Another City: An Ecclesiological Primer for a Post-Christian World (Christian mission & modern culture) - Softcover

Harvey, Barry A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563382776 ISBN 13: 9781563382772

Publisher: Trinity Press International, 1999

Synopsis

What is the church, and what is essential to it particularly in a post-Christian age?

In contrast to "the City," that is, the world (including the hedonism and narcissism of popular culture) that virtually all human beings now inhabit, the author calls upon the church to remember that it is "Another City" that does not compromise itself by giving allegiance to any political entity that belongs to this world. He points out how the hedonism and narcissism of "the City" or popular culture have been embraced also by those who make up Christ's body, the church, without seeing that this contradicts biblical faith. In contrast, the early Christians represented a subversive presence or "Another City" within the wider Roman society. In time, however, the church succumbed to "the City, became aligned with the empire, gained power, and began to render to Caesar what belonged to God."

Today what was once called "Christendom" is rapidly eroding. Christianity no longer dominates as in the past. In such a situation, Harvey says, it is time for the church to remember that it is "Another City" and that it does not compromise itself by giving allegiance to any political entity that belongs to this world. Instead, the church has the courage to live, like Israel of old, in the diaspora as a distinct minority, remaining an uncompromising and faithful servant of God's final (though still future) triumph in the risen Christ.

Barry A. Harvey teaches systematic theology at Baylor University.

About this title

Review:

"What is the church and what is essential to it particularly in a post-Christian age? The author calls upon the church to remember that it is "Another City" that does not compromise itself by giving allegiance to any political entity that belongs to this world. Here is a call for the church to have the courage to live, like Israel of old, in the diaspora as a distinct minority." The Gospel and Our Culture

From the Back Cover:

What is the church, and what is essential to it particularly in a post-Christian age?

In contrast to "the City", that is, the world (including the hedonism and narcissism of popular culture) that virtually all human beings now inhabit, the author calls upon the church to remember that it is "Another City" that does not compromise itself by giving allegiance to any political entity that belongs to this world.

Instead, the church must have the courage to live, like Israel of old, in the diaspora as a distinct minority, remaining an uncompromising and faithful servant of God's final (though still future) triumph in the risen Christ.

About this edition

• Publisher: Trinity Press International
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1563382776
• ISBN 13: 9781563382772
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208