Who Am I?: Solving the Identity Puzzle

by Martyn Iles

Who am I? This question holds great significance, and the answer is defining a generation and impacting eternity. Martyn Iles, the Executive CEO of Answers in Genesis, masterfully equips this generation with truth and hope providing a compelling biblical apologetic on this issue of identity in his book, Who Am I?

The freedom to create or choose your own identity is being normalized by our culture. This self-created worldview leads to self-worship. According to Iles, this age of identity “is immunizing a generation against a sense of their sinfulness and desperate need before God. It is telling them to take that for which Christ had to die — their “true selves” — and to embrace it, live by it, and be proud of it. This is a message that ensures people will never get over the threshold of God’s kingdom because they will never be poor in spirit. It is condemning a generation to hell.” Pg 32

“As you read this book, you’ll dive deep into Genesis and God’s design for mankind. Martyn pulls out eternal truths that the church has long taught and known and applies them anew for a lost and confused generation. And he does so in a way that points to Christ and His completed work for us on the Cross.” Ken Ham, Founding CEO of Answers in Genesis

Read Who Am I? to anchor yourself and your family in the gospel. While the world chooses to indoctrinate even the youngest students to dismiss God’s law, this graphically engaging and easy to read, Christian resource will arm you with the pure wisdom of the incorruptible Word of God. Use Who Am I? in family devotions, Bible study groups, and evangelical events allowing the double-edged sword of the Bible to penetrate and remove the veil of deception covering our culture.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Christian

127 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2024

Reviews

[Becky Filipek · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really well done. At first I thought that it would be too simple for me, being a well-read layperson. However, in just the introduction, I found that I needed to read this book. It had things to remind me of what God's Word says about who I am. It was definitely worth the read.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I will have to read again. It is not overly complex, but it has a lot to say. It is timely. Its message is worth repeating. God’s Word is used to point out who we are as human beings. In a day of great confusion, this is a helpful resource. I would highly recommend this & it could be used to glean a sermon series, Sunday school lessons, or a small group study. It would be very appropriate for teenagers.

Like I said, I will read this one again.

[Candy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers common/basic talking points, but lacks an organic flow. The reader is left feeling like the author is just checking talking points off his list rather than truly handling each with the care it deserves. It focuses on topics like gender roles, the dominion mandate, and cultural distortions of truth. An overall ok read, but would not read again. However, as with any review, these were just my thoughts and if you choose to read it I hope you enjoy it!

[Nickie Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Carl Trueman Primer /

Alternative Review: The Rise and Triumph of The Modern Cliffnotes /

Alternative Review Pt. 2: Carl Trueman: Martyn’s Version

[Geneva Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

suggestion: audiobook! Bc Martyn’s accent is 10/10

This is a simple and yet profound book. It is an easy read. The author does a fantastic job of writing clearly and in helpful, straightforward language.

[Sarah Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a real encouragement in explaining what it means to be made in the image of God according to Scripture. Plot twist- it’s not all about us! It had great explanations, was a good size and will be a book to re-read.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book lost all credibility for me when it started spouting debunked propaganda: “The foulest violence is anti-woman and children. We see this in acts of terrorism. During the 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, babies were beheaded and pregnant women butchered. Special violence was reserved for them.”

I’m surprised the author didn’t include AI images of the said butchered babies. This rhetoric is used as propaganda to justify Israel’s disproportionate response to the Hamas attacks by wiping Gaza out. It has been proven time and time again that no such beheading or butchering occurred; even Israel confirmed this fact.

(And no, tell your editor that just because you didn’t specifically name WHICH GROUP were the butchered babies that it makes your statement apolitical.)

You know what is verified and has been going on for 76 years now though? Israel’s prosecution of Palestinian children and women. Not to mention Israel’s forced steralisation of POC Jews without their consent. Plus, the 15,000 children that Israel slaughtered in Gaza since October 2023. Gaza holds the most amputated children in the world (~1,000) because of Israel’s disproportionate and unjustifiable barbarism. The list GOES ON. As it has been for the past 76 years.

So how come the author highlighted fiction rather than easily verifiable facts? Why should I trust this author to guide me who I am when he can’t even do basic fact checks and is so easily swayed by a political agenda?

[Candice Bianchini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book so refreshing in the current age

I’ve never highlighted a book so much!
Shamelessly honest and to the point, I really appreciated Martyn’s approach. After all, the Bible is brutally honest, so I suppose there’s no reason to beat around in the bush.

One of the best reads I’ve read in a while! I wish for all to be challenged and sensitized again to Who Christ Is, just as I have been in reading this book.

[Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, quick, easy read.

[Laura-Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Ken Ham (CEO/Founder of Answers in Genesis) ordered me to write a book so I'm going to write a book, but I've given a lot of talks on Identity Politics so I can whip this out in about six weeks."
[So I guess we shouldn't be expecting another "Ben Hur", eh Martyn?]

So says Martyn Iles the brand new CEO of the Christian parachurch organization, "Answers in Genesis", famous for their Christian theme park revolving around the Creation Museum and the ("world famous") Ark Encounter, which is a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark sitting in a field in Northern Kentucky just south of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Now before you write me off as another Evolutionist who is persecuting poor Christians for believing in the Bible, you need to know where I'm coming from. I have been a Born Again follower of Jesus since 1978. I am a Young Earth Creationist who believes the Bible literally from cover to cover and I have debated Atheists on their beliefs for forty years. I have been involved in archeology since childhood, been watching the rise of Creation Science and Answers in Genesis for thirty years and have fully supported Martyn Iles (financially and across my social media) for three years in his previous position as the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby. But that was then and this is is now. However, you needed to know that I have nothing against him personally and get NO pleasure from what I am about to say.

During Martyn's previous talks, which he is basing this book on and which I have viewed several times, take place at a program he initiated in Australia for 18-25 year olds called "The Download".
During these talks on Identity he tells us that the number one topic in creative writing for Generation-Z is (you guessed it) "Who Am I?". Then he berates us for being so self-focused and says we shouldn't even be asking this question and equates it to the story in Joshua 5.

"13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, 'Are you for us or for our enemies?'

14 'Neither,' he replied, 'but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.' Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, 'What message does my Lord have for his servant?'

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, 'Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so." (NIV)

So Martyn tells us we shouldn't even be asking the question because it is only SELF serving. Rather we should be asking "Who is Jesus?", which I wholeheartedly agree with.

But now he has titled his book, "Who Am I?" as a form of promotional click-bait in order to (self-servingly) SELL as many copies as possible.
One guess as to whether or not I will be shelling out even one, thin dime for this hypocritical, rehashed garbage by Martyn.

I also wish to point out how Scripturally UNBALANCED Martyn's idea about identity is. He accepts that God created us in His own image (Genesis 1:27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...) but then proclaims God has almost nothing positive to say about us AFTER the Fall of mankind. He sights Scripture verses such as "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;" (Isaiah 64 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... ). It is true (and so much more) as we acknowledge how riddled with sins we are and in desperate need to repent and accept Jesus as our only Savior, but that only tells ONE part of the story.


"for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/... )
I suggest you (and Martyn) look up the word "DELIGHT" in a concordance and see how much God delights in us.

Martyn loves to examine the Proverbs of Solomon but ignores the GREATEST LOVE poetry ever written, which is ALSO by the wise King Solomon.
"Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep
Which have come up from the washing,
Every one of which bears twins,
And none is barren among them.
3 Your lips are like a strand of scarlet,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veil
Are like a piece of pomegranate."
(Song of Solomon 4:2-3) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/...

The proclamations of a man so in love with the maiden he has chosen that he's saying goofy things about her TEETH!
And the ENTIRE book of Song of Solomon is an allegory of God's love for us summed up with the ultimate expression of His love,
"I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine." I think that is some pretty POSITIVE (and PASSIONATE) stuff God has to say about us.

Again, you don't need to read this book. Move on to something better, balanced, unbiased and Biblically accurate.

But BEWARE because the MIGHTY PR arm of Answers in Genesis (and all their hard core co-horts, like Kirk Cameron and Dr. Joel Beeke) will be pushing this book HARD in order to establish Martyn as a writer and in his new position at Answers in Genesis. Not only is the book currently available for pre-order EVERYWHERE but we are also informed (by Martyn himself) that he is already set to publish his SECOND book.

However, it still gets ONE cookie (out of five) because Martyn can communicate in a human language and the book exists within time and space, but I am being quite generous and have added it to my "Skip It" list.


I hope this helps and not hinders and I thank you for giving of your precious time to read my review.🙂

The Truth with Love,
Always Laura-Lee ✝️🇨🇦

UPDATE: February 10, 2024

P.S. I've done my Review as a Christian but it has been requested that I make some comments as a professional Behaviorist, which I was previously unwilling to do because I have not read this entire book (only the free sample). However, I WILL offer an educated opinion about what I've read so far and my understanding of Martyn's lectures and sermons on Identity (which are plentiful).

