The Fragility of Earthly Cities. Thinking once again about Augustine's "City of God."

The story of Rome’s rise and fall is often a cautionary tale about the transient nature of human power. For centuries, Rome symbolized strength, innovation, and cultural sophistication. Its vast empire seemed unshakable. Yet its eventual collapse revealed the frailty of even the mightiest human institutions. Augustine, writing in the shadow of Rome’s decline, reminded Christians that the “eternal city” was never truly eternal. Despite its grandeur, Rome was part of the earthly city, inherently subject to corruption, decay, and eventual failure. Its fall exposed the futility of placing ultimate hope in political or military power.

Augustine contrasted Rome with the City of God, a city built not on ambition or conquest but on the eternal foundation of God’s justice and love. Unlike earthly cities, vulnerable to internal decay and external assault, the City of God is unshakable. It does not rely on the fleeting structures of human governance or culture but on the steadfast promises of God. For Augustine, this distinction was not merely theoretical; it was convenient. It challenged his contemporaries to anchor their hope in something lasting, something immune to the ravages of time.

Fast-forward to the present, and the echoes of Rome’s fragility resonate powerfully. In recent years, the United States and much of the world have faced their moments of instability. Economic crises have shaken the foundation of global markets. Political unrest has deepened divisions and eroded trust in democratic institutions. Natural disasters, intensified by climate change, have exposed the limits of human preparedness. And the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the vulnerabilities of even the most advanced healthcare systems. For many, these events have been a sobering reminder that the structures we often trust to provide security are far more fragile than we’d like to admit.

Like Augustine’s Rome, modern America has long been a symbol of strength and stability. Yet recent challenges have led to widespread skepticism about the reliability of institutions once considered pillars of society. The cracks in these systems remind us that no earthly city, no matter how advanced or well-organized, is immune to the forces of disruption and decay. Augustine’s insight—that no political or cultural solution can offer ultimate security—remains as relevant today as it was in his time.

For Christians, in particular, this realization demands a shift in perspective. Augustine’s vision challenges us to look beyond national narratives and cultural identities to find our ultimate stability and identity in God’s kingdom. Earthly cities will always falter; they are shaped by human hands and thus subject to human weakness. But the City of God is different. It is not a physical place vulnerable to the storms of history. It is a spiritual reality founded on the eternal truths of God’s justice and love.

Reflecting on the fragility of earthly cities reminds us of where true security lies. The temptation to place our ultimate hope in political power or cultural achievements is as old as humanity. Yet Augustine’s wisdom calls us back to the eternal. Earthly cities may rise and fall, but the City of God endures forever. For those willing to anchor their hope in this unshakable foundation, there is peace, even amidst the storms of history.