Protect Your Mental Health When Engaging with Social Media – Having a more positive experience with your social media platforms can be as easy as 1-2-3. These three simple tips, when implemented consistently, will help keep social media in its place…and move you closer to God.
  • The Age of Narcissism – Narcissism, a personality trait that we all possess to a certain degree, has become a major problem. Not just because we’re obsessed with selfies and making sure we look—or at least appear¬¬ to look—good, happy, successful. But because the focus is on self and not God. Take this seven-day journey to putting God—and not you—at the center of your life.


Make It the Best Year Devotional

Everybody wants this to be the best year of their life—who wouldn’t?! But making this year better than the others means making some adjustments—changes. This 21-day devotional is the jump-start you need to do just that. Filled with scriptures, insight, and encouragement, Pastor Rob walks with you on this daily journey. Don’t wait until next New Year’s Day, make this the best year of your life…starting today!

 

Exclusive Private Virtual Event – “Narcissism and Breaking Its Hold”

Narcissism is at an all-time high. And it’s not just because we’ve become a society obsessed with how we look and making sure we’re #1. It’s because we’ve put ourselves at the center of our lives instead of God. Join Pastor Rob in this 45-minute private event, where he will discuss the challenges facing society today and how we can make powerful changes in our lives to break the self-centered hold and embrace a God-centered life.

 

Exclusive Live Webinar – “How to Help Your Teen Break Free of Social Media Addiction”

While it might not (yet) be considered a clinical addition, many in society can’t go 5 minutes without checking their phone to see how many likes they have for their latest post, or how many comments people have left. And our teens are especially susceptible. After all, they’ve been all but raised with a device in their hands. How do we help this next generation deal with the debilitating side effects social media can have on us? In this 90-minute webinar, Pastor Rob will discuss the issue and provide practical ways we can help our teens navigate these formative years in a positive way. There will also be a live Q & A session at the end. (A link to the recorded webinar will be provided after the live event.)

Overliked by Rob Singleton is a tome for such a time as this. Even though I work on television, I also make a living through social media. Coincidently, right before I started reading the pre-release copy, I had checked my "Likes'" and numbers on social media! How was I doing? Were my numbers growing? Declining? Did a few drop off?  
 
It's so easy to get our self-esteem and self-worth tied to those likes and numbers.  
 
Through Pastor Rob's book, we learn how frivolous and fake it can all be and ultimately, how it can lead to a miserable and unfulfilled life if left unchecked. The tools, scriptures, and "change of heart" takeaways that Pastor Rob provides at the end of each chapter help considerably shift the focus from there…to in here. He gently, but with statistics and examples, gives us a guide us to live a more authentic life.  
 
In the book, Pastor Rob says, "Honesty is what sets us up for authentic relationships," and isn't that what we really all want? 
 
As a woman over 40 in Hollywood, the expectations have never been higher. Overliked sites that, in one 12-month period, YouTube logged 169 billion views just for beauty-related content. Beauty is good… perfection is lethal. And don't I know it? I am on high-definition TV with glaring set lights, standing next to 20- to 30-year old young women daily; it's a test to stay solid and secure in your own skin.  
 
I was posting perfectly lit and curated pictures of my "Beautiful" (heavily filtered) life; people followed and viewed but scrolled right along. However, when I let down the curtain, turned off the filter, and decided to share my real-life sorrows and struggles with cancer, the comments, words, notes, and numbers flooded. People want to see my honesty and weaknesses because they can relate.  
 
Overliked shows us that when we pretend to be perfect, the only person we are hurting is ourselves.  
 
Pastor Rob's easy and relatable storytelling draws the reader in. We find that our weaknesses become our strengths to help us touch, encourage, and heal others, not just impress them.  
 
Thank you for this very needed and essential book that helps us realize that being real is the only way to have a true connection with our Lord and our friends and family. 
 
In Overliked, through story references of David, we learn the Lord encourages us all to ignore appearance and stature. "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
 
This book is an important message for developing authenticity in our lives, which is far more critical than adding strangers, getting fake followers, and creating a heavily-filtered life experience. I promise you will really "LIKE" it.