Nat Crawford - Executive Coach, Speaker, Leader

*Updated 12/19* Good news: this blog series is coming to an end. We are trying to look broadly at Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle as it relates to socialism. It is not uncommon to hear both secularists and Christians ponder if Jesus promoted socialism. The past three weeks we've looked at Jesus' teaching about how we are to care for the poor. In case you haven't read these yet, you can go read Part 1 , Part 2 , or Part 3 at your convenience. This week we’ll address how Jesus handled the sick and next week we’ll look how Jesus dealt with taxes. The Sick “Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon h...

*Updated 12/2019* Welcome to this week's continued discussion of "Did Jesus Promote Socialism?" The past two weeks we've looked at Jesus' teaching about how we are to care for the poor. In case you haven't read these yet, you can go read Part 1 or Part 2 at your convenience. This week we'll look at two more passages the poor. Let's see what Jesus had to say. “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (NASB, Luke 6:34-36). “And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors,...

*Updated 12/2019* What comes to mind when you read the word "socialism?" Some people think of Karl Marx. Some thing of communist China. Some thing of Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Some people think freedom or fair. A few days ago, I saw on Facebook a discussion about socialism being Christian. This made me think, “Is socialism and the redistribution of wealth a ‘Christian’ ideal? Is this what Jesus taught?” Over the next several blogs, I will look over the teachings of Jesus Christ to examine this question. I will look at passages regarding the poor, the sick, taxation, and the sharing of resources. There is no doubt, Jesus was engaged in helping the down and out. Yet the question remains, “Did Jesus Promote Socialism?” Let’s begin by looking at passages regarding the poor. The Poor “If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies,...

How did we get here? I have pondered this question more and more since I wrote my last blog. I believe the pathway to secular Christianity by most is unintentional. It creeps in undetected. That's why being aware of these flagstones is so important.  This summer I spoke at a family camp. It was a tremendous time for myself and my family. One of the talks I gave was on one such flagstone:idolatry. If I asked the average Christian, “Do you worship any idols?” I assume most would say “No.” This is because they automatically think of the golden calf in the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Or perhaps they are thinking of Exodus 20: 3-4 “You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” They would be right in identifying this kind of idol. But this type of idol is not what I mean. Instead, I mean what d...

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...

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?...

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....

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).

           Jesus Christ taught and did many things during His life. But did He teach social justice?  What do we mean by social justice?  Social justice is giving each person what is rightfully theirs.  Most people would put say “It is helping those in need get the things they need.” Social justice is a hot topic both in the political and Christian realms.  Depending on who is talking, you may hear the terms redistribution of wealth, socialism, entitlement and communism.  I will not attempt to deal with whether food, clothing, shelter and healthcare are entitlements or whether or not it is the government’s role to fulfill these shortfalls. I will focus on the teachings of Christ in regards to the poor, the sick and taxes. In the synoptic gospels, there are over ten recurring records of teaching on the poor and over twenty on healing. The book of John contains similar passages. Clearly, Jesus had an opinion on ...