Martyn is MUCH more perceptive about human behavior than the average person and capable of drawing some very astute conclusions, BUT ☝️ he lacks in the area of understanding the "WHY", which usually comes from INTERACTING more with people through time and not merely OBSERVING them. He's got a few fundamentals about what drives and motivates people off, so I wouldn't recommend this book on that level either.

However (again), he has the SOLUTION spot on. Knowing Jesus personally.❗️ So although your precious time delving into this HUGE topic is better spent elsewhere, I am not fearful of you reading it because, even if it is somewhat inaccurate, Martyn and I end at the SAME place...the foot of the cross.

On a more personal note, I think Martyn is capable of so much more than found in this book. I look forward to the day when he doesn't write because his boss told him to but because the topic so greatly BURNS within him he cannot help but write. For THAT book, (by Martyn LLOYD Iles) I would gladly pay DOUBLE. (And that says a LOT because I'm "cheap as the day is long") 😉

UPDATE. March 8, 2024
The Audiobook version has just been released read by Martyn himself. There is no denying the man has a mighty soothing, full voice. I've been listening to it for four years now, but I wouldn't pay a bunch of money to hear him read THIS book. And if I can't live without his beautiful vocals, he has dozens of sermons and talks online for FREE. So I must reiterate to give this book a Skip. There is so much better on this topic.

(🍪🔴🔴🔴🔴)

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Review:

I discovered this book while attending an Answers in Genesis: Reclaimed conference with my coworkers. The author of this book, Martyn Iles lead a session and he made wonderful points, so I was interested in hearing more!

This book did cover some topics he discussed in his session plus more! 😊

The basic premise of this book is to answer the question, Who Am I? We get to see how two worldviews answer this question : the world and the Word of God.


Longer Review w/ slight spoilers:

Here is a basic rundown of the book-


1. Asking the question of "Who Am I?" and discovering our identity is important.
2. When thinking about "self", we need to determine if the "self" is inherently good or evil. Well, we can see that the Bible refers to the concept of self as, "the heart" and that what comes out of a person is what defiles them and that the heart is deceitfully wicked.
-based off this and other scripture passages, we can determine that we are not inherently good.
3. When we try to adopt our "identity of self", there are major negative consequences! The greatest being the spiritual effect.
4. Since the "identity theory of self" is false, look at the true source, God's word.
-the first Beatitudes says," blessed are the Poor in spirit".
-this poorness in spirit is vital and a prideful, self-seeking generation will not achieve this. Nor may they want to.
5. If we want to know who we are, we need to know who God is. The Bible starts off saying, "In the beginning, God..."
6. There are 8 pieces that make up our identity.
7. Make sure we are asking the right question when it comes to asking about our identity!

Overall Opinion:

I really liked this book! It is just slightly over 200 pages, so a lot of information gets covered in a short amount of pages! It is always good to remember that we are a new creation in Christ and that our identity lies in Him, not our feelings, perspectives, experiences, the culture, etc.

It can be a difficult topic to broach, but Martyn handed in a loving and graceful way!

Even though we have all fallen short of the glory of God, we can live in the hope and peace of Christ's redemption. We may struggle in our sin nature, but the Holy Spirit is faithful to convict us!

I pray that this book encourages readers to pause and take a moment to see how they are living their lives! We always have room for improvement and can grow closer to God!

Great job Martyn and team! This was great!

P.S. If you get the book edition, there are fun colors and illustrations which are great! ❤️

[Daevora Weger · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my overdue books this year. I started reading this book last May 2024 when we bought this in Kentucky after the Homeschool Conference at the Ark Encounter. I finally finished it today, by the Lord’s grace. I definitely recommend this book to be read! One of my favorite reads for this year.

“The Lord Jesus Christ is the head of a new human family, which stands in contrast to Adam’s human-ity. Adam’s image is the plight of dead sinners, eternally doomed. Christ’s image is the hope of those alive to God, eternally secure. Just as our link to Adam is real because of our biology, therefore our sin and death are real, so we can be linked to Christ in a way that is just as real. The Spirit of God can take what is His, with all His resources,His victory, and His destiny, and truly make it mine ... from one degree of glory to another ...” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head Adam’s likeness, now efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.*
This book has journeyed through three images which affect our identity: God’s image, Adam’s image, and Christ’s image. It is worth noting that God’s plan is such that each of us who is in Christ will ultimately have even more than Adam would have had if the Fall never happened. God’s Word of promise in the Garden of Eden, and the way He has moved history to enact it and translated it into our lives, shows us who He is and what we have received in a way that otherwise wouldn’t have ever been known. It is the study of a lifetime and the subject of rejoicing and praise that will never end.” — Martyn Iles

[Hayden McLachlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone contemplating their identity. Who are you? Is this question asked. Then Martin Iles shows how the bible's explanation of a person's identity is realistic, sustainable, and beautiful. By embracing who God says we are (loved, redeemed, made in his image, chosen, sons and daughters, among other powerful labels), one can truly live a meaningful and satisfying life. Iles also offers a refreshing perspective into issues such as self-esteem, purpose and meaning, and love.

