Praise for When the Kings Come Marching In by Richard J. Mouw

By Brian Steadman, church planting intern

As an intern of Brooklyn Church Project, I have a reading list that covers a selection of topics: Apologetics and Evangelism, Kingdom Ecclesiology, Worship, Pastoral Ministry, and Urban Ministry. These books were hand picked by the other pastors of our church planting network. Therefore most were chosen because they have something to offer that is particularly relevant to church planting and ministry in an urban context such as Brooklyn. I think my favorite I've read in my year as an intern to date is When the Kings Come Marching In by Richard Mouw. Now it could be that it's my favorite because it has been the shortest, by far, at only 131 pages. All jokes about my weak reading appetite aside, I think the brevity of the book is actually one of the aspects that gives it such impact. Professor Mouw takes Isaiah 60 and gives one of the best interactions with the "Christ and Culture" dialogue that I have ever heard or read.

I highly recommend this book to any believer, but I would even recommend this book to my non-believing friends. Mouw's insights into Isaiah's vision of the heavenly city of Isaiah 60 is one of such beauty that I think anyone would recognize and appreciate. And with great clarity, Mouw gives healthy correctives to common misunderstandings of how Christians should engage their culture. And of course, any who live in urban environments will resonate with Mouw's explanations of what is happening in the vision of Isaiah 60.

"The city that Isaiah envisions in chapter 60 is a "magnetic" place. It has drawing power. People and things are flocking to this urban center: they are being "turned" to this city, "gathered" from many places, coming "from afar." That the city has this magnetism is important. Many of the people and things that appear in its midst are not, on some accountings, likely candidates for inclusion within its walls." p. 9

Having lived in Brooklyn for over a year now, I easily see and feel the "magnetic" pull of New York City. It is a city that gathers people and things from many places (and Brooklyn, to note, receives a third of all immigrants who move to NYC). So it's striking to read these depictions of the heavenly city in this book, and think in terms of how the NYC actually parallels in the here and now this city that is to come at the end of all time. Of course, as Mouw says, there are many things of NYC that one would not consider a "likely" candidate to be included within the walls of the heavenly city. But the amazing truth of Isaiah 60, is that many of the aspects of culture (both people and things) that one might think could never be found in the city of God, will in fact be there.

I just recently watched for the first time the classic Martin Scorsese movie Taxi Driver starring Robert De Niro and set in NYC (not on the intern study program, but maybe it should?). De Niro's character Travis Bickle is asked by a politician what change he thinks America needs the most. Travis' response is a great rain, that would come and flush the entire city of New York right down the toilet, a city he finds hopelessly corrupt, wicked, depraved, and dirty. From Travis' perspective, it's going to take something massive, something greater than even the politician riding in his cab can ever attain, to truly rid NYC of all things that are foul. And Travis is right. There is much that needs to be changed in his culture and it will take something almost unimaginable to accomplish such a feat. But where Travis is wrong, is that "rain" having the effect of a massive flush down the toilet, the whole thing, completely erased. And to be honest, in moments of great pessimism and blindness, I'm given to the same sentiment, just flush it. And that's why When the Kings Come Marching In is a much needed corrective.

"The transformationalist camp is correct, as I view things, in expecting the transformation of culture. Christ will transform culture at the end of time. The ships of Tarshish, presently vessels that serve rebellious designs, will someday carry the wealth of the nations into the presence of the Creator. Political power will be gathered into that City wherein the saints will rule forever. The peoples and tribes and nations of the earth will sing praises to the Lamb who was slain. In short, the "filling" of the earth will be harnessed and remolded for the sake of God's glory."

There is so much more to say in terms of Mouw's use of Isaiah 60 to show just how culture will be very present in the heavenly city. But really, why hear it from me. The book after all, is only 131 pages. I highly recommend it.