Catholic-in-name-only (or CINO)

[earl40]

Now I know CINO usually refers to Roman Catholic in name only but can we apply this to Protestant Christians who profess faith that is good enough to be a member of our churches but who obviously hold unbiblical beliefs such as the right to abortion. Take Our President as an example. He professes faith that the pastor of my former church accepted to be real. Do we label those who profess Jesus while practicing the outcome of false belief as CINO? Should we only use the CINA for those that hold to grievous serious error such as the belief that abortion is OK? Or should we only use CINO for those that deny an essential of the faith?

 

[GulfCoast Presbyterian]

As part of the Confessing Church movement back in our PCUSA days, I was called "RINO" (Reformed In Name Only) frequently by the TR crowd. We gave 'em free sheetrock and insulation after Katrina anyway.

 

[earl40]

As part of the Confessing Church movement back in our PCUSA days, I was called "RINO" (Reformed In Name Only) frequently by the TR crowd. We gave 'em free sheetrock and insulation after Katrina anyway.

Of course you no longer are there showing your repentance was real.

 

[Edward]

We gave 'em free sheetrock

But was it Chinese sheetrock?

 

[Jack K]

Christian-in-name-only? Of course. There are many of those. But I wouldn't make any political position the touchstone. Faith should affect one's politics, no doubt, but there's still a fairly wide range of political belief that's possible within a genuine life of repentance and faith in Christ.

On a side note, could we differentiate them from Catholics by calling them CH-I-N-Os?

 

[davenporter]

Christian-in-name-only? Of course. There are many of those. But I wouldn't make any political position the touchstone. Faith should affect one's politics, no doubt, but there's still a fairly wide range of political belief that's possible within a genuine life of repentance and faith in Christ.

On a side note, could we differentiate them from Catholics by calling them CH-I-N-Os?

Do you really know any genuine Christian who believes in the "right to murder"?

Just think of how silly it is: "I'm a right-to-fornicate Christian". "I'm a right-to-steal Christian". "I'm a right-to-covet Christian" "I'm a right-to-abort Christian". I mean, I realize that we all stumble in many ways but isn't there a line here where denying that something is sin shows us not to be what we claim to be? I think there is a difference between stumbling and committing sinful acts and simply denying that we have sin...

I'm not dogmatic here, just putting it out for consideration.

 

[Jack K]

Christian-in-name-only? Of course. There are many of those. But I wouldn't make any political position the touchstone. Faith should affect one's politics, no doubt, but there's still a fairly wide range of political belief that's possible within a genuine life of repentance and faith in Christ.

On a side note, could we differentiate them from Catholics by calling them CH-I-N-Os?

Do you really know any genuine Christian who believes in the "right to murder"?

Just think of how silly it is: "I'm a right-to-fornicate Christian". "I'm a right-to-steal Christian". "I'm a right-to-covet Christian" "I'm a right-to-abort Christian". I mean, I realize that we all stumble in many ways but isn't there a line here where denying that something is sin shows us not to be what we claim to be? I think there is a difference between stumbling and committing sinful acts and simply denying that we have sin...

I'm not dogmatic here, just putting it out for consideration.

I know people who believe abortion is not murder. I know others who believe it's immoral but yet should not be prohibited by the government in a pluralistic society such as ours. I believe both views are wrong. But I don't think one's stand on the politics of abortion is the best way to determine whether or not someone is serious about being a Christian. There are truly serious Christians who remain seriously in error on some matters. And picking an issue that's debated in the political realm to be our touchstone of faith runs the risk of having us equate faith in Christ with a particular political bent. It's always wise to steer clear of that.

 

[Jackie Kaulitz]

On a side note, could we differentiate them from Catholics by calling them CH-I-N-Os?

Isn't "Chinos" is a slang term with some negative connotations to it? I think it fits! j/k

Do you really know any genuine Christian who believes in the "right to murder"? Just think of how silly it is: "I'm a right-to-fornicate Christian". "I'm a right-to-steal Christian". "I'm a right-to-covet Christian" "I'm a right-to-abort Christian".

