History: Augustine, City of God, 5th century ----- People have many different opinions as to how a Christian should live out their faith in the political arena. By looking at Paul's instructions, we learn to submit to political authorities, but also to view their activities in terms of the spread of the gospel. Augustine sought to guide a community faced with political crisis and open their eyes to the deeper reality of what God is doing behind earthly political events. We need to learn how to engage politically in a way that honors Christ, and that takes seriously the reality of the heavenly kingdom that we are a part of.