Expert: Dean Gade - 1/5/2007

Question
Was there a Biblical/other Church-traditional justification for the Crusades?

Answer
There wasn't any biblical justification for the way the Crusades were employed.

In the letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul states that the "sword" has been given to the "state"(civil authority).  The New Testament is in contrast to the Old in that it separates the two kingdoms (church and state) though both are established and subject to God.

There has always been confusion over this.  The covenant through Moses included a Theocratic form of government and as the NT church consolidated as an organization, it often tried to follow the OT instead of the NT;  such as "The Holy Roman Empire".    Whereas the NT teaches that the Kingdom of God is within us.

However, those who led the Crusades were the civil governments trying to free formerly Christian nations which had been conquered by the Muslim governments all around the Mediterranean Sea.  The organized church supported this movement and so it has been thought of as a war by the church instead of a war by the governments which were allied.

The separation of church and state is usually misunderstood by those who live in both kingdoms as well as those who are not subject to God.  
God is Lord of both.  But His kingdom is not sustained by the sword.

Rom 13:1-5
13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
(from New International Version)