Book Review: God Made Me and You

This book review was included in the October 2018 Meadowcroft Monthly. For an archive of all book reviews, click here.

Just this week, Max told me that he had bought me a new book - when I saw it was a children’s book, I figured it was some Westminster vs. RTS seminary rivalry joke, but it turned out to be a super-helpful book by Shai Linne called God Made Me and You.

I’ve been reading a ton about this subject in preparation for teaching an adult Sunday school class on the Black Church in America, and I’m now excited to read this one to my younger kids. Linne paints a rich, gospel-centered picture of the importance of ethnic diversity. He is clear to show that God made us fearfully and wonderfully, but that the fall of Adam and Eve led to our current predicament: “And now, because of the presence of sin, People hate for silly things like color of skin. The very differences meant to give God praise are now reasons for hatred, so evil our ways.”

Linne moves on to show how Jesus is the answer for all of our sin, and now God is reconciling us not only to Himself, but to one another: “All over the world, God is filling up churches with saints of all colors that Jesus has purchased. God turns strangers into sisters and brothers, though different, we're called to love one another.”

The story goes on to paint a picture of the deep unity we will experience in heaven.

In addition to being well-written, the book has great illustrations (by Trish Mahoney) that should be enjoyable for younger kids.

The book closes with descriptions of “six ways to help your child appreciate God’s design for ethnic diversity.”

Linne is a former pastor in Philadelphia and now serves God in his work as a hip-hop artist. He completed the same internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church that Max did.

As our denomination continues to walk through a season of examining our history and considering our present ethnic diversity, books like this will help raise up the next generation to understand God’s good design in making us the way we are.