Are You A CINO?
The Constitution of the U.S. is the guide for the way government and the people are to work together for the betterment of society. There are supposed to be representatives that we elect to office. These people are expected to follow certain guidelines; otherwise we will vote someone else into that office. Many people who have conservative values expect their party to hold the same values. The Republicans are advertised as the conservative party, but many members of that party are very liberal. They wear the (R) brand but they are REPUBLICANS IN NAME ONLY (RINO).
More important than a political party is our relationship with God and Jesus. I am sure you see where I am going with this. Yes, you are right; it has to be obvious that there are those who are CHRISTIAN IN NAME ONLY (CINO). The point of this article is for you to examine yourself and see if you are a CINO or a true Christian. There is no denying that many people call themselves Christians. They even associate other things to Christianity. At one time, the U.S.A was called a Christian nation. There are schools that identify as Christian. There are many organizations that also identify as Christian. Yet what is important is that an individual can, and should identify as a Christian.
We know that many people identify theirself as a Christian, yet we also know that many do not live or behave like a true Christian. The pages of the New Testament reveal the need to be genuine and true in our faith of Christianity.
Matthew 7:21 reads that "Not everyone who calls Me 'Lord', 'Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven". Verse 22 and 23 reveal that many will claim the right to be followers of Christ, yet will be turned away from heaven. So when people who know you examine your faith, do they see a true Christian or a CINO?
Here are just a few suggestions to ask yourself as you examine yourself. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to examine ourselves to see if we really are a Christian or just a CINO. Just like the Republicans, many Christians who wear the title do not realize that they appear to be that in name only. So what about your lifestyle, attitude, behavior, and daily walk?
One thing you can do is realize that you are supposed to be different. Some might use the phrase peculiar. That should be because you do not give into every wind of doctrine, but are stable and steadfast (Ephesians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 15:58). You are supposed to keep yourself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
You should not allow others to see you as anything other than a Christian. If your neighbor does not know you are a Christian, you have failed Jesus. These may be considered harsh words, but necessary sometimes.
It is good to be around those who are like-minded and have the same goals, but only if they are true Christians. Many people claim to be Christian yet they live like a non-Christian. Many will claim to be Christian, yet ignore the Bible in their doctrine and practice.
In 2 Timothy 3:12 the apostle Paul wrote that all those who desire to live godly will suffer persecution. If you are not picked on by those in the world because you remain true to your faith; you are most likely a CINO. Persecution comes in many forms and fashions. If you are not being persecuted, you are a hobbit who keeps yourself away from the world, you are not being a true Christian, because a Christian is to let their light shine and show the lost the way to salvation. One cannot do that if they barricade themselves in and remain separate from the world. True, that we are not to let the world influence us, but we have the duty to influence others and encourage them to obey God and become a Christian.
You must show yourself faithful, and the best way to do that is to actually be faithful. Don't be a hypocrite. We have too many of those in the world today, and a CINO is nothing more than a hypocrite.
God is certainly not going to allow the CINO's into heaven. Only those who are truly faithful to God in their lives will be rewarded with heaven.
By Carey Scott

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