I’ve been thinking of cliches that have become a part of our vocabulary, that we repeat without really thinking about the meaning. So, for the first few weeks of 2026, I’m going to highlight a popular phrase each week, and dig into its meaning. In modern culture, few phrases are as widely used as “you do you.” It sounds “empowering and liberating”—two popular buzzwords—encouraging authenticity and confidence. Yet beneath its appealing surface lies a message that is ultimately dangerous, spiritually shallow, and deeply selfcentered. From a biblical perspective, “you do you” is not just incomplete advice—it points us in the opposite direction of the life God calls us to live.
At its core, “you do you” promotes radical selfdetermination, the idea that the highest authority in life is our own desires, preferences, and impulses. Scripture consistently warns against this mindset. Proverbs 14:12 cautions, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” The Bible does not celebrate doing whatever feels right; it warns that our instincts, left unchecked, will lead us into destruction. Human beings are not naturally inclined toward wisdom or righteousness. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” If our hearts are deceitful, then following them blindly—“doing you”—cannot be wise counsel.
The phrase also encourages a selffocused worldview, where personal fulfillment becomes the ultimate goal. Yet Jesus teaches the opposite. In Matthew 16:24, He says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” The call to discipleship is not “glorify yourself,” but “deny yourself.” Christian life is fundamentally about surrendering to our Creator, not magnified selfexpression. It is about aligning our desires with God’s will, not elevating our desires above it.
“You do you” subtly implies that individual autonomy outweighs community responsibility. It suggests that as long as something feels right to me, others must accept it without question. But Scripture paints a picture of believers deeply interconnected, responsible for one another’s wellbeing. Philippians 2:3–4 instructs, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” The Christian life is outwardfacing, not inwardcurved. “You do you” encourages the opposite: a life where personal preference trumps humility, accountability, and love.
The phrase also undermines the idea of moral truth. If everyone simply “does themselves,” then right and wrong become subjective. But Scripture teaches that truth is not selfgenerated; it is revealed by God. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word—not personal preference— guides the believer’s steps. When culture says, “Follow your truth,” Scripture says, “Follow God’s truth.”
Finally, “you do you” fails because it cannot deliver what it promises. It claims to lead to freedom, but selfcentered living ultimately leads to emptiness. Jesus offers a better way: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”(John 10:10). Abundant life is not found in selfrule but in joyful submission to the One who created us.
In the end, “you do you” is appealing because it removes limits, accountability, and sacrifice. But the Christian life is built on all three. True freedom is not found in doing whatever we want; it is found in becoming who God calls us to be. The world says, “You do you.” Scripture says, “Become like Christ.” Only one of those paths leads to life.
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