For here we do not have an enduring city, but we look forward to the city that is to come. – Hebrews 13:14
In A.D. 410, the Vandals, under the leadership of King Alaric, laid siege to the Eternal City – the city of Rome. Rome acquired that title because it had existed as a republic for nearly 500 years, and most people felt that it was so powerful, so established, so dominant, so protected, that it could never be defeated. The empire might be shaken and its frontiers might be breached, but no army would ever march through the city gates of Rome itself. The year 410 shook this belief to its foundations and ultimately led to the collapse of the empire itself. To many Romans, the world itself seemed to be coming unhinged. Even Christians wondered what might become of the faith without the establishment of the empire to undergird it. Many in Rome were seeking answers concerning what to do and what to believe in. The few pagans who remained loyal to the pantheon of Roman gods were quick to blame the Christians, claiming that the gods had abandoned Rome because so many had forsaken them and placed their hope and aspirations in the new religion.
Christianity had become a byword, since either the gods had allowed for the defeat of Rome as punishment for their abandonment, or the Christian god had proven to be a very weak god indeed. After all, Emperor Constantine had declared the God of Christianity to be the only true God a century earlier. If this were true, why had God not protected Rome as the Roman gods had done so diligently for so long? Was it not true that Christ-followers advocated peace over war? Love over hate? Did they not teach that it was more important to serve God than to serve the Republic? Were they not quick to forgive enemies rather than smite them? The angry accusations prompted St. Augustine, the Bishop of the great African city of Hippo, to begin writing his classic work, The City of God, in 413.
It is not within the scope of my Jym Shorts articles to evaluate Augustine’s entire work, but as an overview, we can say that Augustine broke down his argument into twenty-two “books” (we might call them “chapters” today). Methodically, yet precisely, Augustine presented his argument that Rome had not been successful because of its pagan past but because it was God’s will to prosper the empire for the sake of his future plans and for his glory. In so doing, he attacked the practice of worshipping false gods and demonstrated the futility in doing so.
By the time Augustine reached book ten, he was ready to begin his discussion of the difference between his “two cities,” the city of God and the city of man (or the earthly city and the heavenly city). For the rest of his work, Augustine demonstrated God’s activity in creation along with his work in the history of Israel and the nations, right up to what he viewed as the end times. His final assessment was that the church is a divinely established institution that leads humankind to eternal goodness, which is found only in God. The state (in this case, the Roman Republic) adheres to the virtues of politics and of the mind, formulating a political community. Although Augustine felt that both of these institutions seek to do good and are part of God’s plan, behind the scenes are two invisible institutions: the “city of heaven” reserved for those who are saved (and who will be saved), and the city of man for those who are not (and will not) be saved. Through it all, Augustine attempted to demonstrate God’s justice and called on all people to pursue him and the heavenly city for the betterment of all human society, and for lasting peace.
So why write about such an old book in my article? Because it mirrors so closely what is occurring in our own nation today. Tensions are clearly rising between those within the church and those without, leading to many accusations and even, in some cases, to violence. What is needed is not more anger and angst, but a realization that God is still in control. We may feel that the very fiber of our nation is stretching to the breaking point, but nothing is taking place that God has not ordained, and everything is working toward the conclusion he has firmly established. There is nothing that humankind can do to change that reality. Yet our call has not changed—to seek peace whenever it is possible, to love others, and to remain loyal to the city of God. We are to do so even to the exclusion, if necessary, of the city of man.
Brothers and sisters, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who are within the family of God (Gal. 6:10). This is our clear biblical mandate. We will not advance the city of God unless we live like people who belong to that heavenly city.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym