Interracial Marriage

[FBCPastorsWife]

I was chatting with one of my friends in IN who also happens to be a pastor's wife and we got on the topic of interracial marriage. I was wondering what the general view is by the people on the board whether it is right or wrong according to the Bible. I'm looking for verses that reveal the answer on the topic.

I will share that so far no one that I know has been able to give me Bible evidence that it is wrong. Most people I know that believe it is wrong were simply raised in families that were extremely racist and that is why they believe it to be sinful.

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[DHK]

There is nothing wrong Biblically with inter-racial marriages. There may be cultural, social, and practical problems down the road which may be unforeseen by the couple entering into such a relation, and it may have unpredictable effects on the children (socially).
But there is nothing that is Biblically wrong with it.
DHK

 

[Rippon]

I agree with DHK . There is nothing biblically wrong with inter-racial marriages . That is the bottom line . But , but ... But nothing . The Bible doesn't condemn or frown upon it at all . It doesn't even come up . What is stressed is being unequally yoked together . According to the Bible that is indeed a no-no . Christians are to marry only Christians . Many Fundamentalists of the past ( other Christians also ) erred greatly in their take on the issue of inter-racial marriages .

 

[Helen]

since there is only one race -- the human race -- interracial marriage is actually impossible....

It is dealt with in the Bible, however, in both Song of Solomon and in Numbers, when Moses marries a black woman and when his sister objects, her hand is turned leprous. See Numbers 12.

 

[terriloo]

I'm from the south, too. Heard all the racist stuff all my life from Christians and non-Christians alike. Growing up, I think the stuff used from the Bible as "proof" that interracial marriages were wrong was the admonition from God for Israel to keep herself apart from the nations around her. It's obvious in that kind of comparison, that anyone other than your own race is being called inferior and even ungodly.
I've been waiting for over 40 years for someone to show me the verses in the Bible that tell us that God says it's wrong for a white man to marry a black woman...or a white woman to marry a yellow man...or a green man to marry a purple woman. :laugh: But I haven't had anyone show me those verses yet. I personally think that God doesn't care what color our skin is---He must like different colors or He wouldn't have created them.
And for Christians to condemn a relationship between a man and woman that is appropriate in every way JUST because of one's skin color being different from the other is very sad to me. That doesn't mean that I think I don't have any prejudices--just about everyone does to some extent. I just know better than to think those prejudices are "God-ordained".

 

[Rippon]

The main point in Numbers 12 is the fact that Miriam and Aaron were in defiance against the Lord when they went against Moses -- the Lord's prophet . If you went against Moses you were going against the Lord Himself . " Has the Lord only spoken through Moses ? " God was saying do not speak against my servant Moses . See verse 8 .

 

[Rachel]

I agree with DHK . There is nothing biblically wrong with inter-racial marriages . That is the bottom line . But , but ... But nothing . The Bible doesn't condemn or frown upon it at all . It doesn't even come up . What is stressed is being unequally yoked together . According to the Bible that is indeed a no-no . Christians are to marry only Christians . Many Fundamentalists of the past ( other Christians also ) erred greatly in their take on the issue of inter-racial marriages .

I agree with y'all. I don't see anything in the Bible that shows God is against inter-racial marriage. And like someone said, we are all one race. People might not like to hear that, especially in the South but it's true non the less.

The unequaly yoked together with unbelievers should be talked about more too I think. Seems like more and more Christians are dating, then marrying, non Christians like it's no big deal.

 

[blackbird]

There is nothing wrong Biblically with inter-racial marriages. There may be cultural, social, and practical problems down the road which may be unforeseen by the couple entering into such a relation, and it may have unpredictable effects on the children (socially).
But there is nothing that is Biblically wrong with it.
DHK

Born and raised in the deep South state of Louisiana---and being a resident of the deep South state of Mississippi now for 17 years---I have heard the argument of racial relationships over and over and over again---and there is not one single shread of evidence in the Bible that speaks against it----the reason against it is singled out in the sin called P-R-I-D-E!!!

In Numbers 12---the issue was not color of skin---that is not the reason that Miriam and Aaron resisted Moses----they resisted Moses because they believed they were "just as good" in God's eyes as Moses was(see verse 2---and their resistance came because God had chosen Moses as spokesman for the group(a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ---whom the Hebrew writer says in Hebrews 1:1-2, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son . . ."---and they were filled with pride and were jealous of Moses----Miriam was just lucky that she was struck with Leprosy----when Barak and his rebel friends spoke against Moses---the Earth opened her mouth and swallowed them alive!!!

 

[AntennaFarmer]

Please quit picking on the South. I never met so many racists in the South as in a big northern city. I lived in that big city for quite a while so it wasn't just a casual impression.

A.F.

 

[John of Japan]

I agree with everyone so far that there is nothing in the Bible against interracial marriages.

What I will say, though, is that marriages between two people of radically different cultures such as Japan and America (never mind the race issue) can be extremely difficult. Such a marriage can of course be a wonderful Christian marriage, but much effort is needed. I sat once at the table of a close friend, a good Japanese pastor, who said in front of his American wife that if he had to do it over he wouldn't have married her--and she agreed!! The children of another wonderful Christian couple I know faced discrimination at school, among other things being called "AIDS, AIDS!"

