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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Interracial marriages? Bible says what? | 2 Cor 6:14 | Grandma Betty | 135618 | ||
My grandson asked my advice on interrace marriages. This was by phone so I couldn't study before answering. I gave him this verse, and realize now that was an error. I ended telling him I didn't think there was sin in such marriages, but that it could cause you more problems and stress. I'm looking for a Biblical answer. Any help? | ||||||
2 | Interracial marriages? Bible says what? | 2 Cor 6:14 | pcdarcan | 135624 | ||
The Bible does not specifically discuss interracial marriage. It does, however, show how God views humankind and it provides guiding principles for those considering marriage. God accepts as his approved servants people out of all races, without discrimination. The Amplified Bible tells us “And He made from one [common origin, one source one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth... So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17:26, 27) “...God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he who venerates and has a reverential fear for God, treating Him with worshipful obedience and living uprightly, is acceptable to Him and sure of being received and welcomed [by Him]."—Acts 10:34, 35. So, the Bible nowhere implies that racial differences in themselves have anything to do with the properness of marriage. Of the remarriage of widows, the apostle Paul wrote: “A wife is bound to her husband by the law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:39) Thus the Christian is free to marry anyone who is Scripturally and legally free to do so, as long as that one is truly a fellow believer. Are there any other factors, then, worth considering? Yes, for Christians seek to exercise good judgment and wisdom in all they do. Among other things, they are encouraged to "Behave... wisely - living prudently and with discretion - in your relations with those of the outside world [the non-Christians].—Col. 4:5. In many areas interracial marriages are becoming increasingly common. People are traveling more, and often find the ways and customs of people of other lands attractive. War, too, has played a part, and many European and North American soldiers have married Asiatic wives. There is, then, a somewhat broadened viewpoint on the part of many toward interracial marriage. Nevertheless, not all worldly persons share this broadened viewpoint, nor do all appreciate Bible standards. Many deep-seated prejudices remain in the world of mankind. A Christian, being realistic, must face life as it is — not as he wishes it might be. One fifteen-year-old girl - the child of an interracial marriage - often feels caught in a virtual vise of prejudice. She says: “If I associate with blacks, then the white students feel I don’t want to be with them. However, if I associate with the white students, the blacks feel that I think I am better than they are.” So, Biblically there's nothing wrong with interracial marriages. Its a personal choice, but as mentioned above, 'a Christian, being realistic, must face life as it is — not as he wishes it might be' and then make their decision. Hope this helps... |
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3 | Interracial marriages? Bible says what? | 2 Cor 6:14 | xmikx | 135625 | ||
Please read the following two examples taken from the NASB... This is Ezra 9:1-2. Mixed Marriages 1 Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not (1) separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, (2) according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites. 2 "For (3) they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that (4) the holy race has (5) intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness." This is Nehemiah 13:22-24 also from NASB. Mixed Marriages Forbidden 23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had (3) married women from (4) Ashdod, (5) Ammon and Moab. 24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but the language of his own people. I hope this will help clarify the situation for you and your grandson as well as anyone else reading about this subject. It is covered in the word of God. |
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4 | Interracial marriages? Bible says what? | 2 Cor 6:14 | Hank | 135629 | ||
xmikx - Thank you for your contribution to this latest thread on what the Bible says about interracial marriage. .... It should be pointed out, however, that the passages from Ezra and Nehemiah that you cite in your post, in order to be exegeted correctly, must be read within the full context of God's dealings with His covenant people, the Jews. If modern readers, to whom such words as "race" and "racial" evoke ideas of racism and racial discrimmination based on physical characteristics such as color of skin or slant of eyes, read into the words of Ezra and Nehemiah a proscription against intermarriage based purely on physcial features, they miss the point. To hold and teach that Scripture in any manner promotes racism as we define it in our culture today is to fall into grievous error. The Bible does not teach racism as it is defined today, not in any way! The Old Testament prohibition against Jews intermarrying with "the nations" of Old Covenant times was based on religious grounds and nothing more or less. What the Bible calls "the nations" were paganistic, polytheistic worshipers of idols, false gods. Intermarriage among Jews and pagans would lead and did lead the Jews to theological corruption, to idolatry, to disobedience of God and rupture of His covenant relationship with His chosen people. Thus God's prohibition of this practice in the Old Testament had everything to do with the preservation of spiritual purity and nothing to do with physical. It was, in fact, not unlike what He says in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?" This passage from Corinthians primarily relates to the false teachers who were troubling the church, though it may apply to other alliances such as marriage and even business relationships. In any event, neither the Old Testament nor the New teaches racism nor condemns "mixed marriages" based on color of skin or other physical distinctives. A question to ponder: Which is better for a believer -- to marry a non-believer of the same skin color, or to marry a believer whose skin is darker (or lighter) than his own? ....... Here's how it is and how it must be in Christ's church, among the sheep of His pasture: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." ...... Call it what we will -- bigotry, racial superiority, racism -- there is no room in the Church for racial discrimination of any form or for any reason. --Hank | ||||||
5 | Interracial marriages? Bible says what? | 2 Cor 6:14 | JCrichton | 135680 | ||
Hi, Hank! Excellent post! God Bless! Angel |
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