Why Your Christian Book Keeps Getting Rejected, and How to Beat the Algorithm

During a recent presentation on social media’s impact on publishing, an audience member raised a question that stopped me. “What do you do if Facebook or Instagram blocks your ads because your book has Christian themes?”

I didn’t have a complete answer at that moment. I don’t work with many faith-based authors and I hadn’t encountered this situation before. But the question stuck with me because it speaks to something bigger than ad policy. It’s about fairness, visibility, and whether authors with Christian themes in their books are getting a fair shot at being discovered online.

So I started researching. What I found felt both eye-opening and frustrating.

Why Christian-Themed Book Ads Get Flagged

Using automated systems, platforms like Facebook (Meta), Instagram, and Google scan ads. These systems flag specific topics as “sensitive,” including:

• Religion
• Politics
• Social issues

That means even if your book is a sweet inspirational novel or a YA fantasy with faith elements, it might still be rejected for advertising if:

• You mention terms like “Jesus,” “salvation,” “Christianity,” “prayer,” or “faith” in the ad copy
• Your landing page has overt religious language
• The algorithm mistakenly interprets your ad as promoting religious conversion or political messaging

In short, Christian content is often penalized—not because it breaks policy, but because it doesn’t fit into the platforms’ limited framework of what’s “safe” for advertising.

This isn’t always intentional censorship. However, the result feels the same: authors with religious themes in their books are blocked from the same advertising tools others can freely use.

Out-of-the-Box Workarounds That Work

Here’s where things get creative. If you’re a publisher or author trying to market a Christian-themed book on social media, you don’t have to give up. You have to be strategic.

1. Focus on the Emotional Hook, Not the Doctrine

Social media ads are short stories in themselves. If your book is about hope, redemption, identity, or family, lead with that.

Instead of:

“A powerful Christian novel about salvation through Jesus.”

Try:

“An inspiring story of light in the darkest places. Perfect for fans of faith-driven fiction.”

This approach doesn’t mean hiding your message but framing it for discovery, not debate.

2. Adjust Your Ad Copy and Creative

Avoid religious terms in your ad headline, body copy, or image text. Let the cover and story speak for themselves. Use “inspirational,” “uplifting,” “family-centered,” or “clean fiction” as descriptors.

Even if your book is deeply Christian, you can still market it without using flagged language—especially to get past the first round of automated reviews.

3. Create a Separate, Reader-Friendly Landing Page

If you’re running a paid ad, don’t link directly to a page that starts with “Welcome to my Christian Ministry.”

Instead, send users to a clean book page with:

• A blurb focused on characters and themes
• Reviews or endorsements
• A clear call-to-action (like “Start Reading Now”)

Once the reader lands, they can discover the more profound message. But the ad has already done its job: getting them to click.

4. Target Interests Strategically

When setting up your Facebook or Instagram ad, don’t choose “Christianity” or “Jesus” as an interest. These can trigger flagging.

Instead, try:

• Christian Fiction
• Clean Romance
• Inspirational Books
• Readers of authors like Francine Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, or Ted Dekker

You’re still reaching your audience through reader behavior, not religious identity.

5. Always Appeal a Rejection

If your ad is flagged, request a manual review. Often, a human moderator will approve of what the algorithm misunderstood.

In your appeal, be professional and direct: “This is a work of fiction in the inspirational genre. It is not political or attempting to promote religious conversion.”

Many authors have seen success this way; you must advocate for yourself.

You Deserve Visibility—Faith and All

Whether your book is about dragons and destiny or forgiveness and faith, you deserve a fair shot at reaching readers. The system isn’t perfect, and Christian authors may have to work a little harder to navigate it—but it’s possible.

This blog isn’t just for faith-based authors. It’s for any writer who’s ever felt the algorithm doesn’t understand what they’re trying to say.

To the publisher who asked that question during my talk: Thank you. You reminded me that marketing isn’t just about clicks or copy; it’s about helping all stories reach readers who want them.

And to anyone reading this who’s struggled with ad rejection, take heart. You can outsmart the system. Perseverance and creative workarounds can do wonders.

Want more marketing strategies tailored to indie authors?

Subscribe to Book Marketing Made Simple, my free newsletter, and get practical advice, tools, and encouragement every week.