What do you think?
Rate this book
A Longing to Belong: Reflections on Faith, Identity, and Race
Growing up in the only Korean family in a Minnesota town, Michelle Lee-Barnewall has felt the pain of racial discrimination and the resulting identity confusion that follows. Through the telling of her personal story, she seeks to transcend the current divide between those who emphasize social justice concerns and those who believe these concerns compromise the core of the gospel.
A Longing to Belong integrates a biblical worldview and personal experience on the topic of race and race relations. Lee-Barnewall writes as both a New Testament scholar and an Asian American who has personally experienced what it means to be racially marginalized, seeking to filter those experiences through the lens of the New Testament and what it has to say to us today about our Christian calling and our identity in Christ as a member of his body.
A Longing to Belong spurs readers to consider what it means to live as racially distinctive people in a fallen world that abounds in misunderstanding and pain and is in desperate need of the gospel of grace, especially as manifested in the redeemed Christian community. This memoir extends the discussion beyond academic discussion of race relations and personal narratives by demonstrating how theology and experience are necessarily intertwined and mutually contribute to our understanding of race and our relationships with each other. Rather than arguing for one "side," Lee-Barnewall shares examples rooted in her own experience in light of an overarching kingdom theology.
A Longing to Belong integrates a biblical worldview and personal experience on the topic of race and race relations. Lee-Barnewall writes as both a New Testament scholar and an Asian American who has personally experienced what it means to be racially marginalized, seeking to filter those experiences through the lens of the New Testament and what it has to say to us today about our Christian calling and our identity in Christ as a member of his body.
A Longing to Belong spurs readers to consider what it means to live as racially distinctive people in a fallen world that abounds in misunderstanding and pain and is in desperate need of the gospel of grace, especially as manifested in the redeemed Christian community. This memoir extends the discussion beyond academic discussion of race relations and personal narratives by demonstrating how theology and experience are necessarily intertwined and mutually contribute to our understanding of race and our relationships with each other. Rather than arguing for one "side," Lee-Barnewall shares examples rooted in her own experience in light of an overarching kingdom theology.
203 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 22, 2024
"Longing to Belong" by Michelle Lee-Barnewall hit me right in the feels as a Korean American. Her tales of straddling two worlds mirrored my own journey - from feeling like a fish out of water at church to juggling family traditions and American norms.
What blew me away was how she weaved Scripture into her stories, connecting her struggles to a bigger divine picture. Her words were like a warm hug, reminding me that our true home is in the Gospel and being part of a community rooted in it.
Barnewall's take on race and culture was a breath of fresh air - focusing on unity rather than conflict. She painted a hopeful picture, showing that our unity in Christ can bridge any cultural gap.
In a nutshell, this book is a must-read for anyone pondering their identity and seeking acceptance. It's a gem for those eager to dive into biblical truth and learn about diverse experiences along the way.
What blew me away was how she weaved Scripture into her stories, connecting her struggles to a bigger divine picture. Her words were like a warm hug, reminding me that our true home is in the Gospel and being part of a community rooted in it.
Barnewall's take on race and culture was a breath of fresh air - focusing on unity rather than conflict. She painted a hopeful picture, showing that our unity in Christ can bridge any cultural gap.
In a nutshell, this book is a must-read for anyone pondering their identity and seeking acceptance. It's a gem for those eager to dive into biblical truth and learn about diverse experiences along the way.
March 1, 2024
I liked it. A reflection on wanting to belong, grounded by the author's experience being the only Asian in her Minnesota community growing up, and how that imprinted on her the feeling of being a perpetual outsider. What follows is a discussion of how that longing is a good thing, and how it can happen, although curiously (though accurately) it focuses more on how to be accepting than how to find acceptance. I feel for the author but also find it hard to relate - it's clear that outsider mentality left a strong mark on her. But I also am a Korean-American and my experience isn't the same, nowhere near as strong.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews