Finding Faith: A Search for What Is Real

by Brian D. McLaren, Steve Chalke (Foreword by)

There have been times when you've felt that if there isn't a God, there ought to be. Swept up in the mystery of the night sky, you've felt the closeness of its designer. Nature's extravagant diversity, unfolding in living color, has made you long to know the artist who dreamed it all up. Imagine what that might be like--to actually know God in a way that fills your heart and whispers tremendous value and purpose to something deep within you. But how can you experience a being you're not even sure exists? Religious jargon and games can't satisfy such a longing. It's got to be real . . . or nothing at all. A Search for What Is Real helps you sort through the questions, objections, and concerns that arise when you consider God not as some theological abstraction, but as someone you can actually connect with . . . and want to connect with, perhaps more than you know. FINDING FAITH The Finding Faith books, A Search for What Makes Sense and A Search for What Is Real , don't try to tell you what to believe; they are guides in learning how to believe. If you think the spiritual journey requires turning your back on honesty and intellectual integrity, these two companion volumes will speak to both your mind and your soul.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Living

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

Brian D. McLaren is an internationally known speaker and the author of over ten highly acclaimed books on contemporary Christianity, including A New Kind of Christian, A Generous Orthodoxy, and The Secret Message of Jesus.

Reviews

[Joe Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written and helpful little book for someone who is dealing with questions and doubts about their life and faith.

Brian McLaren helps to unpack and address some common questions that arise as people grow deeper in their faith and face some complications and challenges that they may not have encountered in their initial enthusiasm after coming to faith.

While a lot of the topics that McLaren addresses are ones that I have dealt with quite comprehensively in my own life and ministry, I think that this book would be extremely helpful and encouraging for someone who is encountering these questions for the first time.

[Robert Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel ever so slightly grinchy for giving this book three stars. But it's a Christian book and I'm not a Christian, nor am I intending to be.

This tome is for Christians who have lost their way (like sheep). It gives some useful hints and tips on how to find God, Jesus and the Bible. Out of the three, I'll probably read the Bible at some time, Jesus seems cool and God's with me anyway (whether I understand, agree, acknowledge, notice or not).

Read this if you're a proverbial sheep. Baaa.

[Scott Holstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is intended to be a guide for those who are seeking something spiritually, no matter what faith, but yes, primarily Christianity. It's a little light (especially for McLaren), but the contents are pretty solid and the book is quite accessible. Some of the chapters deal with experiencing God through doubt (a big one for me), why church is often the last place to look for spiritual guidance, why people don't turn to Bibles in their spiritual search, losing interest, and more. One of the things McLaren writes in the doubt chapter really stood out for me:

"They say that the opposite of love isn't hate; it is rather indifference. And I have to think that the same is true of faith. Doubt isn't a spiritual danger sign nearly as much as indifference would be."

In the final chapter, McLaren writes that Jesus was "scandalously inclusive" and that

"In a world of religious in-groups and out-groups, Jesus created a 'come on in' group. The kingdom of God is open to everyone who will come.... It's like a party to which everyone is invited, rich or poor, employed or unemployed, clear or dirty."

That section of the book really stood out for me because when I was growing up, the various youth groups in school and church "rushed" (like the fraternity allusion?) the popular kids with the alleged goal of the unpopular kids following the popular kids to God. Yeah, right. It was a total joke. I rode the fence between popular and unpopular and I didn't like it. As an adult, many churches I've been to seem little different. We want the "beautiful people" -- those in real need don't need to come on in. I hate that about mainstream Christianity. Jesus was all about love and inclusive love. In fact, he hung out with hookers and outcasts and told the Moral Majority of his day that the scumbags he was with would have an easier time of entering heaven than they would. (That didn't go over too well with them.) So, I like what McLaren writes here. I just wish more actual church people would read and realize this....

The book's chapters all end with interesting discussion questions and a suggested prayer. McLaren tries to stick to guidance, not to telling -- as in, he's not the authority on this, God is. It's not the best book I've read, and it's not for everyone, but I found it worthwhile and others will too.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resources at the end of each chapter. I started with this book, which I found out was book 2, but I will be sure to go back and read book 1. Good stories and very relatable.