Said the frog to the skunk, "Well yeah, I could kiss you, but I just couldn't go home afterwards!"

 

[mnw]

Okay, I know I'll get slammed for this, but anyway...

I have no problems with interracial marriage and I do not believe the Bible teaches it is wrong.

This is what I think I will get slammed for:

But, :smilewinkgrin: , to say that everyone that disagrees with such marriages are racist is wrong.

I know someone who disagrees with interracial marriage, I think there is a verse in Acts they use that speaks about God setting the boundaries of the nations. However, they do not disagree with interracial marriages because they believe one skin colour to be superior to another, but because they believe they should not mix.

In their treatment of couples in such situations they never express their opinion and never treat any one any differently.

So although they do not agree with interracial marriage, it is not racist, though I do believe mistaken.

Okay, I'm ready, take your shots! :wavey:

 

[blackbird]

Please quit picking on the South. I never met so many racists in the South as in a big northern city. I lived in that big city for quite a while so it wasn't just a casual impression.

A.F.

OK---so it effects the Yankees too, I see!! So both north and south are eaten up with pride!!!

 

[AntennaFarmer]

OK---so it effects the Yankees too, I see!! So both north and south are eaten up with pride!!!

Yea, it is so.

 

[mnw]

Is this going to degenerate into a re-enactment of and debate about the civil war? :laugh:

 

[AntennaFarmer]

Is this going to degenerate into a re-enactment of and debate about the civil war? :laugh:

Not this time....

 

[mcdirector]

I guess I should say I'm from the south too

My grandmother could spew a list of reasons why interracial marriage should not happen and she could make them sound remotely biblical, but of course they weren't. She could also spew a list of reasons that sounded remotely biblical (but of course weren't) why white people are just superior, but that's for another thread.

Like Helen, I believe we are all the human race.

Like John, I believe it can be difficult with the more differences found in the cultures. BUT I could also say the same of a devout RC marrying a devout Bapist (how that happens??, but it does).

Now I think my grandmother was just mean. My dad was Cherokee/Choctow and I really think she was just driving home that she thought my mom was wrong in marrying him and perhaps even that I was inferior being the half-breed that I am. My dad BTW was always wonderful to her. (I hope this all sounds like the statement of fact that it is. No rancor here :love2: )

 

[Gib]

My mom is a yankee and my dad is a southerner.
I am as half breed as you can get. Mom says
peacon and daddy says pecan.

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

I think there is a verse in Acts they use that speaks about God setting the boundaries of the nations. However, they do not disagree with interracial marriages because they believe one skin colour to be superior to another, but because they believe they should not mix.

Not interested in taking shots ... but just to fill out the fact that the verse you quote is from Paul's Mars Hill speech, "God has made of ONE BLOOD all nations ... and has set the boundaries ...". The prevailing sentiment, which is scientifically correct, is that we are all of one species. The boundaries refers to the inarguable fact that the "races" emerged in different parts of the world. But today the notion of race is very complicated. I will mention only that by this time, with so many minglings having taken place over the centuries, you have to travel far and wide to find "pure" racial or ethnic blood, at least in the Western hemisphere.

My daughter is married to an African-American man, and we have two lovely grandchildren whose appearance is, I think, rather exotic and of course, of course, beautiful. I hope and pray that since we live in a very multicultural environment (Washington DC suburbs) the old racist slogans will never be thrown in their direction. But probably it will happen, and when it does, I believe that will become an opportunity for us to teach them about, among other things, self-esteem and that it comes from God's Spirit within, not from what others may say about you.

 

[AF Guy N Paradise]

I may get slmmed as well, but first of all I am in the military and am around every kind of race imaginable. You see some very interesting mixes since we are stationed all over the world. I married my British wife while stationed in England and trust me it is very diffcult being so far away from her family that it hurts. This makes the marriage even harder based on many issues. I have seen blacks marry Asian women, Mexicans marry Asian women, Turkish women marry Asian men, and the list goes on and on. I have some very close black friends, Asian friends, Mexican friends, Samoan friends, etc... so what is my point?

I just think it is already very difficult to make marriage work and by adding this element to the mix just makes it even harder. I don't know if I would want my kids to marry other races just based from what I have seen and experienced in my marriage. My daughter the other day circled guys at her school that she felt was cute and circled many black boys along with other races. Praise God both of my kids do not even see race and most of their friends are from other races. However, I would probably have a hard time if either married a different race because of what I have seen and know. And I am not racist at all, but imagine if your daughter married a black, Asian, or other race. Would you totally be ok with it? Be honest.

Sorry for babbling on, I had many othe rpoints to make, but can't think too well in the early morning...

 

[John of Japan]

My mom is a yankee and my dad is a southerner.
I am as half breed as you can get. Mom says
peacon and daddy says pecan.

And I'll bet your Mom doesn't know how to pronounce "dawg," right? My wife is a Yankee and in 27 years still cain't say it right.

Seriously, I recently advised a young American man that the Japanese girl he was interested in would make a good wife. She's a sweet Christian, went to a year of high school and to college in the States, and loves all things American. However, even with all of that, they will have some adjustments. Through Christ they can do it!

North - South: culture gap
Catholic - Baptist: big culture gap
Japanese - American: huge culture gap
Saved - unsaved: almost uncrossable culture gap
Solution: only through Christ raying: