An extended reflection on Augustine’s City of God, a look at a little-known spinoff from Augustine’s work, and a consideration of how the church might function as an alternative politic
What are your thoughts about the other side of the CN argument: not that a nation needs to turn to God to gain blessings but a nation needs to turn away from evil (i.e. they would say abortion or LGBT+) to avoid the punishment like Sodom & Gomorrah?
While you mention we need to fight for God's principles, what is a good response to those that argue the US will face a similar fate soon if we do not go the CN direction?
This is one of the many places where Augustine’s City of God helps us. The faithfulness of a human nation does not garner blessings or sidestep destruction; Rome had turned from the gods to Jesus, leaving behind many of the evils of the cultus deorum, nonetheless Rome was sacked.
In our contexts today, our goal in fighting abortion and in resisting acceptance of transgender self-conceptions, to give two examples, is not to secure longevity for the United States. The goal is to seek the flourishing of our unborn neighbors, of the mothers of our unborn neighbors, and of our gender dysphoric neighbors who are being told lies about their identities.
This is accomplished best through faithful churches rich with integrity and kindness. What we seek should be the faithfulness of the church to live lives of quiet integrity (1 Timothy 2:2), which might at some point result in a largely Christian nation but that will happen (if it does) through faithful witness and a political ecclesiology, not through a push for Christian nationalism.
Very insightful, Professor.
What are your thoughts about the other side of the CN argument: not that a nation needs to turn to God to gain blessings but a nation needs to turn away from evil (i.e. they would say abortion or LGBT+) to avoid the punishment like Sodom & Gomorrah?
While you mention we need to fight for God's principles, what is a good response to those that argue the US will face a similar fate soon if we do not go the CN direction?
Thank you, sir,
Brad Prothero
This is one of the many places where Augustine’s City of God helps us. The faithfulness of a human nation does not garner blessings or sidestep destruction; Rome had turned from the gods to Jesus, leaving behind many of the evils of the cultus deorum, nonetheless Rome was sacked.
In our contexts today, our goal in fighting abortion and in resisting acceptance of transgender self-conceptions, to give two examples, is not to secure longevity for the United States. The goal is to seek the flourishing of our unborn neighbors, of the mothers of our unborn neighbors, and of our gender dysphoric neighbors who are being told lies about their identities.
This is accomplished best through faithful churches rich with integrity and kindness. What we seek should be the faithfulness of the church to live lives of quiet integrity (1 Timothy 2:2), which might at some point result in a largely Christian nation but that will happen (if it does) through faithful witness and a political ecclesiology, not through a push for Christian nationalism.