Two Cities, Two Loves: Christian Responsibility in a Crumbling Culture

by James Montgomery Boice

Christians belong to God’s kingdom but live in earthly realms that pursue different loves and priorities. Boice highlights the dangers we face while offering practical, biblical wisdom for our sojourn.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Cultural, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

About the author

James Montgomery Boice was a Reformed theologian, Bible teacher, and pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death in 2000. He was also president and cofounder of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, the parent organization of The Bible Study Hour on which Boice was a speaker for more than thirty years.

Reviews

[Michael Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boice is always worth the time to read (or listen to, in the case of his sermons). In this book, Boice exposits passages of Scripture from both Old and New Testaments showing how we might serve the Lord in our modern culture. In addition to his explanation of the Scriptures, his application of the 'how' to go about this is helpful (even if some of the success strategies of his day have less effectiveness today.)

[Ryan Watkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Montgomery Boice writes Two Cities, Two Loves as a modern assessable update to Augustine’s City Of God. Approximately half of the book deals with Genesis 3:15 and this tension between the two humanities being played out thru all of scripture. The later half deals with how Christians should engage culture and warns against the extremes of cultural retreat (i.e. Anabaptists, monastics) on one extreme and the church usurping the power of the state and welding the sword on the other (i.e. crusades). Lastly Boice addresses the practical application of participating in culture and specific issues Christians should address, the civil magistrate, and leadership. An area of the book that I took issue with is Boice advocating that most Christians should live in cities compared to rural or suburban areas. It seems like all the things he advocated for could be done in small or medium size towns and don’t require relocating to a large city. Overall I found Two Cities, Two Loves helpful and worth reading.

[Emmanuel Boston · Rating 4 out of 5]

By no means an abridgment of Augustine's actual work, Boice nonetheless presents an accessible treatment of a few of Augustine's primary points and applies it to the modern day United States and some of the most prominent ethical issues. It lacks much of the theological and philosophical rigor of City of God, and lacks nearly all of that masterful work's historical value (in all meanings of that phrase), but is nonetheless helpful for Christians seeking to engage the contemporary world. No real interaction with other cultural influences, e.g. Baldwin, Cone, or Neibhur, but it is really intended as a voice to the people, not to the colleagues. Lay Readers will likely find it helpful. It doesn't seem to have the same value for someone in the field of scholarship or anyone who has thought and wrestled long with ethics, culture, and the biblical picture of the city and the seed of Cain.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thorough diagnosis of the culture from a Christian perspective, which although dated (written in 1996,) is still highly accurate. In fact, looking at America in 2021, Dr. Boice almost sounds prophetic. Dr. Boice also provides a prescription for his diagnosis by expositing many Bible passages including Nehemiah and John 17. Good book.

[Valerie Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC!! wow this book is great!! worthy of shelf space, ordered a copy!... cant wait to go back through and make some notes! a great read for living in faith in today's world.

[Frode · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is a nod to Augustine’s famous work, The City of God. The subtitle is “Christian Responsibility in a Crumbling Culture.” The two cities are those of God and man, and those cities are synonymous with the two cultures, Christian and non-Christian. This book was originally published in 1996 and is a republication with minimal updates, primarily found in footnotes or parenthetical statements in the text. Although it was published over a quarter of a century ago, it is still relevant. Boice is a clear writer. He explains things well, has subheads which direct the reader, and he makes his points obvious.

The book is about the conflict between the two cultures and how the Christian is to deal with it. The first section of the book explains the origins and ramifications of the conflict historically and contemporaneously. Thus, he identifies the problem. In the second section of the book, Boice presents some answers as to how the Christian is to deal with the problem.

Boice believes and shows quite well what the problem is, namely, the city of man has captured much of the culture through its influence and even dominance of our educational institutions, popular entertainment, much legislation, even the portions of the church. What is the Christian to do, or as the subtitle notes what are the Christian’s responsibilities in this case?

Boice offers three linked answers: participation, persuasion, and prayer.

Regarding participation, he repudiates those who withdraw from society and cocoon themselves in a safe place, often removing themselves from cities to more rural areas and having as little to do as possible with the world. He points out with Scripture that Christians are to live in the world but not be conformed to it. Sitting outside and sniping at the bad things but not working to make things better gains no place at the table so to speak. Being a part of the positive force in a community eventually earns the right to be heard and listened to.

Persuasion then can happen. Once positive credentials are established, a dialogue can begin. Ideas can be brought forth, and cogent arguments can take place. Some ideas will be rejected, some modified, and once in a while, some will be accepted as presented. Christians need to do their homework on the issues and be willing to work for the betterment of the community at large, not just for the Christians alone.

Prayer is essential. Christians should pray for wisdom, for good ideas, for understanding, and for God to move. They should pray for patience, for God’s blessings, and for harmonious and collegial relationships with the non-Christians they are dealing with.

I liked it when he said just being a Christian doesn’t automatically qualify a person for a given task. A non-Christian may be the best person for the job. Apply that to office bearers, businessmen, a promotion within a company, whatever. I think it is a good book and is certainly relevant today.

[Stephen Hoogerhyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

As he notes in the preface, this book is Boice’s attempt to bring the themes of Augustine’s magisterial The City of God into the present day. It is his warning to Christians to neither abandon their contemporary culture, nor accede to culture’s values and methods. Too often throughout history we have drifted toward one extreme or the other, to the detriment of our witness to the world.

