Don't Be a ChINO: "Christian In Name Only"

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3, 4

I have been frustrated. I have been disenchanted. I have been embarassed. Churches across the country have become populated by congregations of "ChINO's." I go to churches across the country and see them in the pews, in the auditoriums, in the caf-a-gym-a-tori-aries -- or whatever hip, new, urban, trendy name they've given to the latest church gathering place. Sunday services everywhere have become rock concerts. How dark can we make the room? Will it be dark enough to elicit the right mood? Will it provoke enough emotion to draw tears? Will this experience knock the socks off those "seekers" who have decided to darken our doorway? Will we appear "sensitive" to that visitor by giving them what they want to see or hear? Adjust the temperature. Dim the lights. Turn up the bass. Don't forget to bite your lower lip when telling about how you came up with the inspiration for your latest lyric.

Even before I was a Christian rock concerts never were able to whip me into a frenzy to the point of swaying with the lighter high in the air. "Contrived crowd control" is what I call it. It's when those on the stage do all they can to elicit an emotional response from the audience. It never really worked with me; "Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . Are you ready to rock and roll? . . . ARE YOU READY TO ROCK AND ROLL?" Uh, could you start playing the music I payed money to hear, please?

We have been assaulted by many churches who have taken the rock concert formula into houses of worship. We have watched as modern churches have created a nation of what I have called ChINO's: "Christians In Name Only." Seeker-sensitive churches everywhere have adopted this method of drawing in converts by scratching those itching ears described in 2 Timothy 4. These holy rock concerts have child care, too! They have videos, video games, carnival games and any other kind of entertainment to cater to every ADHD pre-adolescent desire. In the meantime, small churches everywhere cannot keep up. But they try. They purchase the packaged "this is how we do it at our mega-church" formula and miserably fail. In the process many people who want to fellowship with other Christians church-hop their way around their home towns, bailing out when they are not entertained enough.

It is a vicous cylce which keeps many would-be disciples from truly developing a relationship with the living Savior, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have ChINO's: those who attend church so they can call themselves Christians, yet have never in their young "Christian" lives been challenged or discipled into an authentic relationship with their Creator. They have every "Praise and Worship" CD downloaded on their iPod, Blackberry or iTouch. They have the "metrosexual" look and lingo down. Skinny tie? Check. Designer glass frames? Check. Layered and unbuttoned, untucked shirts? Check. No need to bring a bible; they display the verses on the Jumbo-tron (though, I do own a "green" bible and only drink shade-grown, organic coffee from 100% recycled paper cups).

This type of faux Christianity is not only discouraging, it is frightening. As the end times draw ever closer, more people will be deceived; even many of those who call themselves Christians. I believe it will be more and more difficult to distinguish so-called Christians from any other faith. Sincere Christians will become more glaringly out of place. They will be labeled as "radical" and "intolerant". Meanwhile, the ChINO's will continue to conform to this world in order to be sensitive or tolerant, hoping to win others into their trendy church building with faux-painted concrete flooring (it's makes for easy clean-up of spilled, shade-grown coffee).

I know this posting will not win any friends. It will certainly cause many to call me radical and intolerant. But if it causes any ChINO out there to consider true Christianity, then mission accomplished. Go to church, my friend. Go to church not to live out the latest experience, but go prepared to serve others and to serve your heavenly Father. The local church does not exist to entertain you, or even grow your relationship with God. I cannot change what kind of fads and trends the hip, new churches are feeding us. But I can speak to you, the church-goer. So, here is my unsolicited advice: Church is not for your sake. Church is your opportunity to minister others, and thus to God. In doing so, you become filled with the fullness of spiritual fellowship. Your spiritual health and well-being is your responsibility, not your local church's. Do your growing at home, in your quiet, personal prayer and study closet. That is where your relationship with God flourishes. What you gather in that closet is what you bring to church for your fellow believers. Oh, and do bring that bible of yours. You never know when you'll need it.

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