Interracial marriage is in the rise in the us, with roughly 11 million people in interracial marriages.
According to Pew Research Center , “In 2015, 17% of all U.S. newlyweds possessed a partner of a race that is different ethnicity, marking more than a fivefold enhance since 1967, whenever 3% of newlyweds had been intermarried.”
Pew Research Study additionally discovered that attitudes toward interracial marriages have changed dramatically, and there’s a steep decrease of those in opposition to interracial marriages.
In 1967, the landmark Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court situation finished state legislation banning marriage that is interracial america.
While this is a huge win for interracial couples, people were still compared. Unfortunately, a number of the pushback came from Christians and Christian organizations.
As being a total result, there is some confusion over just what the Bible claims about interracial wedding.
Ideally, we can end this confusion by taking a look at Scripture and discussing this subject.
The Old Testament Reasoning
You will find verses in the Old Testament instructing the Israelites never to intermarry with people from other countries. This is actually the passage:
“When the father your God brings you in to the land you might be entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and more powerful than you— and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you also have beaten them, you then must destroy them completely. Make no treaty with them, and suggest to them no mercy. Usually do not intermarry with them. Do not provide your daughters with their sons or take their daughters for the sons, for they will turn your young ones far from following me to serve other gods, plus the Lord’s anger will burn against you and can quickly destroy you.” – Deuteronomy 7:1-4
Unfortuitously, some make use of this passage to justify their opposition to marriage that is interracial. In these cases, they’re not thinking about the passage in its full context or its entire meaning.
This decree wasn’t predicated on skin or race color. Rather, it’s all about religion.
The entire explanation Jesus tells the Israelites not to “intermarry” with these nations is described in verse 4, “they will turn your kids far from following me personally to provide other gods.”
To phrase it differently, Deuteronomy 7 is definitely an Old Testament legislation reiterated in the New Testament as soon as the apostle Paul informs Jesus followers not to ever be unequally yoked.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked
“Do never be yoked as well as unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have commonly? Or just what fellowship can have with darkness light?” – 2 Corinthians 6:14
Into the brand New Testament, believers are told they must not be unequally yoked with non-believers. Let’s begin by explaining a yoke.
A yoke is just a wooden club that joins two oxen.
If the oxen are unequally yoked, this means you can be strong while the other weak.
When this occurs, the oxen work against each other and can think it is impossible or difficult to perform the job.
In this verse, the apostle Paul is telling believers if they marry a nonbeliever, it’s going to pull the believer far from Jesus, and he or she will have trouble with fulfilling their calling to follow Jesus.
Consequently, the Bible plainly states you shouldn’t marry somebody having a various faith.
No Place for Racism in Christianity
Here’s the answer that is final the Bible will not say interracial marriage is wrong, and people whom suggest it have misinterpreted Scripture.
That said, anybody (especially a Christian) who suggests interracial wedding is wrong has to always check their heart for any hold racism might have onto it.
Racism is sinful and evil, down to the core that is very. It really is ignorant, judgmental hatred, also it grieves God’s heart. No individual deserves any suffering as a result of the color of the epidermis.
Hatred and racism aren’t of God. God is love, and racism is not.
We are all sons and daughters associated with the King and built in God’s image.
With regards to Christian marriages, the priority may be the couple’s shared faith in Jesus Christ.
As Got Questions describes, “Faith in Christ, not skin color, could be the biblical standard for choosing a partner.”
A testimony that is powerful
While there is a lot less opposition to marriage that is interracial, it is vital to recognize that there nevertheless are individuals who don’t support interracial partners.
Those entering interracial relationships should be familiar with the opposition and discrimination they may face.
But, strong Christian unions between users of different races can be a beautiful testimony to those who oppose it.
And … what God joins together, allow no man separate!
Let me reveal one testimony from a white woman ( Kate Motaung ) that is hitched up to a South African pastor:
“For my husband and I, our dedication to Christ could be the one component which makes our cross-cultural relationship possible. […] then even when the storms of life arise, their home will stand firm if both parties are committed Christians and have built their foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ and His Word. This really is true for several partners, whether mixed race or otherwise not. It really is in homes where in actuality the term of God isn’t upheld and put into training that the genuine risk is discovered.”
As this interracial couple lives and serves God together, they’ve been spreading God’s love, perhaps not hate – even to people who may oppose their union.
If you’re suffering or dealing with any sort of injustice, get assistance with a Biblical therapist at South Bay Bible Church.
