Praying at Burger King

by Richard J. Mouw

Richard Mouw packs a lot of wisdom into a few dozen small packages. Writing in an easygoing, conversational style, Mouw here considers how the outward life of a Christian should reflect the inner workings of the Spirit. Including beliefnet.com columns of Mouw's never before collected in book form, these pieces are alternately amusing, touching, and poignant. From the dignity of chickens to a weeping Savior, Mouw shows how an extraordinary God meets us in everyday life.

Paperback

First published March 1, 2006

About the author

Richard John Mouw is a theologian and philosopher. He held the position of President at Fuller Theological Seminary for 20 years (1993-2013), and continues to hold the post of Professor of Faith and Public Life.

Reviews

[Mike McNichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the years I've heard Dr. Richard Mouw speak at various gatherings—seminary events, church services, denominational meetings, etc.—and I have learned that he is a master storyteller. Sometimes he would use the same anecdote and craft it to a new setting, making it come to life again.

I took only one class from Dr. Mouw when I was a student at Fuller, a philosophy course that was one of my favorites. Even before I came to work for Fuller in 2006, I attended several small conferences that he hosted for pastors. He was also kind enough to write the preface for my book, Shadow Meal: Reflections on Eucharist.

Praying at Burger King is a compilation of some of the ways Dr. Mouw would engage his audience with stories laced with theological reflection. I found myself helped and challenged and charmed by this little book, and am glad I finally got around to reading it!

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book, which I used as a sort of devotional, was really beneficial!

Each chapter is about 1-4 pages of relatively easy reading--but, it was written by my former professor of my "Evangelicals and Interfaith Dialogue" class, as well as being the President of our seminary [Fuller].

The book was divided into 3 main sections:
1. Living
2. Believing
3. Church and World

Each chapter of these sections were very insightful stories that he learned in various contexts that could clearly help the reader, upon reflection, as to how to grow wise in approaching various contexts, days on the calendar, holidays, etc.

Dr. Richard Mouw's vast knowledge of history, theology, philosophy, various cultures, were again blended very well in order to provide readers helpful lessons that can help us from having to learn the "hard way."

I just had a graduating senior that I taught encourage their peers to make "responsible bad choices" moving forward. Here's an antidote.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: Short essays on the life of faith in the world, originally appearing on beliefnet.com, and several other publications.

Richard Mouw is the former president of Fuller Theological Seminary and one of the more thoughtful and irenic commentators in evangelicalism today. This little book, with its unusual title and book cover is a great way to get acquainted with Mouw. He has collected a number of short (most are three pages or so) essays from contributions to Christianity Today, Perspectives, and posts on his blog and on beliefnet.com.

The essays are grouped under three categories: living, believing, and church and world. They are written in a conversational style yet cast a fresh light on some familiar aspect of Christian faith. The title essay has to do with the practice of prayers before meals, and Mouw's recognition that Burger King is one of those places where God is indeed present and so he will keep acknowledging that. The next essay gives equal time to competitor McDonald's and an insight of how important it is to talk with youth that translates into caring for the indifferent youth who is serving his burger the next time he is at the airport McDonald's. Subsequent essays in this first section include reflections on Halloween, Lent, Machiavelli, integrity, greed and a number of other everyday matters from housekeeping to the "ordinary" work of a researcher. He speaks simply about how we often subconsciously bracket off the "stuff" of scholarly work from the "spiritual" life when in fact "every square inch" (as Kuyper would put it) belongs to the Lord.

In the second section, three essays caught my attention. In "Entrenched" he observes how this label is often applied to conservatives when in fact everyone is interested in "conserving something" and may be liable to trench digging. He proposes that we might consider a better, more biblical metaphor of "the way" in which we've chosen to walk through life, something we are all doing, whether or not we are all walking in the same way. In "He Did Weep," he writes about Jesus not simply at Lazarus tomb, but in the manger at Christmas. True incarnation involved a crying baby, experiencing the discomforts of all human babies, contrary to "Away in a Manger." His sensitive response to a student's troubled questions in "What about Hell?" and the distinction he made between those who think they are too good to be condemned by God, and those who consider God too good to punish are responses I will remember for similar conversations.

In the third section, his essay on "Eating Alone," inspired by Robert Putnam's Bowling Alone notes the great dangers that come to us in our increasing isolation from social organizations, the mediating institutions, that once were a significant part of the fabric of belonging. I'm surprised how many writers are sounding this theme, which may truly be one of the great perils of our age. He also includes some beautiful essays about his encounters with Catholicism and some thoughts about "Patriotism" that are balanced and measured and worthy of consideration wherever you are on the political spectrum.

Mouw's irenic voice is one we need in our time of ambivalent triumphalism on one side and anguished resistance on another. He explores the everyday acts of faithful Christian presence in the real world we inhabit. These essays feel to me to be "dispatches from another place" than where we usually live that call us to both our true selves, and the true north of our faith.

[Mark VanderWerf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouw has the gift of turning ordinary observations on life (ie praying at Burger King) into insightful reflections on faith.

A model of humble and gracious “worldview-ing” that would make Abraham Kuyper proud.

[Mike Crews · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of very brief essays

I enjoyed reading these thoughts and musings on a wide variety of subjects. It whets my appetite for more by this author.

[ISH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading it. No deep theological insights, but small gems in this collection of short pieces.

[Michael Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know some have said they were unhappy with the book being a repackaging of some of Mouw's webblog writings. When I bought the book I didn't know that. A friend had told me it had just been released and would I like to read it. I said yes after reading the author's former book "Calvinism in a Las Vegas Airport" -- which is also another great book.

I will say this... I love this book... it pushes you out of your comfort zone... causing you to think hard about different issues. You might not always agree with him... but I don't think that is always the point... the point is to make you think to question to pray to ask questions to search the scriptures... to grow... to be... to be... engaged in life to reach out to live for christ.

I would highly highly recomend this book to everyone... and his other book "Calvinism and the Las Vegas Airport"

[Adam Weinert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little book that contains many short speeches from the president of Fuller Theological Seminary, Dr. Richard Mouw. Attending a Christian university in my undergraduate studies and a seminary, I heard many of these same mini-speeches from my schools' president, Dr. Dan Lockwood. I wish there was a book of his speeches available.