Platitudes — those meaningless and often annoying trite remarks.
It is what it is
What goes around comes around
Practice makes perfect
Good things come to those who wait. . .
The customer is always right
The list could go on. Yet what is worse than a platitude? A Pious Platitude. You’ve heard them.
Forgive and forget
God never gives us more than we can bear
Gossip is the devil’s radio
God has a plan for you
Love the sinner, hate the sin
While a platitude can be meaningless and annoying, it is rarely dangerous. But not so with pious platitudes, especially when the pious platitudes are hurled at victims of domestic violence and abuse from well-meaning and not-so-well meaning family members and church leaders. Pious platitudes can carry with them unbiblical doctrines, damaging advice, false hope, or belittling put-downs … all of which keep a victim spinning in the fog of abuse and false guilt.
We thought it would be helpful to collect some platitudes and their paraphrases that our readers have encountered and share them here. Not to mention how it might give us a laugh or two as we travail this vale of tears.
Note: Blog Administrators add platitudes to this page. If you have a platitude you would like to share, email it to Barbara at barbara@notunderbondage.com
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Platitude
“We (the church) reached out to her with mercy — and we sent several letters to her.”
Paraphrase
We sent letters to her threatening ex-communication and it was signed by the “prosecutor” on the church session.
Platitude
“Heaven soon” (pastor’s sign-off on his email )
Paraphrase #1
I am a pious and godly leader and cannot be challenged. This discussion is now closed.
Paraphrase #2
Your suffering is no big deal; stop whining about it. It will all be over when you get to heaven.
Platitude
“Time will heal.”
Platitude
“Well, it could be worse.”
Platitude
It’s not about marrying the right person, it’s about being the right person.”
Platitude
“Before you marry a person keep your standards extremely high. After you marry them, make them extremely low.”
Platitude
“Forgive and forget.”
Platitude
“Jesus said forgive 70 times 70.”
Platitude
“If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
Platitude
“Pray harder.”
Platitude
“If you respect him, he will love you.”
Platitude
God hates divorce.”
Platitude
Conflicts are always 50 / 50.”
Platitude
“You know he is hurting too.”
Platitude
“It takes two to tango.”
Platitude
“Whenever you point a finger, three more fingers are pointing back to you.”
Platitude
“All couples have problems.”
Platitude
“Let the past remain buried.”
Platitude
“The Bible says to return good for evil.”
Platitude
“Just give it to God.”
Platitude
“You need to show unconditional love.”
Platitude
“If God led you to it, God will lead you through it. Keep hoping.”
Platitude
“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”
Paraphrase #1
Thank God I don’t have to deal with the mess you have.
Paraphrase #2
Your situation is directly given from God, so He must intend for you to deal with it, so stop complaining.
Paraphrase #3
God gave you the situation so you must deserve it.
Platitude
“Love covers a multitude of sins.”
Paraphrase #1
It’s the profession not the fruit that matters. If someone recites the right believer’s formula, they are under grace.
Platitude
“Patience is a virtue.”
Platitude
“God is all about saving marriages.”
Platitude
“You’re a sinner, too.”
Platitude
“We all get abused and we are all abusers at times.”
Platitude
“Just about when you are ready to give up, the miracle happens.”
A Cry For Justice 