Nat Crawford - Executive Coach, Speaker, Leader

In light of some recent tragedies, I have heard this discussion come up again. This is a sad debate, but one that rages on.  So, can a Christian lose their salvation? Some Christians argue that believers can lose their salvation and they must be born again and again and again. . Remember the words Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3:7 “…you must be born again.” It was not that you must be born again…and again…and again. Some use Matthew 10:22 “ You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.” Others quote John 15:6 , “ If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. ” There are other verses as well.  Let’s look at the Luke 13:27 “ and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers .’ ” What these verses are referring to are the false convert and not at true Chr...

A friend shared this article with me and I could relate. I think at times, Christians, as well as other faiths, have felt the need to silence questions and doubts.  This cannot go on. We have minds designed by God to think, question, and answer. Take the time and read Douglas Groothuis ' article below: Countering a Distortion: Christianity as Intellectual Suicide The following is an excerpt from   Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (InterVarsity Press, 2011). Some refuse to give Christianity the time of day because they deem it anti-intellectual---a religion that values ignorance and credulity far above critical intelligence. In a book on how to leave one's religion behind, Lauren Winnell writes of a young man named Sandy who was in her "religious recovery support group," who lost his faith in college through an encounter with an anti-intellectual pastor. The young man was experiencing doubts as a result of what he was expose...

We have examined the Bible and found it to be the most reliable ancient document without a near contender, so how does the Mormon’s “the most correct book on earth"stack up? The Book of Mormon was the result of an encounter between the religions founder, Joseph Smith, and the angel Moroni in 1823. The angel provided the location of ancient golden plates comprising the “fullness of everlasting gospel.” The plates were abridged by Moroni and his father, Mormon, over a millennium before. Smith claims they were written in “reformed Egyptian hieroglyphics.” Smith was quite lucky to find a pair of magical spectacles to interpret the writing. That is how the Mormon’s got their book. To finish Smith’s quote on The Book of Mormon , it is “the most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion.” Does evidence back this claim up? Unfortunately for those of the Mormon faith, it falls flat because of a slew of errors. For example, in Ether 3:14, Smith denies the ...

Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1820. It came about when two celestial individuals came to Smith. They told him all the churches were not the true church. Their creeds were nothing shy of abomination. All their ministers were, yep, false teachers. Joseph had been chosen to restore the true and original church, a church that had disappeared. The doctrine that Smith conjured up is in direct contradiction to the Bible and twist the nature of Scripture and salvation. First, Mormons believe that “God Himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens!”(History of the Church). Mormons also believe “as man is, God one was; as God is, man may become”, as stated by former LDS President Lorenzo Snow. As we know from Scripture these claims are false. God is the “I Am” (Exodus 3:14). According to 1 Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God…” And let us not forget that God is spirit (John...

I now laugh when I get on Facebook, Twitter, read the paper, or watch the news, and I see comments land blasting Christians for being intolerant and narrow-minded. Do people not realize their attacks and demands of silence of Christianity as narrow-minded and intolerant? I am aware the topic of universalism and all roads lead to God brings up these responses, and truth must not be ignored.   When challenged with the statement “God is love and therefore God is the god of all religions” the simple answer is “No. That is wrong.” Why do I make such an “intolerant and narrow-minded” statement? First, if you actually examine religions of the world, they are contradictory. Moses and Abraham taught and acknowledged only one God. Krishna believed there are many gods. Buddha was an agnostic. So you are going to argue that they are all right? The belief that all is right and none are wrong is illogical and ridiculous. Next look at the fundamental difference of Christianity and...

The topic of Christ's bachelorhood has been discussed both in non-fiction and fiction for years, but does it hold any validity? In recent years the book, turned movie, The Davinci Code by Dan Brown has delivered this myth to the masses. A close review of evidence supporting Jesus being married is a fairytale by historical revisionists. There is zero proof in Scripture, in early church tradition and historical records, nor in secular accounts of Jesus' life that He was ever married or even romantic with any woman.  There are two main documents the accusers use to propose the myth of Jesus' marriage. First is the Gospel of Philip, a gnostic gospel. The other is the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, another gnostic gospel. These documents were written many years after the authentic New Testament books. Also gnostic writing specifically or implicitly states Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married. And above all there is zero mention in Scripture of Jesus being married or in a romant...

