Stop Hitting Yourself--The Crusades (Guilty Christians Part I)

I want to address this entry to the guilty Christian. Have you ever heard any of the following arguments?

1. Anyone can take parts of the Bible out of context, just look at the Crusades. 2. We shouldn’t force our religion down people’s throats like the Crusaders did. 3. I know the terrorists were Muslims, but…Crusades!!!

This guilty Christian is closely related to the guilty American, guilty white guy and guilty liberal with whom you may be familiar. The guilty Christian is easily sidetracked when discussing issues. For example, in a discussion about Islamic terror, the guilty Christian is forced to surrender by the single word “Crusades”. Surprisingly, the guilty Christian is often the first to speak the word. Other words may trigger surrender, such as “Inquisition” or “Salem Witch Trials”. Depending on how fed up I get, this blog entry may be the first of a series defending those things guilty Christians apologize for.

Beginning with Muhammad, armies of Muslim jihadists were marching across the Middle East, Northern Africa and Asia. In 638, they conquered Jerusalem. For the next 450 years, inspired by clear Koranic teachings, Muslims continued attacking and persecuting all non-Muslims, especially Christians. It is important to note that Muslims spread Islam by the sword through Christian lands. In other words, they started it. Islamic hordes conquered city after city. In the late 11th century, Alexius I Comnenus, the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople, asked Pope Urban II for help. Seljuk Turks were coming for another great Christian city.

1095—Pope Urban II, at the Council of Clermont, called for a defensive action, the First Crusade. He gave an inspiring speech. Many other crusades followed.

Crusaders paid plenty of money to go on what they considered a pilgrimage. They considered it their duty to God to defend Christian brothers and sisters with their lives. A small minority traveled for personal gain. Some Crusaders got sidetracked and began killing Jews in Europe and in the Holy Land. Some attacked Antioch after a broken promise. Those Crusaders were not acting in accordance with Christian principles. Should we impugn all Crusaders due to the actions of a few? Would you condemn all Muslims due to the actions of a few terrorists?

In accordance with Biblical teaching, Crusaders did not attempt to spread Christianity by the sword, as Muslims did and still do with Islam. On the contrary, Crusaders allowed the Muslims to keep their religion, and did not subject them to the same humiliating dhimmitude characteristic of Islam then and now.

How about Jerusalem in 1099? Didn’t the Crusaders kill innocent people mercilessly when they took it back from the Muslims? Yes they did, despite what the Bible teaches. However, this action was consistent with standards of warfare at the time. If a city resisted, those inside were considered combatants. Innocent people die in wars. That fact is terrible, but it has not changed even today. The Crusaders killed in response to 450 years of Islamic conquest, supported by the Koran and the life of Muhammad.

My purpose is not to give a complete history of the Crusades, but to inspire the guilty Christian to think critically. What if we hadn’t had courageous Crusaders in 1095? Would you be vacuuming your prayer rug right now? Never mind, we probably wouldn’t have harnessed the power of electricity living under sharia. Just because some Christians throughout history have committed sins (who hasn’t?) doesn’t mean that you lose the argument when an ill-informed person mentions “Crusades”. Of course some Crusaders acted in opposition to the Bible. So what? You don’t have to hang your head in shame by acknowledging the bad stuff.

I like the Crusades. Countless pilgrims took up their crosses and gave their lives for their fellow men. Most of the Crusaders did us a great service by slowing the spread of false religion and virtual slavery for non-Muslims that came with it. I’m proud of the Crusades for the good they did, and you should be too. Stop hitting yourself!

Suggestions for further reading:

The Real History of the Crusades

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)

The New Concise History of the Crusades