Saint Augustine (354-430) was one of the most influential church fathers. His powerful ministry has impacted the church in astonishing ways. He was the primary source for many Catholic teachings; however, his views on salvation were completely rejected by the Catholic Church. Those views, commonly known today as Calvinism, are the roots of early Protestantism and continue to be debated today.
Augustine’s Confessions is the autobiography of his road to salvation. In it he delves deeply into his sinfulness and the foolishness of his material pursuits until the book is climaxed with his dramatic salvation experience. He begins with a discourse concerning infancy and childhood and how even the youngest children show signs of a sinful nature. As a young boy, though, Augustine recalls an interest in religion. This is surely an outcome of his family, which he describes as an unsaved father but a devoutly religious mother. It becomes evident that Augustine had great affection for his mother and her tremendous and persevering love for him. Despite this upbringing he began rebelling as a young man. He describes stealing and sexual sinfulness. However, at the age of nineteen Augustine found a different passion that soon replaced his rebellious attitude: The search for wisdom. He was introduced to a philosophy book and was hooked on it from then on. At this time, for the greater part of the book Augustine traces his search for knowledge as he becomes a rhetoric teacher and grows in his studies. Manichaeism, a cultic belief system that he held in his early years, was soon rejected in favor of philosophy. Throughout all of this, Augustine found himself miserable and empty. He compared himself to a beggar and explains that the beggar was probably happier than he. Eventually he became attracted to the Christian faith, something that he formerly rejected. Finally, after the testimonies of friends Augustine came to the end of his rope. Through a very unique and climactic salvation experience he came to Christ and became a dedicated Christian. Thus God answered the many desperate prayers his beloved mother sent up to God. Although Augustine had desires for marriage formerly, he decided to stay single and be devoted to the church after he was saved.
Confessions is a deeply powerful and hard-hitting book. By looking into Augustine’s rocky road to salvation the reader sees parts of his own struggle to follow the Lord. Emotional depth and a great desire for the glory and supremacy of God mark this Christian classic.
The book is written in a very unique style. Unlike many autobiographies, the entire work is written in prayer form. Throughout it Augustine breaks into periods of passionate doxology and praise to the God who showed His matchless grace to him. Augustine’s purpose in the work is to magnify God and bring Him glory through sharing his story with anyone who will read. In all these things his counter-culturally God-centered worldview is evident. The God-oriented lifestyle and mindset that this man held is evident on every page. This flies in the face of the prevailing humanistic philosophy that was prevalent in that day and that he was schooled in early in life.
Augustine’s Biblical knowledge is deep and insightful. He possesses the ability to relate any event in his life with the clear text of scripture. For instance, throughout his explanation of his philosophical studies he makes the connection between his utter emptiness and the fact that he wasn’t seeking wisdom in Christ (a reference to Colossians 2:1-3). He seems to have a good handle on the nature of God and he especially emphasizes God’s omnipresence many times in his discourses. Although such dedication to solid doctrine his evident, there are many instances where Catholic teachings are referenced, such as the fact that he cites his baptism as the moment of Regeneration and holds the sacraments in high regard.
Augustine’s deeply controversial views on salvation are clear for all to see, also. He explains that the Manichees believed in the elect and it seems he believed the Bible taught it also. However, his views on total depravity and the fall of man are especially clear in his writings. He holds that man is desperately wicked from birth and seeks out satisfaction in sin. He draws a very convicting picture of the utter sinfulness of the love and glory of anything besides God. For this reason he dismisses his intellectual knowledge as vanity because it was done in utter selfishness and was not for God’s glory alone. For Augustine, the only fruitful pursuit in life is to lift up the name of the Lord and magnify Him.
Though virtually all sides of the fence disagree with this scholar—the Catholics with his view of salvation and the Protestants with his many agreements with Rome—one can not deny the impact that Saint Augustine has had on the church. His powerful intellect and pious spirit continues to amaze those who look back on his life. His accomplishments and spiritual fervor are to be admired; however, as Augustine would have it we must thank God for giving the church the rich heritage that is found in this man and remember that all good things are His gifts to us.
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