A common objection from skeptics and atheists is the denial to believe in a God in which you can't see. At face value, it is a fair question, but does it hold up to other beliefs in things unseen? I think it's first important to establish that just because something cannot be seen, does not mean it does not exist. We believe in electrons, wind, black holes, and gravity yet we cannot see them. If tomorrow I decided that gravity didn't exist and therefore I walked off the top of a building, my disbelief in gravity would prove me wrong. Remember the words of the apostle Paul in Romans 1:20, "God's invisible qualities-His eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly understood fro what has ben made, so that men are without excuse." I just last night watched the birth of my son, Gracen Zacharias. One minute he was in my wife's womb, swimming in liquid and being fed from a chord from within her. The next minute he breathes his first breath of air. He then...

Matthew 7:1, " Do not judge so that you will not be judged" is one of the most misunderstood and quoted used passages of Scripture by Christians and non-Christians alike. How many of us have either been told or have even said "Don't judge!" But what does that mean? For total perspective I encourage you to read the verses surrounding Matthew 7:1 to gain proper context. And for the sake of this conciseness of this blog, let me offer this insight. The term "judge" can mean " to separate, put asunder, to pick out, select, choose." It can also be to the extreme as to condemn to hell. When Jesus said " Do not judge so that you will not be judged ", He was not saying to turn aside healthy discernment.  As John MacArthur states, "As the context reveals, this doe snot prohibit all types of judging (v. 16). There is a righteous kind of judgment we are supposed to exercise with careful discernment (John 7:24). Censorious, hypocrit...

Did you know that the area between Judea and Galilee was named after its prominent city: Samaria? It was a culturally diverse city; comprised of Gentiles and Jews. Many Jews avoided traveling through the area because they hated the people.  Jesus made a point of traveling there to meet the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well.  Also remember the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. Jesus told a parable of the a man Jew who was beaten and robbed. Two Jews passed him by ignoring him and his distress. Then passes a Samaritan, an "enemy." The Samaritan not only cared for his wounds, but paid for his stay at an Inn to recover and promised to pay any and all expenses incurred during his recovery.  We ought to remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:46-47 " If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?...

Who made God? This is very common and good question. I think we all have asked it one form or another. I think it is important to look at the words of God, "' You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord , “And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me " (Isaiah 43:10 NASB). Unlike the universe, which most in modern science agrees had a beginning, God is infinite and therefore eternal.  God is therefore the logical and only uncaused first cause. To assume that because the universe had a first cause, the cause of the universe must have had a first cause is illogical. It will always go to the question "and what caused that cause?" A submission to honest logic will show that the universe is real and not an illusion like an illusionist's trick. The universe did not appear out of nowhere and from nothing. It did not happen by bact...

Did you know that Capernaum was a major fishing village on the shores of the Sea of Galilee? It was a major player along the international highway from Syria to Egypt. It was in Capernaum Jesus had his ministry camp. This was no doubt strategic as Capernaum would be ideal to spread the Gospel rapidly.  Even so, Jesus would eventually condemn Capernaum because of its disbelief in Him (Matthew 11:20-24). Since 1968 Capernaum has been heavily excavated. One of the major finds was the apostle Peter's house! Well, how about that?

Well, How About That – The Sea of Galilee Did you know that the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee contained more miracles of Jesus’ ministry than any other place?  The Sea of Galilee is 7 miles wide by 13 miles long. It was here that Jesus called the first disciples in Matthew 4:18-22 “ Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.   And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.   Going on from there He saw two other brothers,   James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.   Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. ” Here Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount. At the Sea of Galilee, Jesus fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread....

The Jordan River Did you know the distance between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea measures only 65 miles?  However the winding Jordan River encompasses over 125 miles from the Sea of Galilee south to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below sea level. It was in the Jordan River that Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3:13-17 " Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan coming to John, to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, 'I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?' But Jesus answering said to him, 'Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.' Then he permitted Him. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.'” The name ...

Nazareth Nazareth is an obscure village tucked behind a ridge overlooking the Jezreel Valley. It was in Nazareth, the angel Gabriel told the virgin Mary she would give birth to Jesus, the Messiah. Even though Christ was born in Bethlehem, he spent much of his childhood in Nazareth, "increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men " (Luke 2:52).

In an attempt to keep content fresh between my apologetic topics, which tend to be longer and more complicated in nature, I will attempt to post a daily "Well, how about that?". Bethlehem  Did you know that seven hundred years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Micah prophesied that Christ would be born in Bethlehem? Bethlehem means "House of Bread." From the tiny, ordinary town of King David and Ruth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah would be born! Well, how about that?