Our pastor would always harangue these so-called nominal Christians by saying, “If you don’t really believe in your heart, mind, and soul, then what are you doing here, you’re wasting your time.” I haven’t been back.
What a shame— as though you can get faith by trying hard. It’s a GIFT.
One of my favorite passages from Scripture:
“I do believe, Lord. Help my unbelief!”
My daughter goes to a politically liberal church. I can tolerate it because the teaching is Bible-centered. They just like being on that side of the political world.
But an unredeemed person cannot tolerate true Biblical teaching. They will recoil from it. It will drive them away. In short, a CINO can be identified by watching how they respond to Biblical teaching.
My own pastor cannot tolerate parts of the Bible.