He begins by looking at Augustine’s life and work, particularly his thesis of two cities: the earthly city characterized by love of self, and the heavenly city characterized by love for God. That gives both the title and the framework of the book.

The first half of the book takes us through the Biblical accounts of the two cities, starting with the descendants of Cain and of Seth, through Nineveh, Babylon, and Jerusalem, ending with an extended look at Daniel and his friends’ experiences in Babylon.

The second half looks at the two cities today. First Boice looks at Christianity and culture, how we are citizens of two cities. Next he suggests some specific ways in which we can be faithful witnesses in culture, including the abortion question, pornography, education, and city life. The next two chapters consider the relationship between church and state. The final chapter focuses on Jesus’ prayer in John 17, and details what characteristics should mark the church: joy, holiness, truth, mission, unity, and above all, love.

Boice is as always clear, easy to understand, and solidly Biblical in his thinking and writing. He here sounds a clarion call to Christians to be in the world but not of it, to be faithful citizens of two cities.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, not great. Boice advocates for something that Augustine originally theorized. There are essentially two cities in the world with two different loves. A city of God and a city of man. A love for God and a love for man. Boice accurately surmises that Christians find themselves with one foot firmly planted in each of these cities, and they each pull for the love and desire of the one person. And as one could guess, this is where the application and predicaments come into play. For Boice, we can't pull out foot out of the city of man and place both feet into the city of God on this side of glory. So, and this is where the only major disagreement I had with this work is found, Boice believes we should be active as much as is necessary to stave off the city of man. This form of two kingdom theology has Lutheran roots to be sure, but my qualm is that it can be seen as a glorified form of retreatism. There's much to be said about a kingdom that rules and one that governs. The first with the whip and the other with grace. All and all, it was good. Just be learly of some of Boice's ideas on the extent of cultural engagement from the position of the individual Christian.

[Faith Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook on Libby.

I think some of the topics author touched on would maybe be changed if written today, like the view of public school. The end was really good and honestly I forget what it was about rn.


Below are mostly quotes from the book I tried to quote word for word.



A barbarian is someone who lives for power and pleasure, rather than by principle. We are all barbarians until God removes our heart of stone.

What ever happened to evangelicalism?

Strife is a good thing given by God in the garden. First, sin is bad and causes strife, and that strife shows us how bad sin is. Second, animosity toward us pushes us toward reliance on God.

Jesus submitted himself under the rule of Ceasar and Pilate, even to his death.

What good is it to build walls & institutions that are Christian and separate from our opponents but look no different from them? Before we call the world to repent, we must repent.

Difference between legitimate, delegated, authoritative power.

[Pig Rieke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I only listened to this one on Audible.

The concept of this book proved more captivating than the execution. I’m in Boyce attempts to reapply Augustines City of God to the contemporary situation in America. Boyce sees America like Rome in Augustines day, sacked by barbarians and in decay. Like Augustine, Boyce concludes that Christians are not called to flee from the City of Man even as it falls but to live as citizens of the City of God in the midst of the City of Man. In other words, Christians are not to follow monasticism or a form of fundamentalism that calls for a withdraw from the secular world, rather Christians are called to be witnesses to the gospel in the midst of it. As far as this is stated, the book is commendable.

The less agreeable aspects come in exact application in the world and in some passages where Old Testament promises given to Israel are reconfirmed to America.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boice is one of my favorite commentators, and I would typically give anything he writes five stars. This work is a little off the mark because a number of the practical appeals are heavily rooted in the culture wars of the 1990s. I can't fault him for writing within his cultural space, but a some of those applications have aged better than others. That said, the biblical theology elements of the work are highlights, including Boice's theology of "city." This work is definitely worth reading and worth updating should a contemporary voice seek to recast this classic. It's easy to see how Boice's thinking on these issues played a role in the development of other modern theologians such as Al Mohler.

[Mark Seeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book up used for $1.00. James Montgomery Boice takes the teaching in Augustine's City of God and brings it into the current situation when it was written, which was the early nineties. There is much wisdom in the book and deep Biblical insight. The chapters were probably sermons preached at Tenth Presbyterian Church. While the book is dated, it is still relevant and practical. I found his section on Nehimiah and leadership to be very challenging and his outlook on politics to be balanced and restrained. Boice articulates a classic two-kingdom approach to earthly affairs that does not eschew cultural intersection and witness.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book of 2021 so far. Boice speaks intuitively and prophetically about cultural corrosion as result of degrading morality and provides a tangible course for the Christian and the Church to effect change via the gospel!

[Amy Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple of areas made me raise my eyebrows, but they also made me think more deeply about my assumptions than I had before. Dr. Steve Lawson said to get this book and read every word. I'm glad I did!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts are great. Some parts show the date of the book. Would be curiouse to see what Boice would have to say today. I am someone who has benefited greatly from the late Presbyterian pastor.

[Trevor Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good book by Boice. Certainly lots to glean.

[Carl Palmateer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing, seemed to wander, didn't help that it was first stated as an updated, contemporary of "City of God" as it just didn't compare. Not terrible but just not on point.

[Judi Orme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written 28 years ago, it is very relevant for today’s time. I would highly recommend it. Biblically, solid, and practical..