Beware the Self-Satisfied CHINO
(Christian In Name Only)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
— Jesus (Matthew 7:21)
I had never heard the word CHINO until I met Jeff.
In Republican circles, it has become fashionable among some to speak derisively of so-called RINOs--Republicans In Name Only. A RINO is someone who may carry the party label but, in the eyes of critics, fails to uphold core conservative principles, especially on issues like immigration, gun rights, and limited government.
Jeff is, or was, a Republican. But he found himself increasingly at odds with his party’s policies toward migrants—policies that, in his view, lacked compassion, denied dignity, and treated vulnerable people as threats rather than neighbors. He also had problems with the party's unwillingness to pass responsible gun laws. When he spoke up, he was labeled a RINO.
I asked what it felt like to be rejected by his party. He shrugged and said it didn’t matter—because being Christian was more important to him than being Republican. Then he added, “Well, to be honest, I think some of them are CHINOs.”
“CHINOs?” I asked.
“Christians In Name Only,” he said.
The Many Faces of CHINOs
There are many kinds of CHINOs.
There are political CHINOs, who invoke the name of Christ to justify party loyalty but ignore his call to love the least among us—for example, those who speak of “Christian values” while supporting policies that harm the poor, vilify migrants, or downplay racism.
There are cultural CHINOs, who wear Christianity as a badge of belonging—something inherited, assumed, or performed, but not truly lived—like those who attend church out of habit or social expectation, yet remain untouched by its ethical demands.
There are prosperity CHINOs, who preach a gospel of wealth and comfort rather than self-giving love and sacrificial service—such as televangelists who promise divine reward for financial giving, or church leaders who equate faith with material success.
And there are everyday CHINOs—like me—who quietly drift from the radical compassion of Jesus in the small decisions of daily life, whether by avoiding the pain of others, choosing convenience over conscience, or staying silent in the face of injustice.
The Most Dangerous Kind: The Unknowing, Self-Satisfied CHINO
The most dangerous kind of CHINO is not the one who cynically claims a Christian identity while knowingly embracing anti-Christian values. In my experience, very few CHINOs fall into this category.
The most dangerous CHINOs are those who believe passionately—who hold tightly and sincerely to their Christian identity—yet remain unaware that their way of living runs contrary to the path of discipleship. They would be insulted to know that others might them them CHINOs. And that is precisely the danger: their certainty becomes a shield, making self-examination almost impossible.
Often, they sanctify their Christian identity by merging it with another identity—political, cultural, national, racial, or economic—which, in truth, matters more to them but which they mistakenly call Christianity. Their faith becomes a mirror of their tribe, their fears, or their entitlements—no longer a cross to carry, but a banner to wave.
Prophets without Banners
One value of Christians who walk humbly with Christ in their daily lives—and who do not wave Christianity as a banner—is that they can serve as gentle prophets. Not prophets who condemn, but prophets who awaken. Through their integrity, compassion, and quiet faithfulness, they help unconscious CHINOs see the duplicity they had never meant to embody.
The lives of the humble prophets become a kind of living parable: not loud, not flashy, but clear and convicting. They speak less of doctrine and more of mercy. They don’t perform Christianity; they live it—often imperfectly, always honestly—and in doing so, they invite others to return to the heart of Jesus.
Not by Labels but by Love
While I focus below on political CHINOs, let us be mindful of all the ways we can wear the name of Christ yet miss his heart—and how deeply we need the kind of prophets just described. We know who is truly Christian not by their labels, but by their love.
At the same time, we best also remember this: many of us—perhaps even most of us—have our non-CHINO moments, too. Moments when we actually do love our enemies, even if only inwardly. Moments when we extend compassion, take risks for justice, forgive without being asked, or serve without needing recognition. Moments when we choose humility over pride, kindness over cruelty, and truth over convenience.
These are the moments when the Spirit breaks through. They may be small, fleeting, and imperfect—but they are real. And they remind us that the line between CHINO and disciple doesn’t run between us and others. It runs through each of us.
So let us not despair. Let us take heart. For the grace of God meets us even in our duplicity, and calls us—not to perfection—but to deeper honesty, fuller love, and a more faithful walk. One step at a time.
