Race Mixing in Marriage

[Pastor KevinR]

How do you feel about interracial marriage or dating? I attended a certain Christian College in Florida for one year (1981-82), that forbade interracial dating, even with both sets of parents permitted it. (BJU has come around.) I grew up in the Promised Land of Kentucky where, in my day, it was frowned upon.(hey, even the "P.L." had some flaws)--I have Pastor friend, who is church planting with Baptist Mid Missions in the Bronx, who is White, and his wife is a Black woman from Harlem. I know a lot of interracial marriages here in NYC, and in IFB churches, too! I have a KJVO Pastor friend, who is White and his wife is Hispanic. If I am correct, didn't Hyles Anderson College forbid this? (and I distinctly remember them promoting a White male missionary married to an Asian woman)It seems like they forbade Black/White relationships, but allowed other race mixing...a clarification would be appreciated. O yeah, did I mention that I am a White Pastor and my wife is Black? she's from the island of Jamaica, yeah, mon

 

[Ps104_33]

A mixed marriage is one where there is one believer and one unbeliever. I am white and I would rather have my daughter marry a black man who was sold out for Christ than a white atheist.

 

[Butterflies4mami]

I JUST wrote a little post in the Fund. Forum.. under phill kidd thread.
I was curious which college you attended, I went to one down here and there were some problems, until the Dean's daughter married a hispanic man! hee-hee. sorry, shouldn't have laughed. hee-hee. Anywho, I am married to a good godly man.. he is Puerto rican, I am white. I could see some problems with extreme cultural differences, but nothing that forbids it in the Word of God. I am still getting used to the inlaws being sooo... loud and close! I am a little more private of a person, but in the Spanish world, nothing is private! His mama is my mama! LOL. God bless her too, my mom passed away this last mother's day weekend, and she has been a blessing.

In Christ,
Peggy
Is.6:8

 

[Major B]

I agree about the believer/unbeliever marriage being wrong, but that, strictly speaking, is not about race.

There is only one human race--race mixing would be like marriage to a Klingon or a Chimp.

 

[dianetavegia]

Pastor, if you search under 'mixed marriages' you will find a very long and good discussion from a month or so ago.

We have a number of racially mixed families as members here. If I do not tell you who they are, you'd never know. Also, you'd never be able to guess which of our members are which color. Isn't that wonderful!

Diane

 

[Major B]

I'm pink, except in summer, when I am red or freckled, or both.

 

[Helen]

Since we're all cousins via Adam and Eve and then via Noah and family, just WHAT race would be mixed race????

There are, by the way, people of all degrees of melanin in all three branches of the Noahic line.

 

[dianetavegia]

When our Nick was about 6 he loved the show 'Out of the Box'. He was trying to explain an episode I had missed and couldn't remember a child actor's 'name'. I said, 'The little black boy?'. 'MOM! There's no black boy. There's a red boy, a green boy and a boy with a striped shirt!!!' I explained I meant a boy with black skin. Again... 'MOM... he's not black. He's sort of brown. You're sort of yellow and I'm sort of pink.' He saw the children according to their daily shirt color and never even noticed skin color and the shape of their eyes.

Out of the mouths of babes...

...............

 

[Dr. Bob]

Evolutionist terminology "race" is brought up often here. Acts 17:26 is still in the Book: "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth".

Mixed marriage would be my son and a cocker spaniel. THAT would be forbidden.

 

[gb93433]

Anybody a pure bred today?

It is not just about marriages. I remember a friend of mine who was a youth pastor at an SBC church in the south in 1994. He told me that he led a young black youth to Christ and invited him to church. Well to his dismay the deacons refused to let the young man enter the chruch and sent him on his way. I guess they knew what was important.

I think most of us know that most pastors leave a church because of eight people or less. Well my friend left shortly thereafter. Due to church autonomy they often do nothing.

 

[Roy]

If two people are considering marriage, the important thing to consider is God's will in the matter, regardless of skin color. Now I am not so naive as to believe that a mixed couple will find acceptance in any community where they choose to live. They will need to do some planning in that regard. Some areas that are prone to rioting are just not safe for a person whose skin is not the right color.

Roy

 

[saul^paul]

Roy has brought up a very important point about interracial marriage "practically speaking". A couple no doubt needs to consider what will happen in the community or among their families or churches. What are they willing to change or suffer from the results that may come from interracial marriage.

My wife is hispanic and I am white both our families agree with our marriage and love us dearly. Dont get me wrong there are still things among our cultures that "clash" example: mexicans very rarly would put old folks into nursing homes matter of fact I dont think there is many of those in mexico if not any, but here in the usa it is very common to put old folks there. So the wife and I have discussed it and I have come to the conclusion we will not send my parents to a old folks home unless they wish too. But as for my wifes parents either us or the other kids will end up taking care of them.

Dios le bendiga = God bless you

 

[Pastor KevinR]

Your replies are greatly appreciated. One advantage of living in NYC is that seeing interacial couples is rarely noticed by others...however the flip side is that seeing "gay" couples is becoming less an issue, too

.At times I've wondered that if God ever called me to serve Him back in my hometown (Louisville), how would the people react to us there? I also have family in the Atlanta area, and as far as interracial marriages are concerned, they are open to it, like NY City is. My parents live in Chattanooga, TN, and when we visit them, sometimes people stare at us...it used to bother me, wondering if any KKK people were in the area, but it doesn't anymore. Most people there are cordial to us (perhaps in spite of us)

 

[dianetavegia]

Pastor Kevin, I'm a very active member at First Baptist Church in Villa Rica and we have a number of inter-racial families and some families who have adopted bi-racial children. We also have a Hispanic Service that goes on the same time as our regular service for about 20 families who are just learning English. The children are all mainstreamed since they all are more English proficient than their parents.

Is your family near us? (24 miles to Ala., 35 miles W. of Atlanta)

Diane

 

[Pastor KevinR]

see PM

 

[Jailminister]

How about these question. Why did God create the separate races? Was He confused or did He make a mistake?

 

[KenH]

For the same reason He created you, Jailminister, because He wanted to. He was not confused or mistaken.

 

[Jailminister]

KenH. This is a legitimate question. And your answer does have merit, but it is not the only answer. Man has created some races himself. The hispanic race is a mixed race. My question is Why would God make separate races? I know He is not confused, so He had a reason. The Bible is not really clear on this, but I know He had a purpose. Just what is you "opinion"?

 

[go2church]

Jail,
Your underlying racism is no longer underlying!

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Pastor KevinR:
How do you feel about interracial marriage or dating?

The Holy Spirit is color blind. Race is often an issue of human subjectivity than biological objectivity. If a husband and wife are of two different races, God has joined them together, and no man should attempt to dissuade them. I can find no biblical support for discouraging interracial dating or marriage.

I attended a certain Christian College... that forbade interracial dating

Then the college was acting on racist beliefs, not biblical ones.

O yeah, did I mention that I am a White Pastor and my wife is Black? she's from the island of Jamaica, yeah, mon

Then you also know that the joining of your two cultures is often rewarding and enriching. God bless both of you.