Mark Mittelberg - Choosing Your Faith: In a World of Spiritual Options

by Lee Strobel, author of 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 God any 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 brilliantly describes, all of us take different pathways in our journeys of spiritual discovery. 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 fortunate if youre a spiritual seeker, youve now got this terrific guidebook to help you maneuver through the minefield of conflicting and contradictory claims about spirituality. Youll find Mark to be a thoughtful, empathetic, and discerning friend as you go through this eye-opening and heart-expanding process together.

But this book isnt intended only for seekers. Christians also will discover their own spiritual style, which will serve to bolster their beliefs, while at the same time helping them to better understand how they can assist their friends as they seek a faith that makes sense.

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. But beyond that, Mark has spent the last two decades helping everyday people figure out how to choose their faith. He lives in the trenches of real life, not in some distant ivory tower.

Youll find that Mark isnt going to preach at you. He gives due consideration to various approaches to the spiritual realm. His style in this book is to walk alongside you as you weigh the spiritual options and come to your own conclusions about where the evidence convincingly points.

Having been Marks friend and ministry partner for twenty years, I can attest to his sterling character, his godly lifestyle, and his heartfelt desire to assist others as they seek the truth about spiritual topics. Does he have his own convictions about God? You bet. But hes not going to try to unilaterally impose them on you. Instead, he wants to befriend you as you embark on the most exciting and stimulating journey of your life, discovering for yourself where the truth really resides.

Every Monday, Mark and I get together for lunch. 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 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 make the most important faith decisions of your life.