Choosing Your Faith by Mark Mittelberg

Reviewed by Dale Lewis

"In a world with an ongoing cacophony of 'experts' in spiritual options, Mittelberg is a refreshing voice that doesn't cram spirituality down your throat or guilt you into a full confession of blabbering beliefs."

In Choosing Your Faith, Mark Mittelberg exhorts us not to lead an unexamined life. Using layman’s terms, he challenges the reader to take an overdue look at why they believe what they believe. This thought-provoking examination will resonate with both the Christ-follower and seekers of spirituality.

The first few chapters cover the different paths that lead one to faith: Relativism, Tradition, Authority, Intuition, Mysticism as well as Logic and Evidence. The author quickly admits that Christians use all six methods.

There is a passion in his words without being overpowering or too simplistic. He does not write to impress the reader with his knowledge but to impress upon the reader the need to intentionally reflect on and understand these ways to faith.

In a world with an ongoing cacophony of “experts” in spiritual options, Mittelberg is a refreshing voice that doesn’t cram spirituality down your throat or guilt you into a full confession of blabbering beliefs. As a practicing Christ-follower, he is more critical of the major religions like Mormonism, Islam and Buddhism. Yet he doesn’t beat them to a pulp. It is clear he wants the reader to reason through their tenets/arguments.

Mittelberg’s life experience and the thought patterns used to discerningly explain each spiritual pathway worked well for the reader. Repetition throughout the book, on the intricacies of the pathways, helps drive home the point of making wise choices.

This was my first read of a Mittelberg book. I‘m not disappointed and you shouldn’t be either. He has an engaging style of drawing the reader into the discussion. Choosing Your Faith, is in part, a "how to figure out what you believe" book, important in this day of smorgasbord style religions.

Pick up a copy to help you choose your faith thoughtfully and wisely. This is also an excellent resource for small-group study or a gift for a seeking friend.

Dale Lewis now mans the front desk at the EFCA (The Evangelical Free Church of America) National Office in Minneapolis, MN. He was the graphic designer/pre-press production artist for over twelve years before being asked to step into this new role. Prior to that, he was the publications manager at his alma mater, Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN in the public relations office as well as the adviser to the college’s yearbook. He's a director/actor/writer for the Hope Church (Oakdale, MN) adult drama worship team and was the senior editor of the church newsletter. He's also written two collections of poetry, “Whispers of Assurance” and “On Life: Constant Communion Without Ceasing” as well as a devotional entitled “Eternal Education.” He and his family live in Oakdale, Minnesota.