In the US the Republican Party is supposed to represent the conservative side of politics. Most Republicans are conservative, but many are not. There are what is known as “Establishment Republicans” for example who tend to take decidedly anti-conservative stances, such as supporting bigger government and the like.
We refer to these Republicans as RINOs (Republican In Name Only). These nominal Republicans are a blight on the Party, and are really false Republicans. Sadly we find the same situation in the church. There we find plenty of CINOs (Christian In Name Only).
They too are a blight on the name Christian. They are false Christians who do a great disservice to the cause of Christ. They are happy to parade themselves as believers, but when push comes to shove, they will show their true colours. Thus they are simply nominal Christians, not real Christians.
I admit to being a bit slow here, but I only became aware of this Christian acronym today. (I might have heard of it earlier, but I guess it did not register then.) But it is a good one and I will henceforth use this helpful term. It is a descriptive and accurate term for so many so-called believers today.
I might as well cite the author where I first heard this term. The author, Rev. Michael Bresciani, is an American pastor and commentator, and his piece is found on the Canada Free Press website. This is a great site with plenty of excellent articles appearing each day. I especially like its reason for existence: “…Because without America there is no Free World”. Exactly so.
This pro-faith, pro-family and pro-freedom website knows that for all its faults, America is still the last man standing when it comes to standing between freedom and tyranny. Thus it needs to be upheld and supported, especially given that so many people and groups are hell-bent on destroying America – and I include much of the Occupy movement in that.
Anyway, the article in question is entitled “Eight Reasons Why Today’s World Despises and Resists Christianity”. It is a good piece and well worth reading. So let me quote from it here. The CINO bit comes in his fifth reason:
“Immediately after the 9/11 attacks on the Twin Towers in New York, President George W. Bush was heard to say, ‘Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended.’ Not all definitions of cowardice are so strong but any endeavor begun in good faith only to be abandoned in short notice is a microcosmic example of cowardice. If the slightest fear turns us around what do we call it when a person starts to walk in a new life with Christ, and then turns back? “Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lu 9: 62)
“The church is experiencing the greatest resistance in its 2000 year long history and many churches are buckling under the pressure. Apostasy has been predicted in the Bible (2 Thess 2:3f) and is actually one of the signs that we are entering into the last generation of time as we know it. The bottom line that the CINO Christians are woefully unaware of is; that the world may not know much about true Christianity but it does know that it hates a coward.”
Some of his other reasons are worth looking at as well. His first one is a very good one: “The indisputable number one reason real Christianity is despised is because it declares that man’s greatest problem is sin. We have for centuries seen the problems of man as a lack of knowledge, economics, race problems, politics and dozens more. The Bible recognizes none of these things as the root problem of man. Rather the scriptures declares that the fallen condition of man drives us all to a propensity to sin that ultimately causes the problems of all mankind. Wars, economic disparities, race problems and all else is a result of man’s willingness to sin and live out lives of sin without recognizing that they are sinners.
“The Bible has many things to say about sin but the central focus is that Jesus Christ came into the world mainly to deal with the problem of sin once and for all. His death on the cross was no accident or untimely thwarting of his goals and ministry. It was the primary reason he came and the ultimate goal of his life. He came as the one sacrifice that would forever placate God and after his work was completed all sacrifice, religious precept, self flagellation, austerity, and system of morality was rendered completely useless. His final deed, however, does not universally cover everyone; each person must come to terms with what Christ has done for them on a completely personal and individual basis.
“Christ said a man must be born again, sometimes we call that being saved, or we say a man has had a religious experience. When an individual sees who Christ is and responds by attaching themselves to him in faith and laying down a lifestyle of sin, that act of submission produces what’s called, a spiritual rebirth. Christ declares that without it no man will see eternal life. This is where the world gets antsy because it is a dependence that threatens their independence. It marks the end of self rule and the beginning of submission to the King of kings and Lord of lords. (Rev 17: 14)”
Yes this is what separates the men from the boys. This is what separates real Christians from CINOs. The real Christian knows he is a lost sinner who deserves his eternal fate apart from God, but humbles himself, repents of his sin, and turns to Christ and Christ alone for salvation.
And it does not stop there. For the rest of his life the real Christian is totally committed to making Christ Lord of all his life. Sure it is a gradual process, but Jesus is number one in his life. For the CINO, this is all just fire insurance. They will put their hand up at a meeting and hope to avoid future judgment.
But they live the same life as they always lived, and show no evidence whatsoever of having denied self and making Christ Lord of all. They are those who will sing ten choruses of “Just as I Am” at a revival service, but will leave just as they were.
