What is a CINO?

 

A “Christian in name only” (CINO) refers to someone who identifies as a Christian but does not adhere to core Christian beliefs or live according to biblical teachings.  This term is often used to describe individuals whose actions, values, or beliefs contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ, despite claiming the Christian label. 

Characteristics of a CINO include a lack of genuine commitment to Christ, superficial religious practices, and alignment with worldly values over scriptural principles.  They may attend church occasionally or identify culturally as Christian but do not exhibit a transformed life or spiritual fruit. As one source notes, they may claim the name of Christ but are "spiritually dead" ^{(Revelation 3:1)}. 

Biblical basis for the concept comes from Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21–23, where He says, “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.” This emphasizes that true discipleship requires more than profession—it demands obedience and a life reflecting Christ-like character. 

Cultural Christianity is a common form of being a CINO, where identity is based on heritage, tradition, or social norms rather than personal faith.  Examples include those who only attend church on Christmas and Easter, or who support political or social positions contrary to biblical teachings while claiming Christian affiliation. 

Various sources also link the term to hypocrisy, noting that such individuals can damage the witness of the Church by claiming Christ while living in contradiction to His teachings. The call across many religious perspectives is for self-examination: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith” ^{(2 Corinthians 13:5).}

Until next time, walk with the King & treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Thoughts from a Random Mind 

 

“Some people are impossible to please. As soon as they get what they thought they wanted they always want more.”

            THAT came off the side of a Monster Zero Ultra Energy Drink can. Interesting. It looks like they know people pretty well or at least their clientele. They are describing a large grouping of society. So many people seem to know exactly what they want only to be disappointed or quickly bored with it after they get it. Is it truly much different than a child who bores easily with a new toy they just HAD to have? Even a dog will walk away from a new toy after a few days or weeks, either because they got a new toy or that first toy doesn’t “do it” for them anymore. Have you ever thought of it that way? I have. Many people tend to be like spoiled brats. They accumulate “stuff” only to eventually have it collect dust in a back room out of the way in their home. Now don’t misunderstand me. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with “stuff” unless getting and having it is more important than anything else in your life. You will NEVER find lasting contentment or satisfaction in the accumulation of “stuff”. It’s simply NOT going to happen. 

            Some folks like to collect things. My thing was collecting comix & ball cards. I had a little over 1400 comix. They were in plastic with cardboard backing. They were stored in eight long boxes designed to hold comic books. I had plastic separators in between titles. And yes, it was all alphabetized. My ball card collection was quite expansive. Baseball, football, basketball, hockey. Special sets. Factory sets. Rookie cards in special Lucite holders. I went all out. There was nothing I enjoyed better than to buy a box of cards, open each pack and collate the cards. I suppose it was kind of a racket in that you had to buy scads of boxes and maybe NEVER get a truly special card that was worth something. But I just liked collecting for the fun of it. When I was asked to leave my Texas home by my then wife, I didn’t have time or the room to take my collections. So they were left behind. Now I look back and while I don’t regret the money or time spent on collecting those things, I also don’t miss any of it at all. I happen to have the following philosophy regarding my life: it’s full of chapters. One chapter ends and another begins. That chapter in Texas closed rather abruptly, but a new chapter was just beginning. That which was left behind becomes part of my history, nothing more. Perhaps a clinical way to look at life, but it seems to work for me.

            So why did I tell you all that. For one simple reason. God supersedes everything else in your life or at least He should. Collecting is fun, but it could fall into the category of “here today, gone tomorrow” and that’s okay. Try not to mourn over your losses. Reflect on what you’ve experienced in your life perhaps, but never mourn the loss of it. It’s stuff and stuff can’t be taken with you when you go. Do something that is much more rewarding. Reflect on the goodness of God. If you want to start a collection, have at it, but try not to let it consume you. Make God your main reason for living. Only GOD can save a man’s soul. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries 

Taking a Different Look at Love

 

Scripture tells us more than once that God is LOVE.  His character is reflected in the below words from Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth. So that means that His name could be plugged in where the word “Love” is in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

With this in mind a way you could look at that portion of scripture could be:

 

“God is patient. God is kind. He does not envy or boast. He is not at all proud. God doesn’t dishonor others. He is not self-seeking or easily angered. The Lord doesn’t keep any record of wrongs. God doesn’t delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. He always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Almighty God NEVER FAILS.”

 

If this is who God is and I am supposed to imitate the Lord then wouldn’t it seem logical to assimilate these characteristics into our lives so that we can become closer to Christ. We are to BE Christ to those we interact with on a daily basis. They should see something different in us that creates the potential for a spiritual encounter. Make those type of encounters a part of your daily prayer life. Ask for opportunities to share your faith. It doesn’t come naturally for some folks, but with prayer and God’s subsequent help there is no telling what influence you can have on peoples lives. 

