Rachel Hollis is dishing out some stinkin’ thinking and I’m not apologizing ​​for saying so.

It’s rare that I do this but I’m being super direct in today’s post about a best-selling author that droves of Christian women can’t get enough of. I too jumped on the bandwagon when Rachel Hollis’s book Girl, Wash Your Face first came out. It was everywhere and I kept hearing how amazing it was. First I went on Rachel’s Instagram and fell in love with her awesome pictures. She’s funny and delightful. Her kids are totally adorable. She’s direct and helpful. So I ordered her book and she drew me in with her humor and wit. She is described as being everyone’s big sister, telling you what you need to hear.

But ya’ll. She is dishing out some major stinking thinking. It was about the second chapter that I discovered I had some major theological issues with what I was reading. I didn’t stop reading but I had to do a lot of sifting through my theological grid. What concerns me is new believers reading Hollis and forming worldviews based on her self help philosophies. Or Christians who aren’t discerning the difference between truth and heresy.

Hollis doesn’t claim to be a Christian author to my knowledge. I’m not sure she’s a Christian but because she mixes in scripture with some of her “sayings” I think people assume she is. Many women are looking to Hollis for their daily dose of spiritual encouragement which is concerning because so much of it is contrary to what God says.

Here’s what I mean….these are just a few direct quotes from Girl, Wash Your Face and from her Instagram page.

“Just because you believe it doesn’t mean it’s true for everyone. . . Faith is one of the most abused instances of this. We decide that our religion is right; therefore, every other religion must be wrong.” That’s what Rachel says. But here’s what Jesus says, “Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“Focus on what you think of you,” Rachel teaches us in her books and seminars. This is like a double whammy self-absorbed thought. Because you’re not only focusing on yourself but you’re focusing on yourself thinking about yourself. But God says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” Phil. 2:3.

“This is your LIFE. You are meant to be the Hero of your own story.” I find this contrary to what I Cor. 10:31 tells us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” That makes God the hero, not myself.

“There’s such incredible power in understanding that you are in control.” She thinks that’s incredibly powerful but listen to this Truth and tell me where the control comes from. “The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.” Psalm 135:6 And this one, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.” God is telling us that He is in complete control and he’s the only one with that kind of control.

“Who you are is defined by the next decision you make, not the last one.” I am not defined by my decisions but instead, I am defined by a loving decision Christ made for me. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” II Cor. 5:21 That means that the perfect Jesus, fully God and fully man, died for my sins declaring me righteous. Jesus defines me as righteous and I’m grabbing hold of that Truth.

“Do you really think God made you – uniquely, wonderful you – and wanted you to deny your true self because it might be off-putting to others? I can’t believe that’s true.” Oh but it is true that we are to deny ourselves for the purpose of following Jesus. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life^[a]will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:24

As followers of Christ, we must be careful what we’re reading and more importantly what we’re choosing to believe. It’s not harmless to read books filled with the above messages that are built upon self-help, live for yourself and your dreams philosophies. It’s dangerous. And it’s what we’re warned about in scripture.

 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1

Before you purchase Rachel Hollis’s book that just released “Girl, Stop Apologizing” consider a few more verses from Timothy and Peter.

“Evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.” II Tim. 3:13-14

“There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them. They will exploit you in their greed with made-up stories. Their condemnation, pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.” II Peter 2:1-3

I know it’s what everyone is reading right now and if you do decide to read Girl, Stop Apologizing please do so with a discerning heart.