A New Class and a New Issue of Verba Vitae

Introducing a New Class with Mark Mattes:
Luther’s Two Kingdoms and Christian Engagement in Public Life (HST 616/716)

Not only are Americans divided politically but so are Christians, with traditional Evangelicals supporting the values of a “Christian America” and Progressive Evangelicals and Mainline Protestants supporting the “right side of history.” This course reclaims the Protestant approach of God’s twofold rule, developed by Luther, in which God rules the church through the gospel and the wider world through social structures, to forge an alternative beyond our polarization. Luther responded to the medieval tendency to mix the “two kingdoms,” a distinction designed to acknowledge two kinds of righteousness: one that justifies sinners and the other which describes how we serve our neighbors. Since Luther distinguished a theology of the cross from one of glory, his theology of politics calls out both the political left and right who each in their own way mix the two kingdoms as “theologies of glory.” Unlike the political right, Jesus did not die to guarantee America’s destiny as a chosen people, and unlike the political left, salvation should never be equated with a utopian future. This course advances that in the church we are disciples of Christ while in the world we are citizens; this distinction should not be tampered with.

The course meets Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, January 22- May 7. Contact Mark Mattes, mmattes@grandview.edu, 515-745-1596.

Presenting the Newly Released Autumn Issue of Verba Vitae (Vol. 2 No. 3)

The current issue of Verba Vitae is dedicated to the theme, “God’s Anthropology: An Inquiry into What It Means to Be Human.” Within this framework is exploration of the fundamental questions about human identity, purpose, and relationships in an era marked by rapid change and widespread ambiguity. This volume features a collection of scholarly essays that engage with the interdisciplinary convergence of theology, philosophy, and ethics, offering nuanced perspectives on the contemporary human condition.

Hard copy issues will be available beginning with the Spring 2026 issue. Subscribe soon at library.ilt.edu/verba-vitae/

Volumes 1 & 2 free online at verba-vitae.org. Any questions or communication should be directed to verba-vitae@ilt.edu.

Verba Vitae is seeking essay submissions for upcoming issues.

Submission guidelines are available on the website, and all essay submissions can be made at verba-vitae.org. Please direct submission questions to Douglas V. Morton, Associate Editor, dmorton@ilt.edu.