Religious "DINOS"

Acronyms have long been popular, especially in government and politics. Two of these in current use relate to the major political parties. Members of the Republican Party who vote for liberal policies are called “RINOS”—Republicans in name only. Likewise, Democrats who vote for conservative policies are called “DINOS”—Democrats in name only. In religion, those who claim to be Jesus’ disciples, but who teach and act otherwise, may accurately be called religious “DINOS”—disciples in name only.

Perhaps the first religious DINO who comes to mind is Judas Iscariot. Although he was one of the original apostles, sat at the feet of the Master more than three years, and professed his loyalty to Him, he turned out to be perhaps the world’s most notorious DINO. The Bible identifies others who were religious DINOS:

(1) Jewish rulers who believed in Jesus as the Christ, but who would not confess Him lest they be barred from the synagogue (John 12:42.); (2) The Jews who believed and were baptized, but who sought to bind Moses’ Law upon Gentile saints (Acts 15:1); (3) Hymenaeus, Alexander, Philetus, Demas, Diotrephes, and others (1 Tim. 1:19–20; 2 Tim. 2:17–18; 4:10; 3 John 9:10).

Modern religious DINOS also abound: (1) Those who offer salvation apart from Christ or through other “saviors”; He is the way, the truth, and the life and the only way to the Father (John 14:6); (2) Those who promote the denominational industry as Jesus’ church; He built only one (Mat. 16:18), bought only one (Acts 20:28), and is the head and savior of only one (Eph. 1:22–23). All other religious “plants” will be uprooted (Mat. 15:13); (3) Those who offer salvation by faith alone in Jesus; He also requires confession of one’s faith, repentance, and baptism to be saved from the guilt of one’s past sins (Mark 16:16; cf. Acts 2:37–38; Rom. 10:9–10); (4) Those who aver that sincerity is more important than one’s doctrine or practice; Saul of Tarsus was sincere in persecuting Christians, but he was lost until he obeyed Jesus (Acts 26:9–11). Cornelius was sincere, but lost (10:1–2; 11:14); (5) Those who think God will accept any form of “worship” they choose to offer; Jesus said we must worship “in truth”—as the New Testament Truth dictates (John 4:23–24).

Jesus described religious DINOS precisely: “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?” (Luke 6:46). All such belie the name, disciple; they are religious DINOS. ---Dub McClish, The Scripturecache.com

---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets