Business Post Contributor
By Nneka Okumazie
There are possible theories – in trying – to understand why the crusades happened in Christianity.
One possibility is that not many people could read the Scriptures at those times – so lots of acts depended on oral knowledge.
It was at a time of conflicts or wars, especially to protect the home or owned places from getting conquered.
It was also a phase in the faith that beliefs restructuring didn’t – exactly – happen to replace confusion that came around.
The Epistles can also be described as restructuring for the churches as some of what they thought was right weren’t. The letter from the Island of Patmos was also restructuring to the churches named also.
At those times of the crusades and inquisition, it can be said that Christianity became an ideology, which many ran on, not love, which the faith is based on.
It was costly and also contributed to divisions after the reformation, to horrors like imperious labour conditions, Jim Crow, and other things defended in the name of the Christianity, that didn’t conform to love.
Love your neighbour as yourself wasn’t remembered, or that love is greater than faith and hope.
For those who didn’t want the Christian faith, other options would have been sought for them, rather than violence.
Christianity also, may not have meant that they won’t go to war, but it wouldn’t be in the name.
Yes, there were wars in the Old Testament – sanctioned by the Lord, because He created all, chose His people and has the authority, as the Landlord of the earth to do whatever He pleases.
However, after Christ, the examples of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, should not be amiss for His followers.
Though most Christianity already moved away from that dark past, some people continue to use it as an ideology, for other purposes, outside love and heaven.
It is not impossible to think one knows but be making mistakes in the name of Christ – so it is vital to adhere to the example of Jesus.
[Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.]
