Asher Sisneros

Saint Augustine of Hippo lived during the Roman Empire’s collapse. It had already been a politically Christian nation, so its fall was alarming for the Church. To much of the world, it appeared that Christianity was toppling over, and without Rome, there was no hope for the Christians. However, Saint Augustine set out to disprove that theory. His book City of God and numerous of his sermons analyzed the conundrum facing society. In the end, he called on the godly to forsake the city of man and embrace the city of God; to be truthful and politically powerless; to be sheep among wolves. 

Augustine was politically pessimistic. He did not think Christianity would ever penetrate the various branches of government. Godly kings would come and go, but the kingdom itself would always be wicked, and government reform futile. The United States was founded on Christian principles—common law for all people, representation, the presumption of innocence, etc.—but even now, the Christian fire within Congress’ halls is dwindling. Some fault the PACs, some the lobbying, and others question the integrity of politicians. They are all fair critiques, but Augustine attempted to identify the root cause of the problem: the people. He lived during an age of dictatorship. How could his criticisms of an empire be true for a democratic republic? First, modern America is a quasi-oligarchy under the guise of a democracy. Calling the United States a true democratic republic is dubious at best. Augustine’s point was true when Alaric burned Rome and is true today: the godly cannot rule an ungodly people. 

The Christian must wage spiritual conquest on the city of man, making disciples of all nations. Righteous kings will come and go with zero progress if the people bask in lawlessness. Progress is only obtained through the people. The government structure is irrelevant. Monarchies, oligarchies, and democracies are all held up by the people. Despite common perception, politicians and kings will only do what they can get away with. The true power rests on the people. However, power was never Augustine’s objective. His message was the opposite. He wanted the Church to stop focusing on political power. Rome’s fall was within the bounds of natural law, and there was nothing abnormal about a nation crumbling. Rome was perceived as the Christian capital of the world, but Augustine told the Church to stop fretting about Rome’s collapse because the kingdom of God was not a wordly kingdom. As Jesus said in John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world.” Nations and governments would topple; empires and republics would burn; “but the Word of our God stands forever.”¹ 

Augustine illustrated in one sermon that because the soul dies without communion with God, and the body dies without a soul, death is more than a physical phenomenon that occurs when the body’s heart stops beating, and the lungs stop breathing.

“[Since] the feet walk, I understand that the body lives. But where do the feet walk? To adultery, it is said. Then the soul is dead…why is the body dead? Because the soul, its life, was gone. Why is the soul dead? Becuase God, its life, has forsaken it.”

Saint Augustine of Hippo

He illustrated that the body needs a soul to live, and the soul dies when God forsakes it. God promised that Adam would die on the day he ate the forbidden fruit. Satan deceived him into thinking it was a physical death. It was not. Adam suffered a physical death, but it was not immediate. His soul died because God forsook it. Adam was driven out of the Garden of Eden, without communion with God. All his descendants inherited dead and unredeemed souls but were healed at Jesus’ crucifixion. They received mercy, salvation, and the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus’ intercession and the Holy Spirit, all people were free to have communion with God, reviving their souls. Death is embraced by rejecting the freely offered life. Saint Augustine wanted Christians to disciple all nations with the Gospel of life, without fearing the ramifications associated with attacking the city of man. 

To conclude, Augustine did not believe political or government reforms would change anything. He acknowledged the fact that Christianity is fundamentally at odds with the rest of the world. The Christian message is one of grace and love, but the world will always refute their current sinfulness. Historically speaking, the Christian Church has no future in seizing control over the city of man. The Christian’s reward is in heaven. Augustine put his faith in heaven. He encouraged the whole Church to be bold and courageous in the face of persecution. There is no reason to fear people with the power to inflict bodily torture because God punishes the soul. Augustine cited Matthew 10:16, when Jesus said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.”The Christian must preach the Gospel’s truth courageously, without fear, among a dangerous and spiteful foe. Modern America is perceived as a Christian nation. The majority of the population subscribes to Christianity. With a terrorist invasion on their southern border, threats of nuclear war, and a tumultuous economy, many Christian Americans fear whether their nation will crumble. Augustine’s message to them would have been to forsake the city of man; to be truthful and politically powerless; to be sheep among wolves.

1. Isaiah 40:8 ↩︎