And the real Christian will show courage in the face of a sin-soaked world, and will take action, and not sit idly by while the world goes to hell in a hand basket. As the pastor says in reason three:
“True Christianity does not just deal with personal sins but it stands diametrically opposite the social trends of the day namely, abortion and the gay agenda. It sees these two collective trends as sins that mark time as we know it and is a sure declaration that man is heading toward a last days encounter with God. That encounter is called, judgment and is meticulously outlined in the final book of the Bible we call the Revelation. The disregard for the lives of the unborn and the rise in perverted and deviant lifestyles are only two of dozens of signs that promise rather than merely predict the demise of the entire world.”
I for one want nothing to do with nominal Christianity. It is time to stand up and be counted, and show our true stripes. What are we really made of? Are we washed in the blood of the lamb, filled with His Spirit, and ready to do great exploits for the King? I certainly hope we all are.
Spot on Bill. As you know, Dietrich Bonhoeffer talks about CHINO’s this way:
‘Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjack’s wares … grace without cost! … Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system … and intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure (forgiveness) of sins … Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.’ (‘The Cost of Discipleship’ p. 35,36)
And:
‘When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.’ (‘The Cost of discipleship’ p. 79)
Keep it up.
Andrew Campbell
To me Grace is one of the fundamental doctrines of the true Christian faith, all so called grace apart from the Grace described in the Bible is cheap grace. Me personally, I rely on God’s Grace and forgiveness to get through each day because I know that without it, I may as well not have ever been born! Like your last statement above Bill, I only hope I am as well!
Steve Davis
And still my cry goes up, How long?
Raise up the mighty men of valour who do exploits for their God.
Greg Brien
Bill, another excellent article. Your prolific writing is a warning to us all to continue to be “salt & light”. Yes, we need more courage and certainly less complacency. Please keep this great work up. Australia needs you!
Graham McLennan
Many thanks Graham. Keep up your great work as well.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Hi Bill,
After abortion and homosexuality, you left out the third greatest scourge of our time, and that is the (not so) happy band of Christian CINOS who are tricked into following the worldy trend of abandoning their marriages once the ‘going gets a bit tough’, or they ‘find a better option’ or they ‘just don’t love each other any more’, or they just want to play the blame game and not take responsibility for their own actions.
This alarming trend has been gathering strength over the last 2-3 decades to the point where ‘Christians’ in churches seem to toss away their marriages with the same carelessness as their worldly counterparts.
Whatever happened to commitment, covenant and ’til death us do part’? Sorry, in our new post-modern world if it seems to be too hard we just chuck it in, if it no longer ‘feels good’ then we don’t want to do it anymore and ‘move on’ to something that we are tricked into thinking will be better, but instead take on board a life-long legacy of broken families and lives – what a con – and ‘Christians’ seem to be falling for it everywhere.
What kind of example is that to our worldly fellow human beings? Is Jesus the Christ powerless to assist ‘Christians’ to keep their marriages together? Is God unable to perform miraculous restorations in marriage relationships? It would appear so. So sad, so tragic; God is heartbroken.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
David Barton
Great article Bill. The frustrating thing is that Jesus told us we would be stuck with CINOs till the harvest in the parable of the wheat and the tares. The scariest thing is though when the CINO is at the pulpit.
Aaron Downs
Bill, you naughty boy. You are getting more militant these days. How dare you spoil our complacency and what’s in it for me Christianity. I mean, isn’t it all about having all our problems solved and living happily ever after.
After all, my donations pay for the professional clergy to do all the hard yards. Why have a dog and do your own barking.
God forbid that I should ACTUALLY do something to make a difference. That is like asking for trouble and I have got enough of them with a mortgage, kids, job insecurity, the Labor government led by Bob Brown, and people wanting me to attend church services other than Sunday morning.
Enough to make you want to go and live on a desert island mutter, mutter, mutter.
Yours sincerely,
A failed CHINO. (or is that a CHINO who failed?). Well, I do at least vote Liberal so you can’t blame me for everything.
P.S. Why is my conscience troublling me?
Roger Marks
Great article Bill, couldn’t agree more. Well said – and well done to Rev Bresciani!
Andrew Munden
Let me say one thing here as well, what we are seeing is not good but all of us who have commented here need to be praying for CINO’s as well. We all need to remember that excellent verse – 1 Corinthians Ch10 vs12.
Steve Davis
Christians – the CINO variety need to wake up out of their slumber, repent, get back in right relationship with Jesus; start abiding in the Word; start being doers of the Word, not hearers only; get discipled; get grown up and released into the call of God on their lives.
As these Christians are being fed on the Word, and sleeping in the light, and doing nothing, countless are the number of people who are dying and at risk of spending an eternity in hell – there is no Exit door from hell!!
When you start living for Jesus and seeking after God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven – lives change!!!
The Bible has stern warnings for luke-warm and back-slidden Christians!!!
Barb Hoc
The Great Commission calls every one of us to go and teach all nations those things that the Lord has commanded. So lets get out on the streets and compel the lost to come in.
Mario Del Giudice
G’day Bill,
Spot on Bill. As you know, Dietrich Bonhoeffer talks about CHINO’s this way:
‘Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjack’s wares … grace without cost! … Cheap grace means grace as a doctrine, a principle, a system … and intellectual assent to that idea is held to be of itself sufficient to secure (forgiveness) of sins … Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.’ (‘The Cost of Discipleship’ p. 35,36)
And:
‘When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.’ (‘The Cost of discipleship’ p. 79)
Keep it up.
Andrew Campbell
To me Grace is one of the fundamental doctrines of the true Christian faith, all so called grace apart from the Grace described in the Bible is cheap grace. Me personally, I rely on God’s Grace and forgiveness to get through each day because I know that without it, I may as well not have ever been born! Like your last statement above Bill, I only hope I am as well!
Steve Davis
And still my cry goes up, How long?
Raise up the mighty men of valour who do exploits for their God.
Greg Brien
Bill, another excellent article. Your prolific writing is a warning to us all to continue to be “salt & light”. Yes, we need more courage and certainly less complacency. Please keep this great work up. Australia needs you!
Graham McLennan
Many thanks Graham. Keep up your great work as well.
Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch
Hi Bill,
After abortion and homosexuality, you left out the third greatest scourge of our time, and that is the (not so) happy band of Christian CINOS who are tricked into following the worldy trend of abandoning their marriages once the ‘going gets a bit tough’, or they ‘find a better option’ or they ‘just don’t love each other any more’, or they just want to play the blame game and not take responsibility for their own actions.
This alarming trend has been gathering strength over the last 2-3 decades to the point where ‘Christians’ in churches seem to toss away their marriages with the same carelessness as their worldly counterparts.
Whatever happened to commitment, covenant and ’til death us do part’? Sorry, in our new post-modern world if it seems to be too hard we just chuck it in, if it no longer ‘feels good’ then we don’t want to do it anymore and ‘move on’ to something that we are tricked into thinking will be better, but instead take on board a life-long legacy of broken families and lives – what a con – and ‘Christians’ seem to be falling for it everywhere.
What kind of example is that to our worldly fellow human beings? Is Jesus the Christ powerless to assist ‘Christians’ to keep their marriages together? Is God unable to perform miraculous restorations in marriage relationships? It would appear so. So sad, so tragic; God is heartbroken.
Keep up the good work.
Regards,
David Barton
Great article Bill. The frustrating thing is that Jesus told us we would be stuck with CINOs till the harvest in the parable of the wheat and the tares. The scariest thing is though when the CINO is at the pulpit.
Aaron Downs
Bill, you naughty boy. You are getting more militant these days. How dare you spoil our complacency and what’s in it for me Christianity. I mean, isn’t it all about having all our problems solved and living happily ever after.
After all, my donations pay for the professional clergy to do all the hard yards. Why have a dog and do your own barking.
God forbid that I should ACTUALLY do something to make a difference. That is like asking for trouble and I have got enough of them with a mortgage, kids, job insecurity, the Labor government led by Bob Brown, and people wanting me to attend church services other than Sunday morning.
Enough to make you want to go and live on a desert island mutter, mutter, mutter.
Yours sincerely,
A failed CHINO. (or is that a CHINO who failed?). Well, I do at least vote Liberal so you can’t blame me for everything.
P.S. Why is my conscience troublling me?
Roger Marks
Great article Bill, couldn’t agree more. Well said – and well done to Rev Bresciani!
Andrew Munden
Let me say one thing here as well, what we are seeing is not good but all of us who have commented here need to be praying for CINO’s as well. We all need to remember that excellent verse – 1 Corinthians Ch10 vs12.
Steve Davis
Christians – the CINO variety need to wake up out of their slumber, repent, get back in right relationship with Jesus; start abiding in the Word; start being doers of the Word, not hearers only; get discipled; get grown up and released into the call of God on their lives.
As these Christians are being fed on the Word, and sleeping in the light, and doing nothing, countless are the number of people who are dying and at risk of spending an eternity in hell – there is no Exit door from hell!!
When you start living for Jesus and seeking after God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven – lives change!!!
The Bible has stern warnings for luke-warm and back-slidden Christians!!!
Barb Hoc
The Great Commission calls every one of us to go and teach all nations those things that the Lord has commanded. So lets get out on the streets and compel the lost to come in.
Mario Del Giudice