Mark Mittelberg - Confident Faith: Building a Firm Foundation for Your Beliefs

by Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith

I wish this book had been available on January 20, 1980.

Thats the day I decided to reevaluate my atheism and consider whether there was any convincing evidence to believe in Godany God, whether the God of Islam, Christianity, Mormonism, Judaism, or even the multiplicity of gods in Hinduism. Impressed by my wifes transformation since she had become a Christian, I vowed to use my training in journalism and law (I was the legal-affairs editor of the Chicago Tribune) to launch a full-fledged investigation of spiritual matters.

My quest would have been considerably easier if Id had this invaluable guide at the time. As Mark Mittelberg so brilliantly describes, all of us approach faith in differing ways. Whether we realize it or not, were influenced by a myriad of factors, some of which can take us toward the truth, while others simply lead us into confusion. These insights would have been extremely helpful as I tried to sort through the competing spiritual beliefs on my own.

Youre fortunatewhether you are a committed Christian or someone who is just beginning your own journey of spiritual discoverythat youve now got this terrific guidebook to help you maneuver through the minefield of conflicting and contradictory claims about what is true. Rest assured that youll find Mark to be a thoughtful, empathetic, and discerning friendand one who also injects regular doses of humor into the discussionas you go through this eye-opening and heart-expanding process toward a confident faith.

More than that, Mark will give you reasons for such confidence. With unusual clarity, he will walk you through such diverse areas as science, philosophy, history, archaeology, religious experience, and evidence related to the Bible as he presents his twenty arrows that point compellingly toward the truth of Christianity.

I cant think of anyone who is better positioned than Mark to serve as your spiritual coach. Yes, he has excellent academic credentials, having earned a graduate degree in philosophy of religion and having been mentored by some of the brightest minds in Christendom. But beyond that, Mark has spent the last few decades helping everyday people find a firm foundation for their beliefs. He lives in the trenches of real life, not in some isolated ivory tower.

His style in this book is to walk alongside you as you weigh competing truth claims and come to your own conclusions about where the evidence convincingly points.

Having been Marks friend and ministry partner for twenty-five years, I can attest to his sterling character, his godly lifestyle, and his heartfelt desire to assist others as they seek assurance about spiritual truth. His approach is to naturally befriend you as you embark on the most exciting and stimulating journey of your life, helping you affirm for yourself where the truth really resides.

Almost every Monday, Mark and I get together for lunch. Its a routine we started when we worked together in Chicago, continued when we lived in Southern California, and carry on now in Colorado, where both of our families now reside. Its one of the highlights of my week because Im constantly learning something new from him. We talk about the mundane and the lofty, but we frequently circle back to discussing how we can know for sure that our spiritual beliefs are well placed. One thing amazes me: Marks deep reservoir of wisdom never runs dry.

So please pull up a chair and join us. Wherever you are in your spiritual adventure, youre going to find yourself encouraged and challenged. But most of all, youre going to walk away with everything you need to find a truly confident faith in Jesus Christ.