Interracial Marriage

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A: I am sorry that I have been so slow in responding to your question. I have been busy but I must admit that this question is very difficult for me. As a result, it has gotten pushed aside until I could think about it a bit more. I still do not have a clear answer but feel that you deserve an answer from me anyway. Interracial marriage is an emotional issue. It is an emotional issue for me. I grew up in a culture that frowned on interracial dating, not to mention marriage. However, the question is not what I feel about it, but what the Bible says about it. I will do my best to stay with that.

I used to think that I had solid scriptural teaching against interracial marriages. Further study of these passages have left me less certain. But it is important that we begin with these scriptures. The first scripture is the curse placed on the sons of Noah (Genesis 9:24-27). However, this passage says nothing of marriage between races. However someone interprets the prophecy, it does not cover our subject.

A second scripture, or rather class of scriptures, can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:3 - "Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son." In this scripture and many others, Israel is told to avoid marriages with certain other nations. However, the nations are limited, mostly to those in the conquered and surrounding lands. And, although much emphasis is made on the Jews maintaining the purity of their race, it is a great jump to claim that this is a proof against all interracial marriages today.

A third scripture is found in the sermon of Paul on Mars Hill in Acts 17. Consider these verses:

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

These verses teach the following about the nations of the earth:

1. All men are of one blood. And, since the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11), all men are equal in their spiritual composition. They are all fallen in sin. They can all be saved by the blood of Christ. In other words, they all have souls and spirits in likeness to all other men.

2. God determines the times of the nations and the bounds of their habitation. That is, He determines when a nation begins and when it ends. He also determines the amount of territory controlled by that nation during its existence.

3. God has so determined these things in order to encourage and help all men seek the Lord. National histories should providentially lead men to God.

Now, what does this say about interracial marriage? Well, nothing direct. And that is the problem. Although this verse does teach that God put nations in certain places and limited their habitations so that they might better seek the Lord, it does not directly teach against the people of those different nations marrying with one another. However much I may personally question such marriages (perhaps even for some good reasons), I cannot find direct Bible teaching against it.

Actually, it gets worse for those who struggle with this issue. Though God (as far as I can see) never promotes interracial marriage, He certainly tolerates it in many cases. Moses the Jew married an Ethiopian woman (Numbers 12:1) and God defended him when Miriam and Aaron spoke against him because of this marriage (Numbers 12:4-8). In the genealogy of Christ in Matthew One, four women are mentioned: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. At the least, Rahab and Ruth were Gentiles. Why did God allow Gentiles in the line of Christ? Perhaps to show His grace. Both of these women are blessed of the Lord and play a major role in Bible history.

Now, all of this was said to establish these two things:

1) The scriptures often used to teach against interracial marriages do not clearly and absolutely prohibit them;

2) God certainly tolerates interracial marriages and will work in the lives of those who marry one of another race. However, this is still not the entire story. Though marriage to one of another race is not prohibited, that does not mean that we should promote it. It does not mean that God promotes it. Certainly, there can be good reasons for advising against something that is not absolutely prohibited in scripture. That which is doctrinally allowable may not always be practically good.

At the very least, the joining of two different cultures in marriage should make one pause to make sure of what is being done. Let me explain further. However, I want to say that what follows are problems with interracial marriage. They are not absolute prohibitions and the problems I mention may not be the same in every case.

Marriage is a struggle to bring two people into one. The one flesh is easy enough, but the spiritual and emotional joining of two separate people takes a lifetime of effort on both parts. But that is what marriage in effect does. And one principle is very important here: the further apart two people are at the time of marriage, the more difficult it will be for them to succeed in this greater joining. Even people who come from very similar backgrounds will have many difficulties. Paul said that those who marry "shall have trouble in the flesh" (1Corinthians 7:28). But the greater the beginning differences, the greater the struggles to work as one.

Of course, this applies to much more than interracial marriages, but it certainly applies here. Perhaps it is a warning to be very cautious in any marriage that is intercultural. What may seem interesting and exotic during the dating game, may seem wretchedly impossible after a year or two of marriage. Marriage, at best, is a struggle. As more factors add to the stress level, the chances of success decrease. I am not leaving the Lord out. He can make any marriage work. I am just saying that most people heading into an intercultural marriage have no idea of what struggles lie ahead. It may be true that we are drawn to the differences in another person. But a long and successful marriage depends on similarities. If there are no similarities (or few), then they must be created during marriage. Many marriages do not survive this long.

Another warning has to do with the prejudices of the culture in which the couple lives. These prejudices are real and only foolish people pretend they do not matter because they do not agree with them. Often, a couple will determine that they can live with the slurs and mistreatment because they are sure that their love is greater than the hatred of others. But just about as often, they do not consider what they are doing to the children that may be the outcome of their union. They selfishly decide that what does not matter to them will not matter to their 7 year old son or 12 year old daughter. I am not advocating such prejudices. Mistreatment of children because they are of mixed race is wrong. However, it is a fact. And, in cases where it is a result of marriage, it is preventable.

We live in an age when all that matters is the gratifying of our own wants and desires. If this includes marriage to one of another culture, no one has any right to question the wisdom of this. Yet, I think differently. I have said that I do not think the Bible directly prohibits such marriages. I also feel that interracial marriages are just as binding as any other marriage. No one should be mistreated or banned because of who they married. But I take a different approach with those not yet married. They need to consider many things and one of these is the cultural background of the one they are preparing to marry. We must be submissive to the Lord in these issues. Perhaps I have not given any neat or absolute answer, but at least I have been able to give my take on the issue. May the Lord bless you as you consider this problem.

Till He comes,

Pastor David Reagan

 

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