Bad habit Quote by Kevin DeYoung
“It’s all too easy to turn the fight of faith into sanctification-by-checklist. Take care of a few bad habits, develop a couple good ones, and you’re set. But a moral checklist doesn’t take into consideration the idols of the hearts. It may not even have the gospel as part of the equation. And inevitably, checklist spirituality is highly selective. So you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. But you’ve ignored gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Danger of Easy Faith, Kevin DeYoung, 2020
Moral checklists simplify spirituality, ignoring deeper heart issues and true gospel transformation.
In simple terms: Checklists miss heart idols and true gospel.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate inner virtues, not just external actions.
Themes
spirituality
authenticity
heart
morality
growth
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
advisory
theological
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- church teaching
- spiritual counseling
- self‑assessment
Key Concepts
Christian discipleship
integrity
holistic transformation
Questions to Reflect On
- What heart idols are you overlooking?
- How can you integrate gospel truth into daily habits?
A Different Perspective
Checklists can give false security without inner change.
