The Kingdom of Heaven

Last night Kenny and I went to see the recent movie about the 11th Century Crusades. It speaks powerfully to the motives behind this dark chapter in the history of Christendom. To be honest you have to realize the movie makers do implant post-modern ideas into a pre-modern era. I.e. The earth as belonging to all, regardless of ethnicity, religion, worldview. My reading of history finds no evidence of such perspective at that time. But, hey, the point is well taken anyway. The West in that era was characterizd by the fuedal social system of few nobles dominating many peasants. A person was destined to the lot in life they were born. The Europeans saw themselves clearly as "right" in taking the "Kingdom of Heaven" - Jesusalem. It's a powerful story that provokes much thought for our day. The Crusades represent religion at it's worst: insatiable hunger for power and wealth; corruption; duplicity of leveraging something pure to get what you want. I find myself asking questions in response. Why is religion such a divisive thing? Why do we think we have to be "right?" What activities are people doing today in the name of God, that will be shown as selfish in history, like the Crusades? The Crusaders wore the banner of the red cross on their swords, shields, and flags and they conquered just like the Roman Emperor Constantine - by the sign of the cross. I hardly have the words to comment on that. I'm embarrassed to even be associated with something like that. Consider this, it's a thousand years later and our Muslim brothers still hold hurt, anger, resentment toward Christianity for it. That religious legacy has been passed on to every generation since that time. God, may I be an instrument of goodness in your hands today. May I do no harm in doing good. May I open my heart to you only in all things. And, from my reading of the Bible's Ephesians chapter 6, may I be clear on who is my enemy. http://www.kingdomofheavenmovie.com/