The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask: (With Answers) [Paperback]

Mark Mittelberg (Author), Lee Strobel (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2010

2011 Retailers Choice Award winner!
“Why are Christians against same-sex people getting married? . . . Why do you believe God exists at all? . . . Why would God allow evil and suffering? . . . Why trust the Bible when it’s full of mistakes? . . . How could a loving God send people to hell? . . . What makes you think Jesus was more than just a good teacher? . . . Why are Christians so judgmental?”
Some questions can stop a conversation. Today, more than ever, people are raising difficult, penetrating questions about faith, God, and the Bible. Based on an exclusive new Barna survey of 1,000 Christians, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask presents compelling, easy-to-grasp answers to ten of the most troubling questions facing Christians today. These include everything from the existence of heaven to the issues of abortion and homosexuality, as well as the question of whether evolution eliminates our need for a God.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is fantastic! I’m a Bible teacher, and even I fear being asked some of these questions. Yet Mark has provided solid answers to help us respond to the real questions people are asking. (Sean McDowell, coauthor of More Than a Carpenter)

From the Back Cover

“How could a good God allow so much suffering?
“Why should I believe heaven and hell exist?”
“Why do you condemn homosexuals?”
“Why trust the Bible? It’s full of myths.”
“Why are Christians so judgmental?”
“Sure, Jesus was a good man. Why make him into the Son of God, too?”
“Didn’t evolution put God out of a job?”
“Why are Christians so obsessed with abortion?”
“What makes you so sure God even exists?”
“Christians are hypocrites—so why should I listen to you?”
Are there questions you dread being asked?
Maybe you dread asking them even of yourself. They’re the ones on subjects such as hell, homosexuality, or suffering. Through a national poll conducted by The Barna Group, Mark Mittelberg uncovered the questions Christians most fear being asked. Complete with discussion questions, Mark’s book will help you meet today’s hot-button issues head on.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (October 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414315910
• ISBN-13: 978-1414315911
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,742 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism

More About the Author

Mark Mittelberg is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and a leading strategist in evangelism and apologetics-oriented outreach. He is the primary author (with Lee Strobel and Bill Hybels) of the updated Becoming a Contagious Christian Training Course, through which more than a million people have learned to effectively and naturally communicate their faith to others.

Mark's newest book, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask, is based on a survey of 1000 Christians commissioned through the Barna organization, and deals with the ten issues that believers most want to avoid--but must not! Prior to that Mark collaborated with Lee Strobel to develop The Unexpected Adventure, a six-week devotional designed to inspire Christians and churches to enter into the excitement of sharing Christ. His previous book, Choosing Your Faith ... In a World of Spiritual Options, strengthens the faith of believers and is a great resource to give to friends who are figuring out what to believe -- and he's developed a DVD study course for Christians based on that book, Faith Path: Helping Friends Find Their Way to Christ. Mark also wrote the articles for the Choosing Your Faith New Testament. His other books include the updated Becoming a Contagious Church, which sets forth an innovative blueprint for mobilizing churches for evangelism, and the classic best-seller Becoming a Contagious Christian, which he co-authored with Hybels. In addition, Mark was contributing editor for The Journey: A Bible for the Spiritually Curious, and a contributor to Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith, edited by Norman Geisler and Chad Meister, and God Is Great, God Is Good: Why Believing in God Is Reasonable & Responsible, edited by William Lane Craig and Chad Meister -- which won the 2010 Christianity Today award for best book in the area of apologetics and evangelism.

Mark was the evangelism director at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago for seven years and for the Willow Creek Association for a decade. He is a frequent contributor for Outreach magazine, and he was an editorial consultant and periodic guest for Lee Strobel's Faith Under Fire television show. He and Strobel have been ministry partners for over twenty years. After receiving an undergraduate degree in business, Mark earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy of Religion from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. In recognition of his achievements in the areas of evangelism and apologetics, he was recently honored by the conferring of a Doctor of Divinity degree from Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark and his wife, Heidi, have two teenage children, and live near Denver, Colorado.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 56 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars "What in the world in an onus?" January 23, 2011

By Richelle Wright

Format:Paperback

ONUS
1
[Latin -- more at onerous]
a : burden
b : a disagreeable necessity : obligation c : blame d : stigma
2
[New Latin onus (probandi), literally, burden of proving]
: burden of proof

Synonyms: blot, brand, burden, stain, slur, smirch, smudge, spot, stigma, taint
(from Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

So, well... I can't exactly say I didn't know what an onus was - I knew burden was a synonym, but couldn't give you a dictionary definition; however, it was definitely one of those words that I understood quite well in context. Out of curiosity, I looked up the etymology of the word... I had no idea it was in the same family as "onerous~" hmmmmm... that it contained such negative connotations... but I digress.

I started wondering because of a statement by well-known athiest, Richard Dawkins, mentioned towards the very end of Mark Mittelberg's book, The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers). Dawkins claims that the onus to explain Christian beliefs falls squarely on the shoulder of Christians. Sadly, instead of Jesus followers excited at this God-given occasion to share God's life-changing message with those who have questions or who don't believe, many Christians run from these encounters because it is to them an onus - a burden, a disagreeable necessity, an obligation. That is the very purpose of this book: to excite and encourage believers about this opportunit,y equiping them with information and then strategies for how to take hard questions and move from a defensive burden of proof stance to a compelling presentation of God's plan of salvation. After all, to quote one of my absolute favorite books, "...sometimes when you begin to wonder, you begin to make things happen...."

