How the Crusades show that there’s only one Kingdom of God.

Venice!

What’s more romantic? The idyllic waterways… delicious candle-lit dinners… paying Christian soldiers to protect your city's interests by attacking another Christian city…

Uh oh.

That Time Crusaders Conquered Other Christians

By the 13th century, Jerusalem was back in the hands of Muslim rulers so you know what that means.

Time for another Crusade!

The fourth one to be specific.

The turnout of crusaders was so high this time around that the Venetians had to be commissioned to make all these eager soldiers a new fleet.

But when the money for the boats didn’t materialize a deal was made.

The Venetians essentially contracted the Crusaders to serve as their private military; this got awkward fast as the Venetians enlisted these Christian soldiers to attack another Christian city.

(To the Pope’s credit, he did excommunicate them for that.)

Still low on funds, the Crusaders enlisted in the service of the Byzantine Emperor. But when he couldn't deliver, they responded by pillaging Constantinople. 

Which, at the time, was the largest Christian city in the world.

Uh ohhhhhhh.

Political Religions, Individual Interests, and More

What can we learn from the blunders of the Fourth Crusade? 

Well, for starters, we learn the futility of trying to create a “Christian government.”

Jesus famously said that His Kingdom is “not from this world” (John 18v36). His rule is fundamentally distinct from that of earthly governments.

Governments inherit the fallenness and brokenness of the world at large. That’s not to say government is bad by default, it simply will never be perfect.

Jesus Kingdom, on the other hand, is perfect.

His is a Kingdom of peace and prosperity. A Kingdom of life where sin, the greatest problem we face, will be completely eradicated (Revelation 21).

And why is Jesus’ Kingdom like this?

Because Jesus is the one on the throne.

Not an emperor, president, or pope.

Just Jesus.

Rome, Venice, and Constantinople might’ve called themselves “Christian” but, the truth is, no human can legislate the Way of Jesus.

Whenever a human ruler attempts to force Christianity on their nation, the temptations of pride and power have already won.

You might say you’re a Christian army but that Christianity only applies to the borders of your nation or the judgment of whoever’s funding your troops.

The Crusades are a cautionary tale of the futile and dangerous attempts to establish God’s Kingdom by force instead of by grace and love.

Tomorrow, we will see how that cautionary tale extends into today, over 900 years since its birth.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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