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

God is in Total Control

 

            Have you ever considered whether or not Almighty God is in control of all things within His creation? Events that happen, while appearing random, are not surprising to God.  He is sovereign, as in “One that exercises supreme, permanent authority”. Therefore, God holds divine authority over mankind’s destiny. 

Whether we realize it or not, the events that have taken place, are currently taking place, and will take place in the future did not and will not take place by mere chance. There is a divine orchestration to everything that takes place. Everything is part of a flawless grand design. We don’t have to understand or believe everything that takes place, because frankly some things are just not all that easy to accept or understand. Our acceptance comes in the belief that God IS in control and knows exactly what He is doing, why it needs to be done, and knows the exact perfect time for Him to do it. He doesn’t need to seek anyone’s permission or understanding for His plan is perfect, established from the foundations of the world. Knowing all that can be known, God knows exactly how all this ends.

Those who do not accept God in any form are missing the point or are afraid of the truthfulness of the Gospel message, thinking if they avoid dealing with it it will just fade away. If it’s true then they will need to make a decision which they don’t wish to make. However, not making a decision is in and of itself making a decision. You are deciding to abstain from making a choice and that is a decision. The fact that the decision is ours alone to make negates the statement that God sends people to hell. He does not send anyone anywhere. It is a personal choice to either accept and serve God or reject Him. Autonomy shall be the ultimate downfall of the unrighteous. They cannot be good enough to erase all their sins and they cannot save themselves. That’s because it has nothing to do with anything WE do with the exception of our decision to follow and surrender to the Lord who can revolutionize our life. Give control of your life fully over to Christ. You’ll never regret that decision.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries        

 

 

What does the six-hour timeline reveal about Jewish timekeeping?

The six-hour timeline of Jesus' crucifixion reveals that the Gospels used Jewish timekeeping, which began counting hours at sunrise (approximately 6:00 A.M.). This system is key to understanding the biblical accounts:

 

The "third hour" (Mark 15:25) corresponds to 9:00 A.M., the time Jesus was crucified. 

The "sixth hour" (Matthew 27:45) marks noon, when darkness fell over the land. 

The "ninth hour" (Matthew 27:46) is 3:00 P.M., the moment of his death. 

 

This timeline, detailed in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), contrasts with the Gospel of John, which uses Roman time (counting from midnight).  John's mention of the "sixth hour" during Jesus' trial (John 19:14) refers to 6:00 A.M., resolving the apparent discrepancy and confirming the crucifixion began around 9:00 A.M. Jewish time.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

 

 

What caused the darkness during Jesus' crucifixion?

The cause of the darkness during Jesus' crucifixion, which lasted from noon to 3 P.M., is not definitively explained in the Bible, but it is widely interpreted as a supernatural event signifying divine judgment and mourning. 

The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) record that darkness covered the land for three hours. While Luke 23:45 mentions the sun being "darkened" (with some early manuscripts using a term that could imply an eclipse), a natural solar eclipse is impossible at Passover, which occurs during a full moon. 

Early Christian scholars like Julius Africanus and Origen rejected a natural eclipse, noting the Passover timing and the duration (three hours, far longer than any eclipse). The darkness is instead seen as a miraculous sign, symbolizing 3 things: 1) God's judgment on sin, as darkness often represents divine wrath in Scripture (e.g., Amos 8:9); 2) Cosmic mourning, as the "Light of the World" (John 8:12) was being extinguished; and 3) The spiritual weight of Jesus bearing humanity's sins, resulting in his cry of abandonment (Matthew 27:46). Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.rootedinchristjournal.com

Why did Jesus die at 3:00 pm?

Jesus died at 3 P.M. (the "ninth hour") because it was the exact time of the daily evening sacrifice in the Jewish Temple.  This timing is deeply symbolic, as Jesus is understood to be the ultimate fulfillment of that sacrifice. 

The ninth hour was when the second lamb of the Tamid offering was sacrificed each day. By dying at this precise moment, Jesus is presented in the Gospels as the true "Lamb of God" (John 1:29), whose death serves as the perfect, final sacrifice for the sins of humanity, replacing the need for all future temple sacrifices. 

This moment was also a traditional hour of prayer and confession for the Jewish people, underscoring the themes of atonement and reconciliation with God. The darkness that covered the land from noon until 3 P.M. further signifies the profound spiritual weight and divine judgment being borne by Christ in those final hours.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org