7 Things Christians Say That Are NOT In The Bible

You don’t have to look far to hear or read something that claims to be Biblical and maybe even sounds Biblical but isn’t actually in the Bible. 

Many of these things sound good, feel right, and might even offer comfort. But here’s the problem: they aren’t actually from Scripture. And when we build our faith on half-truths, misunderstandings, or just plain wrong ideas, we can end up disappointed, confused, or even questioning our faith.

When you build a house, you need a strong foundation. Similarly, when you are growing your faith, it needs to be founded on something. The Bible is the foundation on which we build our faith. It’s not just where we learn about God, it’s where we meet him. It’s not the only place we can grow our faith, but it is the foundation. The problem is that we have many common sayings that are not in the Bible. 

So today, we’re looking at 7 things Christians say that aren’t actually in the Bible. Some of the Christian sayings below are not true. Others have an element of truth but are just not helpful. The point is that we need to make sure our faith is built on what God actually says, not just popular phrases that sound spiritual.

Let’s get started.

1. God Wants Me to Be Happy

This is one of the most common misconceptions about Christianity. People assume that if God loves them, His primary goal must be their happiness. But the Bible never says that. Instead, God is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness. That doesn’t mean God is against joy or good things in life, but He isn’t some cosmic vending machine giving us whatever we think will make us feel good.

Craig Groeschel puts it this way: “God doesn’t want you to be happy when it causes you to do something wrong or unwise.” 

Let’s be honest: how often do we use happiness as an excuse? “God wouldn’t want me to be unhappy in this relationship,” or “God just wants me to follow my heart.” But what if happiness isn’t the goal? Jesus Himself experienced suffering, and He called us to take up our cross, not chase comfort.

Does following Jesus bring peace and joy? Absolutely. But sometimes, it also brings suffering, challenges, and hard choices. Instead of pursuing happiness at all costs, we need to pursue God because true fulfillment comes from Him, not just from being happy in the moment.

2. I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Philippians 4:13 is one of the most quoted verses in the Bible: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It’s on posters, coffee mugs, and even athletes’ shoes. But the way we use this verse isn’t quite what Paul meant.

People often think it means they can accomplish any goal, win any game, or overcome any challenge because Jesus gives them strength. But if you read it in context, Paul isn’t talking about success—he’s talking about contentment. He says that whether he has a lot or a little, whether he’s well-fed or hungry, he has learned to be content because Christ sustains him.

This isn’t a hype-up verse for chasing dreams, it’s a reminder that no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can endure because Christ is with us. There’s nothing wrong with setting big goals, but we have to be careful not to twist Scripture into a motivational quote. The real power of this verse isn’t about achieving our desires—it’s about trusting that God will sustain us, no matter what He calls us to walk through.

3. Everything Happens for a Reason

This is something people say when life falls apart, when someone loses a loved one, when a job is lost, or when tragedy strikes. It’s meant to be comforting, but is it actually true? The Bible doesn’t say that everything happens for a reason in the way people often think.

If you look at Scripture, you’ll see stories full of suffering that don’t always have a clear reason. Think about Job. He lost everything, not because of some grand divine purpose but because we live in a broken world where bad things happen. Jesus even said in John 16:33, “In this world, you will have trouble.” He didn’t say everything will make sense or that everything happens for a reason we can understand.

But here’s the good news—while not everything happens for a reason, God can bring reason out of everything. He takes our brokenness, our pain, and our suffering and uses it for His glory. Romans 8:28 says that God works all things together for good—not that all things are good, but that He can redeem them. That’s a far greater promise than pretending every tragedy is part of some master plan.

4. God Won’t Give Me More Than I Can Handle

This sounds encouraging, but it’s not actually in the Bible, at least, not the way people think. In fact, the Bible is full of stories where people face way more than they can handle. Moses didn’t feel equipped to lead Israel. David was overwhelmed while running for his life from Saul. Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment. If anything, Scripture makes it clear that life will give us more than we can handle on our own.

People often quote 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says that God won’t let us be tempted beyond what we can bear. But that verse is about temptation, not suffering or hardships. It means God will always provide a way out of sin. But it doesn’t mean we won’t face overwhelming circumstances.

The problem with this phrase is that it puts the burden on us. If God won’t give me more than I can handle, then I should be strong enough to fix my own problems, right? But that’s not the Gospel. The truth is, we can’t handle everything alone, that’s why we need Jesus.

Paul understood this when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God doesn’t expect us to power through life on our own. Instead of telling people, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” we should remind them that while life will be too much for us, it’s never too much for Him.

5. God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

This is one of the most misquoted ideas in Christianity. People believe it’s in the Bible, but it’s not. In fact, the phrase comes from Benjamin Franklin—not Jesus.

If you think about it, this saying goes against the entire message of the Gospel. The Bible doesn’t teach self-reliance—it teaches grace. Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That means He didn’t wait for us to help ourselves first, He stepped in when we were helpless.

Now, does God want us to be lazy? Of course not. Proverbs is full of wisdom about working hard and being diligent. But salvation? Transformation? Healing? That’s not something we can do on our own. The Gospel isn’t about God rewarding our effort, it’s about His undeserved grace.

Rather than believing “God helps those who help themselves,” we should remember the truth: God helps those who can’t help themselves—and that’s all of us.

6. When Someone Dies, God Gains Another Angel

This is a really common phrase at funerals. People say it to comfort themselves when they lose a loved one. But the Bible never says humans become angels when they die.

Angels and humans are completely different beings. Hebrews 1:14 describes angels as “ministering spirits” created to serve God. But humans are uniquely made in God’s image, with a different role in creation. When we die, we don’t sprout wings and become angels, we enter eternity with Christ, awaiting resurrection.

This may seem like a small detail, but it matters. If we believe people become angels, we might miss the bigger promise God gives us—that we will be raised to new life with Him. Instead of saying “God gained another angel,” we should focus on the real hope of the Gospel: that through Christ, we have the promise of eternal life in His presence.

7. Follow Your Heart

This is one of the most popular sayings in our culture. We hear it in movies, songs, and advice from well-meaning people. The idea is that if we just follow our hearts, we’ll find happiness. But the Bible actually warns against this.

Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things.” That doesn’t mean emotions are bad, but they aren’t always reliable. Feelings change. Our desires shift. If we only follow what feels right in the moment, we can easily be led into sin or bad decisions.

Instead of following our hearts, we need to follow Christ. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” God’s wisdom is greater than our feelings. Rather than chasing every impulse, we should seek His truth and let Him shape our hearts to align with His will.

Final Thoughts

It’s easy to believe these phrases because they sound good, feel right, and sometimes even bring comfort. But as we’ve seen, just because something sounds biblical doesn’t mean it actually is. When we base our faith on half-truths or misinterpretations, we set ourselves up for disappointment.

The good news? God’s actual promises are far better than these catchy sayings. He doesn’t promise us constant happiness, but He does promise joy in Him. He doesn’t say we can do anything we want, but He does say He will sustain us in what He calls us to. He doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but He promises to be with us in the hardest moments.

So let’s make sure we’re building our faith on what God actually says, not just on what sounds nice.

Now, I’d love to hear from you! What are some other things people say that aren’t actually in the Bible? Leave a comment down below.