Mittleberg is careful to make the point several times throughout the book that we need not be afraid of seekers asking questions... that means things are happening and the Holy Spirit is working. Always being prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us is a biblical command, not something to avoid. So he tackles the perceived most difficult questions, as determined by The Barna Group in a national poll:
*Why are Christians so judgemental?
*Why trust the Bible? It's full of myths?
*How could a good God allow so much suffering?
*What makes you so sure God even exists?
*Why do you condemn homosexuals?
*Sure, Jesus was a good man. Why make him into the Son of God, too?
*Why should I believe heaven and hell exist?
*Christians are hypocrites - so why should I listen to you?
*Why are Christians so obsessed with abortion?
*Didn't evolution put God out of a job?

I appreciated Mittleberg's grace filled approach to talking with questionners, his ever-present focus on revealing Christ as the ONLY Way, Truth and Life and especially the fact that he doesn't shy away from the fact of naming sin as sin. The following two paragraphs I found very representative of the tone of the entire book:

"...don't focus on trying to reform people from the outside in, but rather on sharing the life-changing gospel, which reforms us all from the inside out. People usually come to Christ by responding to the general message of God's love and Jesus' payment for their sins on the cross - then the Holy Spirit begins to indwell them, applying the teachings of the Bible and guiding them into his fuller truth and a lifestyle marked by purity. All of us must 'come to Christ as we are' - often with mistaken ideas and messed-up morals. But that's what grace is for! That's what the sanctification process is designed to deal with. What God looks for is a humble, contrite heart from a person who is willing to be made new."
"We must not ignore or excuse sin. Equally, we must keep it in the right perspective - whatever it is, whether of a sexual nature or something else - knowing that 'when we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners' (Rom. 5:6). He 'justifies the widked' (Rom. 4:5, NIV), not the people who think they're all right without him. His specialty is dealing with rebels like us in order to root out the moral decay in our lives and to conform us to the image of Christ."

I highly recommend Questions... to all. With a focus on preparation, proximity and especially prayer as keys to sharing this message, Mittleberg emphasises that all efforts to communicate God's message to others are ultimately dependent on Him. Even if most of the information is already well-known to you, it is encouraging and challenging to see how gently moving from defense to offense gives amazing opportunity to openly share God's Word and His plan and then watch as the Holy Spirit acts in the lives of friends, seekers, and questionners. This book is sure to challenge any follower of Jesus as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale as a part of their Book Review Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 244: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and and Testimonials in Advertising." Read more ›

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Guide for Answering Tough Questions August 9, 2011

By JK Barker

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A book primarily written to Christians, though anyone with genuine questions about what it is that Christians believe will find it profitable. Mark Mittelberg is a Christian apologist. He conducted a survey among Christians about the questions they felt least confident in answering. This book was born out of that survey. The answers are well thought out and formatted in a helpful way. It is a great resource for individuals as well as for small groups. Is a great overview of many of the tough questions Christians often wrestle with personally and are confronted with by others. It is appropriately in depth but not too deep and also provides places to go for further study. An enjoyable and helpful read.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The biblical way to approach apologetics June 12, 2012

By Craig T. Owens

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Apologetics is not the right way to ask forgiveness. Apologetics is the art and science of defending what you believe. One of the most accessible apologists we have is Mark Mittelberg and his very helpful book "Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask."

I have taken a passage from the Bible as my guideline for defending the Christian faith. The Apostle Peter wrote:

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander." (1 Peter 3:15, 16)

Focus on Christ ... Be prepared to answer ... Answer gently and respectfully. In this book, Mark Mittelberg arms Christians with information to help them do just that. He doesn't shy away from the tough questions like the apparent disharmony between Science and the Bible, or God's existence, or Christ's divinity. All of these he addresses using Scripture, philosophy, science, and logic. Mittelberg frequently quotes both Christian and atheist apologists to help make his point. And he does so very winsomely.

Each chapter is designed as sort of a lecture and lab. Mittelberg teaches, and then he walks through some possible conversations and objections an atheist or non-Christian may have about Christian's beliefs. So this book could be used for either individual study or as curriculum for a classroom.

It's a helpful and an enjoyable read.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for All Tolerant People Seeking to Learn! December 7, 2010

By mtch654

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Mark Mittelberg has written a well-reasoned response to top questions people WANT to ask Christians but may be afraid to ask. He communicates in a natural voice as though one was carrying on a conversation with him about these topics. He obviously knows his stuff and has researched and lived the material in such a way that he can speak with authority, and yet does so with the gracious love one would expect from Jesus if He were confronting issues about which He didn't agree. I found this book to be compelling, easy to follow, a strong apologetic, and good training for a Christian while at the same time providing answers to a true spiritual inquirer. In my opinion, it seemed that some of the lower ratings for this book were by those who read a chapter or two through the lens of their own dogma, and with an intolerance to even gracious disagreement. As a result, dissenters have attacked this work with comments and 1-2 stars. Generally, a careful read of this book will dispel the lower ratings. Mittelberg's book will fill in the gaps for Christians and inquirers alike. I know of no other book like this and highly recommend it!