The Crusades: What Christian Men Today Must Learn
The very mention of the Crusades sends many modern Christians into a theological tailspin. Say the word and watch the pearl-clutching begin. “But what about the indulgences?” “Didn’t they sack Constantinople?” “Wasn’t it just Roman Catholic superstition?”
Yes, there were serious problems. We’ll get to those. But if all you see is the bad, you’ve missed the point—and maybe you’ve lost the fire that once made Christian men dangerous to the darkness.
Because here’s the truth: the Crusades weren’t just about land or gold. At their best, they were about eternity. And modern Christian men would do well to recover what was good—before it’s too late.
The Bad: Theology Twisted and Souls Lost
Let’s deal with the rotten meat first.
The Crusades were launched under the banner of the Pope, which promised spiritual rewards—indulgences, time off purgatory, even salvation—for those who took up the cross and marched east. That’s a theological trainwreck. A works-based gospel is no gospel at all. It damns souls. Scripture is clear: salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Anything else is a false gospel.
The Roman Church blurred the line between the visible and invisible church, between political conquest and spiritual warfare. Popes offered salvation like candy, and many men took up arms with the wrong motive—thinking their sins could be absolved by the sword, rather than by the blood of Christ.
And yes, some crusaders committed atrocities. The sack of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade is a stain that should not be whitewashed. Disobedience to God’s law—even in the name of Christ—is still disobedience.
But if you stop there, you’ve missed the heart of the matter.
Honoring Our Fathers Without Whitewashing Their Sins
Modernity hates history. It judges everyone who came before with the arrogance of the present. That’s foolish—and it’s unbiblical.
God tells us to honor our fathers. Not because they were sinless, but because they are our fathers. David honored Saul even after being hunted by him. He wept at his death, praised his courage, and remembered the good. He didn’t ignore Saul’s wickedness—but he didn’t define him by it either.
We ought to do the same with our spiritual and cultural forefathers.
The Crusaders were not perfect. But they were men of action in a time of war, and God—despite their flaws—used them. He used their swords to push back the Islamic tide that had swept across North Africa, the Middle East, and into Europe. If you think Islam is a threat today, imagine what the world would look like if they had taken all of Europe.
There would have been no Luther. No Calvin. No Geneva. No Protestant Reformation.
God, in His providence, used flawed men with swords to preserve Christian lands long enough for the gospel to be rediscovered by men with Bibles.
That alone should make us pause and give thanks.
We do not have to endorse indulgences to be grateful that brave men risked everything to defend Christendom from those who would have wiped it out.
We can condemn theological errors while still admiring courage. We can reject false gospels and still honor those who fought to protect the church.
And we should.
The Good: Eternal Thinking and Courage in the Face of Death
Not every crusader marched for indulgences. Many went because they believed Christian pilgrims should be able to visit the Holy Land without being raped or murdered. Many gave up wealth, titles, and even their lives—not to earn salvation, but to protect the weak, defend the faith, and stand against the spread of Islam.
They had a martial spirit. They were willing to bleed for what they believed.
Take Godfrey of Bouillon, the leader of the First Crusade. When Jerusalem was taken, the people wanted to crown him king. Godfrey refused. He said he would not wear a crown of gold in the city where his Savior wore a crown of thorns. That’s humility. And worthy of honor.
The Crusaders weren’t soft. They weren’t passive. They didn’t wait for permission from feminist theologians or a Twitter poll. They took action. They prayed, they fought, they died.
And while they were wrong to tie that to their justification, they were right to think in eternal terms. At least, they thought saving their souls was worth the sacrifice.
That’s more than we can say for most modern evangelicals, who can’t sit through a 40-minute sermon without checking their phone or complaining about the coffee.
The Church and State: Distinct but Not Divorced
One of the critiques is that the church overstepped its role in calling for the Crusades. And yes, we should be clear: the church does not bear the sword. That belongs to the civil magistrate (Romans 13). But the church does bear the Word of God. It proclaims righteousness. It calls civil leaders to obey Christ. And when the state fails to protect the innocent, the church must raise its voice like a trumpet.
In the best moments of the Crusades, the church acted like a prophet—calling kings to fulfill their God-given duty to defend the people of God.
In our day, we have the opposite problem. The church is silent while the state slaughters babies, promotes perversion, and opens the borders to chaos. We don't need popes commanding kings—but we do need pastors commanding the truth.
What Should Modern Men Do?
You are not called to pick up a sword and march to Jerusalem. You are called to take dominion where God has placed you. And if you fantasize about being a crusader but can’t show up to a church work day, you’re a joke.
If you post about saving Western civilization but won’t read the Bible to your kids, you’ve already lost.
Here’s what we can learn from the Crusaders—if we’re humble enough to listen:
Eternal Thinking Matters. Live like heaven and hell are real. Because they are.
Sacrifice is the Standard. Comfort is not your highest good. Get uncomfortable.
The Church Should Speak to the State. God’s law is not optional for kings or congressmen.
Unity Matters. Many Crusades failed not because of Muslim armies—but because of divided Christian forces. Sound familiar?
Courage is Contagious. Your boldness will stir others to act. Or your cowardice will tell them it’s okay to fold.
Final Charge: Start Where You Are
You want to change the world? Good. But start by loving your church. Serve the men and women next to you. Show up. Clean a bathroom. Pray for your elders. Bring meals. Show hospitality.
Then build from there. Run for school board. Preach at the abortion clinic. Raise sons who fear God and aren’t afraid to sweat.
You don't need a sword. You need a spine.
The Crusaders weren’t perfect. But they weren’t cowards either. And in a time like ours—when men are trained to be soft, compliant, and ashamed of their faith—we could use a little of their grit.
Not to earn our salvation.
But to honor the One who already bought it.