- Jay McDaniel
Dictionary Definition
CHINO (Christian In Name Only)
noun — /ˈtʃiː.noʊ/
A person who publicly identifies as Christian—sometimes loudly and politically—but whose values, actions, and worldview reflect something much closer to a will-to-power than to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Core traits of a CHINO include:
Selective Scripture Use: Quotes the Bible when it supports strength, hierarchy, and divine favoritism; ignores or reinterprets teachings about humility, mercy, and loving enemies.
Tribal Allegiance: Prioritizes loyalty to the in-group (nation, race, party, denomination) over the universal love Jesus preached.
Wall-Building Spirituality: Equates holiness with homogeneity and safety with exclusion. Hospitality becomes a liability.
Macho Messiah Complex: Imagines Jesus more as a sword-wielding nationalist than a foot-washing peacemaker.
Persecution Envy: Believes that cultural discomfort equals martyrdom.
Gospel of Glory: Replaces the cross with a flag, the Beatitudes with bravado, and grace with grit.
Not to be confused with a struggling or questioning Christian (which is part of the.
noun — /ˈtʃiː.noʊ/
A person who publicly identifies as Christian—sometimes loudly and politically—but whose values, actions, and worldview reflect something much closer to a will-to-power than to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Core traits of a CHINO include:
Selective Scripture Use: Quotes the Bible when it supports strength, hierarchy, and divine favoritism; ignores or reinterprets teachings about humility, mercy, and loving enemies.
Tribal Allegiance: Prioritizes loyalty to the in-group (nation, race, party, denomination) over the universal love Jesus preached.
Wall-Building Spirituality: Equates holiness with homogeneity and safety with exclusion. Hospitality becomes a liability.
Macho Messiah Complex: Imagines Jesus more as a sword-wielding nationalist than a foot-washing peacemaker.
Persecution Envy: Believes that cultural discomfort equals martyrdom.
Gospel of Glory: Replaces the cross with a flag, the Beatitudes with bravado, and grace with grit.
Not to be confused with a struggling or questioning Christian (which is part of the.
Additional Characteristics
Public Piety, Private Ambition: CHINOs often speak of God’s glory, but mostly when it's convenient for asserting dominance, winning elections, or closing borders.
The Cross as a Logo, Not a Lifestyle: CHINOs revere the symbol of the cross—preferably gold-plated—but rarely take up the difficult task of actually carrying it (see: forgiveness, humility, loving enemies).
The Beatitudes Blacklist: Words like "meek," "merciful," and "peacemakers" are reclassified as weak, unpatriotic, or suspiciously socialist.
Stranger Danger Theology: Hospitality is not extended to the outsider, refugee, or heretic. “Love your neighbor” is interpreted as “Love your neighbor… if your neighbor agrees with your worldview and has proper documentation.”
Apostles of Law and Order: CHINOs often quote Romans 13 to sanctify authority, but skip the parts about not repaying evil for evil or feeding your enemy.
Gospel of the Wall: Special emphasis is placed on metaphysical and literal walls. Walls in heaven. Walls at the border. Walls around gated communities. Jesus, somehow, is imagined as a foreman in all of this.
Moral Flexibility in High Places: CHINOs are particularly adept at overlooking moral failings—so long as the individual in question "fights for us."
The Political CHINO
Politicians often step into public life claiming faith as a core value—especially Christianity in societies where it carries moral weight with voters. But over time, the name “Christian” can become more of a badge than a way of being, more of a political tool than a spiritual path. Here’s how it happens:
1. Faith Becomes a Brand
Instead of following Jesus as a teacher and guide, politicians may use Christianity as a cultural signal to gain trust and votes. They appeal to Christian identity to “rally the base,” but without committing to Jesus’ actual teachings—especially the inconvenient ones about humility, enemy-love, wealth, and justice. Jesus becomes a mascot for power, not a model for self-giving love.
