Comments on: Christian In Name Only (CINO) http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/ Bringing political and moral clarity into the fog of political correctness! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:08:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Gayle Wheat http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-30 Gayle Wheat Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:07:16 +0000 http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-30 Dave...I have enjoyed your blog. Thanks for sharing the link with me in your message. I agree totally with all you say. I have been studying Islam and trying to tell people on my blog the dangers of believing that it is a peaceful religion. Your blog explains another reason why we as Christians have to be very aware of false prophets. Well I am rambling now...thanks for your service to our country and obviously you are still serving our country with your wonderful blog. Peace in Christ...Gayle Dave…I have enjoyed your blog. Thanks for sharing the link with me in your message. I agree totally with all you say. I have been studying Islam and trying to tell people on my blog the dangers of believing that it is a peaceful religion. Your blog explains another reason why we as Christians have to be very aware of false prophets.

Well I am rambling now…thanks for your service to our country and obviously you are still serving our country with your wonderful blog.

Peace in Christ…Gayle

]]> By: Dave http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-28 Dave Fri, 02 Feb 2007 23:27:46 +0000 http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-28 Yes He is! Jesus also said something that leaves no room to wiggle: "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) C.S. Lewis said it best about this verse in his excellent book, "Mere Christianity": "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." 'Nuff said! Yes He is! Jesus also said something that leaves no room to wiggle:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

C.S. Lewis said it best about this verse in his excellent book, “Mere Christianity”:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of thing Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

‘Nuff said!

]]> By: Billy Ray http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-27 Billy Ray Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:17:56 +0000 http://davidjeffers.thevanguard.org/12/christian-in-name-only-cino/#comment-27 I was hoping you'd put this on the blog. I agree with Dave that getting an answer regarding abortion will tell you a great deal about a person but even a non-believer can be opposed to abortion. It's a fantastic starting point that can point us in the right direction (especially with regard to political beliefs). As I read the post, I was reminded of another kind of "litmus test" for true Christianity (true being the operative word here...as Dave has pointed out, there are people/groups who claim the name of Christ but deny His Biblical claims) . It's found in Matthew, Chaper 16... 13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God." There are two very key points that I get from this verse. The first is that the world may acknowlege Him as a great teacher, a prophet, etc. These verses tell us in no uncertain terms how to identify true Christianity from "CINOism" (a new word, cool!). A true believer can look anyone boldly in the eye and tell them EXACTLY who Jesus is (the Christ, the Son of the living God). The worlds definition of who Jesus is will always be flawed because if you ever come to the realization of who Jesus really is, you will answer as Peter did. The world can't answer like Peter did because to do so would require abandoning their sinful pursuits. The second point is that you are REQUIRED to make a decision. "Who do you say that I am"? You can't ignore the question. In it's most basic terms, Jesus is asking all of us if we accept that Jesus is exactly who He says He is. He doesn't leave any wiggle room. Like Dave said, there is no gray area. He either is, or He is not "the Christ, the Son of the living God". The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus claims to be God in the flesh. Anytime you see somebody or even a group of people (different denominations, different religions, etc.) trying to tap dance around just who Jesus is...you'll know they either deny Christ altogether or they are a CINO. I'm so fortunate to be able to be involved in these discussions (thanks Dave!) and for the opportunity to say boldly, confidently, and unashamedly that Jesus IS the Christ, the Son of the living God! I was hoping you’d put this on the blog. I agree with Dave that getting an answer regarding abortion will tell you a great deal about a person but even a non-believer can be opposed to abortion. It’s a fantastic starting point that can point us in the right direction (especially with regard to political beliefs). As I read the post, I was reminded of another kind of “litmus test” for true Christianity (true being the operative word here…as Dave has pointed out, there are people/groups who claim the name of Christ but deny His Biblical claims) . It’s found in Matthew, Chaper 16…

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15″But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ,[b] the Son of the living God.”

There are two very key points that I get from this verse. The first is that the world may acknowlege Him as a great teacher, a prophet, etc. These verses tell us in no uncertain terms how to identify true Christianity from “CINOism” (a new word, cool!). A true believer can look anyone boldly in the eye and tell them EXACTLY who Jesus is (the Christ, the Son of the living God). The worlds definition of who Jesus is will always be flawed because if you ever come to the realization of who Jesus really is, you will answer as Peter did. The world can’t answer like Peter did because to do so would require abandoning their sinful pursuits. The second point is that you are REQUIRED to make a decision. “Who do you say that I am”? You can’t ignore the question. In it’s most basic terms, Jesus is asking all of us if we accept that Jesus is exactly who He says He is. He doesn’t leave any wiggle room. Like Dave said, there is no gray area. He either is, or He is not “the Christ, the Son of the living God”. The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus claims to be God in the flesh. Anytime you see somebody or even a group of people (different denominations, different religions, etc.) trying to tap dance around just who Jesus is…you’ll know they either deny Christ altogether or they are a CINO. I’m so fortunate to be able to be involved in these discussions (thanks Dave!) and for the opportunity to say boldly, confidently, and unashamedly that Jesus IS the Christ, the Son of the living God!

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