Why Augustine?
I see it in their eyes. They ask me “what are you going to do with your study leave?” My answer has been “Mainly I want to study Augustine on how we change.” The look I get back often reveals a mixture of confusion – “Who?” – or bewilderment – “Why?”- or consternation – “Is it worth it?” So let me explain why I believe that a fifth century African theologian has important things to say to the twenty-first century church.
Who?
Augustine was born on 13th November 354 in Thagaste and died on 28th August 430 as bishop of Hippo Regius. Both of them are in modern Algeria, which was at that time the bread basket of the Roman Empire. Augustine was a berber, though he did not speak the local language, and was raised as a provincial Roman. In his youth has was a very able, but wild and debauched young man. He was enthralled by sex, and fame, and devoted himself to both. But slowly, through the influence of his Christian mother, Monica, and his increasing dissatisfaction with his life and other philosophies, he came to embrace Christianity. His final conversion is famously described in his Confessions as a moment of deep struggle, but finally of overwhelming joy.
With deep reluctance Augustine was ordained as a priest (391AD) finally made Bishop of Hippo (395AD). He wept at his ordination because he sensed “a lost future” of quiet meditation, but from that moment he embarked on a life dedicated to serving as a preacher and teacher in the real messy world of church life. During his life Augustine became one of the leading figures of the church, but since that time he has been widely recognised as “probably the greatest and most influential mind of the Christian church throughout its long history” Alister McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, p11.
Why?
Let me just highlight a few reasons why I think Augustine has important things to say to us.
1. On being human
Augustine’s world was dominated by Greek philosophy and the idea of a pure soul detached from the needs and drives of the body. Augustine became increasingly dissatisfied with this. Instead he came to see us as an integrated whole – body and soul – animated by a glorious and confusing mixture of emotions, memories, habits, beliefs and appetites. To express this Augustine invented a whole new genre of literature; the autobiography. His Confessions is truly an epoch-making book, and thoroughly readable today. Indeed sometimes it is difficult to imagine that it was written 1600 years ago, so contemporary is its tone. Augustine substantially established from Scripture an understanding of what it means to be human which is with us today. Perhaps, though, in our post-Christian world we have lost some of the depths that he saw.
2. On grace
In Augustine’s world the moral hero ruled. A particular hero who entered the stage in Augustine’s day was an Englishman named Pelagius. Pelagius taught that Christians had it in their power to be sinless, and should expect to become so. Augustine was horrified. (Yes, the English are sometimes the villains in the story of the church!) To Augustine Pelagius’ views smacked of horrible pride. They robbed Christ of his glory in forgiving us, they robbed the Spirit of his role in transforming us, and they robbed God of his majesty in saving us by faith from beginning to end. They also robbed ordinary struggling, sinning believers of assurance. Rather Augustine believed that every victory over sin is simply the gift of God, but also that every day we will find ourselves sinning. Therefore every day we will find ourselves seeking God’s grace to overcome sin, and seeking his grace in forgiving sin. This side of eternity a happy life will never be a sinless one, but simply a life spent delighting in this twofold grace of God.
3. On how we change
Although Augustine was convinced that we will sin every day until we die, he nevertheless believed that real change was possible. However, for him, change did not come simply through knowledge and discipline. This is the powerless way of the law; “the letter that kills” (2 Corinthians 3:6, See A Treatise on the Spirit and the Letter). Human beings are far too complex and mysterious to master themselves in that way. Rather, Augustine taught that we need the help of the Spirit who “gives life”. The Spirit helps not only in deepening our understanding but reordering our affections, and so strengthening our will.
Is it worth it?
Sometimes we just don’t know whether something is worth it until we get to the other side of the adventure. I feel that about this particular voyage of discovery. However I feel that I have already seen enough to be encouraged.
For instance I believe that we are living in an age when we are struggling to understand ourselves. Are we ruled by our emotions, or reason, or physical drives, or what? What does a happy life look like? How can I be free? Most of us are living with the superficial or erroneous answers of the last couple of decades, or perhaps even the last couple of hundred years. It is my desire to dig deeper than that and to try to let the hidden gold of the centuries shine brightly and capture our hearts and minds. I am convinced that there is treasure beyond our wildest dreams in the pages of the Bible, and that our great forebear Augustine, can help us take our blinkers off and gaze with new eyes on the glory of the Lord.
Is it worth it? The final verdict will be written in the lives of those I teach. I hope that Augustine will help me point you to the glorious, gracious work of God. I end with one of his favourite statements of God’s sovereign, transforming work in the lives of Christians.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5)
If there is less disappointment and more joy in God’s love amongst us in future months and years then it will have been worth it. |