2. Tribe Over Gospel
Many politicians become CHINOs when loyalty to their party, nation, or cultural tribe takes precedence over loyalty to Christ’s universal love. “Christian” gets redefined as “one of us,” not as “one who loves as Christ loved.” Policies that exclude, punish, or scapegoat are baptized in religious language. The Gospel becomes a boundary, not a bridge.
3. The Beatitudes Are Silenced
“Blessed are the poor, the meek, the peacemakers…”
These values are quietly ignored because they don’t play well in campaigns built on strength, success, and dominance. Politicians become CHINOs when they reject these core teachings in favor of toughness, control, and retribution—mistaking them for moral clarity. Meekness is labeled weakness. Mercy is “soft.” Justice is “woke.”
4. Jesus Gets Co-opted
Politicians who become CHINOs often reshape Jesus in their own image:
– A nationalist
– A gun-rights defender
– An enemy-punisher
– A capitalism cheerleader
This reimagined Jesus exists to validate policy, not challenge it. He comforts the powerful and rarely disturbs the status quo. The cross becomes a symbol of supremacy, not sacrifice.
5. Silence on the Margins
One of the clearest signs: when those in power call themselves Christian but are silent in the face of injustice, cruelty, or corruption—especially toward the poor, the refugee, the incarcerated, the oppressed. Their silence speaks louder than their statements of faith.
1. Faith Becomes a Brand
Instead of following Jesus as a teacher and guide, politicians may use Christianity as a cultural signal to gain trust and votes. They appeal to Christian identity to “rally the base,” but without committing to Jesus’ actual teachings—especially the inconvenient ones about humility, enemy-love, wealth, and justice. Jesus becomes a mascot for power, not a model for self-giving love.
2. Tribe Over Gospel
Many politicians become CHINOs when loyalty to their party, nation, or cultural tribe takes precedence over loyalty to Christ’s universal love. “Christian” gets redefined as “one of us,” not as “one who loves as Christ loved.” Policies that exclude, punish, or scapegoat are baptized in religious language. The Gospel becomes a boundary, not a bridge.
3. The Beatitudes Are Silenced
“Blessed are the poor, the meek, the peacemakers…”
These values are quietly ignored because they don’t play well in campaigns built on strength, success, and dominance. Politicians become CHINOs when they reject these core teachings in favor of toughness, control, and retribution—mistaking them for moral clarity. Meekness is labeled weakness. Mercy is “soft.” Justice is “woke.”
4. Jesus Gets Co-opted
Politicians who become CHINOs often reshape Jesus in their own image:
– A nationalist
– A gun-rights defender
– An enemy-punisher
– A capitalism cheerleader
This reimagined Jesus exists to validate policy, not challenge it. He comforts the powerful and rarely disturbs the status quo. The cross becomes a symbol of supremacy, not sacrifice.
5. Silence on the Margins
One of the clearest signs: when those in power call themselves Christian but are silent in the face of injustice, cruelty, or corruption—especially toward the poor, the refugee, the incarcerated, the oppressed. Their silence speaks louder than their statements of faith.
Confession of a Recovering CHINO
“I used to think I was doing God's work. I said all the right words—quoted Scripture at rallies, ended speeches with 'God bless America,' attended prayer breakfasts with cameras rolling. I genuinely believed I was defending the faith. But over time, I started noticing something: I was talking about Jesus, but I wasn’t listening to him.
I supported policies that turned away the stranger, criminalized the poor, and excused cruelty in the name of security. I justified it by telling myself it was pragmatic, necessary, strong. But then I reread the Gospels—not for a sermon, not for spin, just to listen. And I saw a man who healed on the Sabbath, who forgave enemies, who welcomed the ones I had learned to ignore. I realized I was defending a version of Christianity that made me comfortable and electable—but not Christlike.
When I changed direction, I knew I’d lose something. And I did. My poll numbers dropped. Donors pulled away. People accused me of going soft, of betraying the cause. But I’ll tell you this: for the first time in years, I can look in the mirror without feeling like a fraud. I can pray without needing to convince God of anything. I don’t know what comes next for my career, but I do know who I want to be: not a Christian in name only, but someone who walks, however imperfectly, in the footsteps of Jesus. If that costs me power, so be it. I’d rather lose votes than lose my soul.”