[Jacob Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple yet truthful read in an age where personal identity is frequently misplaced in false and sinful ideas.

A key link is made to creation and the creation mandate, then to the fall, and finally to the Gospel message.

A good read for those exploring issues surrounding identity, those new in the Faith, but also a helpful recap and refresher for those in the Faith.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book by Martyn has to be awesome as this young man always impresses me - extremely intelligent, wise, relevant and yet humble. Have heard him speak in person, video, through articles and now this book, and he always leaves me the better for it.
Just loved reading this, and underlined heaps.
Highly recommend it.

[Geoffrey Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this short book, it is spot on with the newage thinking of self-obsession. It points us back to our true identity. that is God in our perfection, Adam in our human sinful and fragilty and ultimately Jesus as a redeemed eternal beings.

Human are special but not in the way that glorifies ourselves we glorify God.

[alice coard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good starter book if you are just getting into reading about identity politics, very easy to read and to understand.
All the points are backed up biblically with the bible verses quoted next to them.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I really recommend reading this book!

[Zach Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent presentation of what a Christ-based identity is in a confusing, perplexing culture.

[Erin Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish all young people had a copy of this book in their hands. Important truths that ground in a chaotic culture.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid book. I didn’t agree with everything or how he expressed them, but I understand how he arrived at his conclusions.

[Boris Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book with some very controversial but very true thoughts. One minor gripe: the author kept mentioning a group called "fuzzies," which by my research does not exist at all.

[Tanya Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This topic is very relevant to our culture and is very enlightening to understanding our purpose in life.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan.

[Cristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

He writes a lot of truth and there is nothing wrong in this book, I just don’t like his writing style.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. Very well written and must for anyone who is confused about their identity.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book! I read this with my teens a few months ago and we still talk about it. This book draws everything back to what our true identity in Christ is and our purpose. With such confusion in our society (especially among our youth), this book is especially relevant today. I highly recommend it for teens and adults.

[Abigail Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst Martyn's talks cover everything that is found within these pages. I think that it is good to have them in book form as well and, overall, would be good for those first being confronted by this question. For, had I read this without having heard the talks before. I would have enjoyed the read more than I currently did. Consequently, I would suggest that this might be best for children or early teens to read as the language and subject matter is foundational.

There is only one real issue I have with the book and that is the internal formatting. The coloured images on the page, behind the text and beside it, are very distracting and sometimes take up an unnecessary amount room. I, personally, found it hard to concentrate when two massive human profiles are staring each other down whilst the poor paragraph is forced to squish itself between them. But more importantly, there is no real justifiable reason for most of them being there in the first place. As most of the images are so generic that they are incapable of adding anything to what is already written or even representing what is about to be said. And so, inevitably, looking instead like they are there merely for the purpose of increasing the page count, than the supporting the arguments.

Nevertheless, apart from my vehement dislike of the formatting. I can say overall that the topic outweighs the formatting and thus I would recommend it for the above mentioned.

[Amy B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

As a Christian who believes the truth of the Bible from start to finish, I believe wholeheartedly in God’s establishment of equal but different when it comes to men and women. I believe in the one flesh that a man and woman become in marriage. What the author writes about is Biblical truth, but as a woman who couldn’t have children, this book basically labels my choice to enter the corporate world as sinful. This asserts that when I couldn’t have children of my own, I should have taken up baby sitting or hospitality, but certainly not a corporate job.

I’m not a feminist by any means. I believe the truth of the Bible. I understand that in a marriage one of the two has to be the role of the protector and provider and ultimately the authority, and yes, that is the man rather than the woman. I understand how it ties back to the roles established in the Garden of Eden. But I believe God gave me qualities of leadership that I’ve used both as a profession and in ministry for youth and women. And no, I don’t think women should be pastors, but women can have leadership qualities that are useful even if not pastoral.

Perhaps my rating this as one star is a reflection of “the truth hurts” but I think it’s because this book goes one step too far in labeling a woman like me as sinful because a family full of children was not God’s plan for me.