Ooooh... good one. Nice point but I have to agree with Jack below. I think we can't really go by the average person's politics because people don't really know what they believe; however, I believe famous politicians with clear agendas are a different story. A lot of average people seem to have fallen for media or social programming. Women don't even think that abortion is murder anymore due to media, etc. But once it is clearly pointed out, most women have a much tougher time endorsing murder. It's due to ignorance to a large degree (yes, much self-imposed too). So I think if we narrow it down, political views aren't very good indicators of one's Christian fruit for the average Christian. However, I think politicians are easy known by their lack of fruit.

I know people who believe abortion is not murder. I know others who believe it's immoral but yet should not be prohibited by the government in a pluralistic society such as ours. I believe both views are wrong. But I don't think one's stand on the politics of abortion is the best way to determine whether or not someone is serious about being a Christian. There are truly serious Christians who remain seriously in error on some matters. And picking an issue that's debated in the political realm to be our touchstone of faith runs the risk of having us equate faith in Christ with a particular political bent. It's always wise to steer clear of that.

 

[Jack K]

Isn't "Chinos" is a slang term with some negative connotations to it? I think it fits! j/k

I only know it as a type of cloth used to make pants. If it's more than that, I regret using it in a lighthearted way.

 

[Curt]

Machen called them "liberals," i.e. Non-christians.

 

[earl40]

Machen called them "liberals," i.e. Non-christians.

So did Machen consider belief that biblical grave grave sin is not sin was an indicator if one was a Christian? I tend to agree with that assesment even if one is mistaken about this belief. In other words, the lack of obvious biblical discerment in areas of grave sin shows a lack of The Holy Spirit in ones life. Of course if one is abmonished and one changes ones belief I understand but those that refuse to acknowledge that abortion is murder (esecially in todays world of ultrasound) seems to me a real indicator if one is a Christian.

 

[GulfCoast Presbyterian]

We gave 'em free sheetrock

But was it Chinese sheetrock?

It was actually multiple 18-wheeler truckloads of Virginia, USA sheetrock.

 

[davenporter]

You guys could be right, I suppose, that one could be a Christian and support abortion, though it would be very strange. The only "Christians" I have known who supported abortion were also liberals (i.e. in their church affiliation) and had many other very questionable views, to which I had to conclude that they almost certainly weren't really Christians.

I had some friends who were real Christians but politically liberal, and though I was frustrated by what I thought was foolish and unChristian ideology, all of them took an exception to their liberalism on the case of abortion, and I can say that I have honestly never met someone who seems to be a real Christian and really cares about honoring God (i.e. showing the fruits of regeneration) who has been pro-abortion. I suppose that doesn't prove there's not an anomaly out there, but I doubt God would leave them with such a wicked view which is so clearly argued against in Scripture, and if I knew someone who thought abortion was just alright, I would be concerned for their eternal salvation (in the sense that I would want God to use me as an instrument to bring that person to church or preach the word to that person if He so desired).

On the issue of CINO, our focus will (I think) be to preach the gospel to whomever God puts in our path, whether we know they are Christian or not. A lot of evangelicals aren't Christians, and it may or may not help to flatly tell them that you are concerned that they aren't a Christian. I suppose God can use anything for His purposes. Obviously there are a lot of people who are CINO, but what is the purpose of applying a label to them? Both believers and unbelievers need to hear the gospel. I'm not suggesting there isn't a good reason for using these labels (probably not telling someone we think they are a CINO, though), but if there is one, let's talk about it.

 

[yeutter]

Christian-in-name-only? Of course. There are many of those. But I wouldn't make any political position the touchstone. Faith should affect one's politics, no doubt, but there's still a fairly wide range of political belief that's possible within a genuine life of repentance and faith in Christ.

On a side note, could we differentiate them from Catholics by calling them CH-I-N-Os?

Why are we conceding the word Catholic to the Church of Rome.
We should own the word Catholic, especially with the Latter Day Saints, and oneness pentacostals being regarded by the mainstream media as just Christian sect.