Another City

By Barry A. Harvey

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1563382776
• ISBN13: 9781563382772
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Trinity Press International
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.8" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

A great way to start

If you are curious as to what is the "real" buzz behind post-modern thought and how it affects the Christian Church, Barry Harvey has written an excellent introduction. From a post-liberal/radical orthodoxy engagement with elements of classic Christian thought, Harvey touches on the classic sacred vs. secular argument by showing the Church of Jesus Christ has a dramatically different stance on social behavior and the distinct mission to the world than what we see in 21st century evangelicism. This is an easier read than tackling James. K. Smith or John Milbank, but still gives a full understanding of the necessity of the Christian Church to re-discover the radical nature of the Kingdom of God.