Politics and the City of God: Finding Hope Beyond Elections

This post is a reflection inspired by James K. A. Smith’s article, “Wisdom from Augustine in an Election Year,” and shaped by my recent reading of Jacques Maritain’s The Person and the Common Good. Both are powerful reads for Christians wrestling with how to engage politics without letting it take over our hearts. I highly encourage you to prayerfully read them through because they challenge us to rethink where we place our hope—and to recognize when we’ve turned politics into an idol.

As Canadians, what happens with our neighbors to the south affects us deeply. Their policies, culture, and leadership ripple outward, shaping not just our nation but how we feel about the world. Trump’s election, for instance, wasn’t just an American moment—it stirred up elation for some and despair for others worldwide.

These reactions, though opposite, reveal the same issue: we’ve placed too much weight on politics. As Jamie Smith points out, politics matters, but it isn’t ultimate. Augustine, Maritain, and most importantly Jesus Christ, remind us of this truth and call us to a better way.

Augustine’s Warning: The City of Man Will Fail You

When Rome fell, many Christians thought the world was ending. For centuries, they’d seen the empire as a kind of safety net—a symbol of stability and divine blessing. Its collapse sent shockwaves through their faith.

Augustine responded with a much-needed reality check: Rome was part of the “City of Man,” a temporary and flawed system driven by human ambition. In his book The City of God, he contrasts this with the eternal “City of God,” which is grounded in love of God and neighbor. As Jamie Smith explains, Augustine’s point is clear: the City of Man is necessary for order and justice, but it can’t bear the weight of ultimate hope.

Jacques Maritain picks up this thread and sharpens it. In The Person and the Common Good, he writes, “The temporal common good... does not hold in itself the principle of its own intelligibility. It is only a means, subordinated to the human person and to his eternal destiny.”

In other words: politics is important, but it’s not the ultimate answer. It’s a tool—a way to promote justice—but it can’t define who we are or where we’re going.

This perspective is so relevant today. This past week with Trump’s election, some people have been treating his victory as if it were salvation itself, while others see it as the apocalypse. Both reactions misunderstand the nature of politics. Like Augustine’s Rome, the City of Man will always disappoint when we place our ultimate trust in it.

Jesus’ Kingdom: Power Without Panic

If Augustine critiques our misplaced hope, Jesus shows us the way forward. Living under Roman rule, Jesus faced a political system steeped in corruption and violence. He had every reason to lead a revolution—but he didn’t. Instead, he said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

As Jamie Smith points out, Jesus refused to see power the way the world does.

His crucifixion—a public execution meant to silence him—looked like the ultimate political failure. But through it, Jesus brought salvation to the world. His resurrection reveals that God’s kingdom operates on a completely different level.

Maritain understands this fact and writes, “Man is ordained directly to God as to his absolute ultimate end.”

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection remind us that our true hope isn’t found in who’s in power but in God’s eternal reign.

The Problem With Political Idolatry

So why do we keep placing so much weight on politics? It’s easy to think that the right leader or the right policy will fix everything. But when we pin our hopes there, we set ourselves up for despair—or worse, arrogance.

Maritain offers a helpful corrective: “The whole political community exists for the sake of a good life, and the good life consists in the virtuous life of the multitude.”

What he's saying is that politics is a tool to help people flourish, but it’s not where we find our ultimate identity or purpose.

When our hope is in Christ, we’re freed from the emotional whiplash of political wins and losses. We can work passionately for justice and truth without letting those efforts define us. We can celebrate victories without idolizing them and grieve defeats without despairing.

Time to Recalibrate

As Canadians, we’re deeply affected by Trump’s election. It isn’t just an American moment—it shapes global culture, economics, and even how people see the world. That’s why it’s so important to ask ourselves where our hope lies.

The City of Man will always fall short. It’s fragile, finite, and flawed. But the City of God is eternal, unshakable, and built on perfect love.

Let’s recalibrate. Care about politics. Engage with the issues that matter. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that salvation comes from an election. Our hope belongs in Christ alone, the one whose kingdom will never fail.