Bible Question: Is it a sin to marry outside your race? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Samson2000, Here are two *re-posts* from the Forum's past that I put here a while back, having to do with Interracial marriage. "Is Interracial marriage supported in the Bible? I have wondered myself if the Bible supports or does not support marriage between two people of a different race (I am referring to a Male/Female marriage of course, since homosexuality and lesbianism is forbidden [Gen. 19:5; Lev. 18:22-23,20:13; Deut. 23:17; Judg. 19:22-24; 1 Kings 14:24,15:12; Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-10]. Polygamy is also forbidden [Lev. 18:18; Deut. 17:17; Titus 1:6]). Now you must understand me: I have a great and healthy respect for all people since we are all one in Christ (Gal. 3:28). In fact, skin color is the Creator's choice (Jer. 13:23), and a black man named Simon (of Cyrene, which was a city in North Africa) helped Jesus carry His cross (Mark 15:21). I have many friends who are of a different race than I am and that is not the aim or goal of this discussion. My question is: Does the Bible permit people of different race to intermarry? First of all, there are situations in the Bible that condemn interracial marriage. Isaac sought a wife from his own father's family (Gen. 24:1-4)and so did Jacob (Gen. 27:46-28:2). The Israelites were commanded not to intermarry (Ex. 34:16; Deut. 7:3-4; Ezra 9:1-2,12; Neh. 10:30, 13:23-27; Josh. 23:12-13), but this was mostly on the basis of leading the people astray through foreign gods (Mal. 2:11; Deut. 17:17; 1 Cor. 7:39). However, God did permit the Israelites to marry foreign women in other situations: captives from war (Deut. 21:10-13), and because of a 'shortage' of women (Judges 21:21-23). Timothy, the youthful early church leader, was a half-Jew (Acts 16:1) and Moses's wife Zipporah was an Ethiopian woman (Num. 12:1). The Bible does not clearly state whether or not God's people should marry interracially, but it does say that the partner should be a believer in Christ (1 Cor. 7:39, 2 Cor. 6:14). It is interesting to note that all nations and people are important to God (Amos 9:7) and having black skin is beautiful (Song Of Solomon 1:5-6). Jesus usurped the racist traditions of the Israelites(Matt. 15:21-28; Luke 10:25-37) and the Bible even speaks of 'hatred without reason' (Psalm 69:4) and anti-Semitism (Esther 3:8-9, 5:10-14). Also, Gentiles are despised, the Israelites are despised (Gen. 43:32) and foreigners are excluded from fellowship (Neh. 13:1-3). The Bible also encourages freedom from slavery (1 Cor. 7:21; The book of Exodus). In conclusion, interracial marriage is not against the will of God based upon the Bible. It remains a question of being yoked/unequally yoked in fellowship with God Himself and choosing a husband/wife that will help you to enrich your walk in the Lord (1 Cor. 7:35)." (Nolan Keck) ----------------------------------- "What does the Bible teach about interracial marriages? Nothing in the New Testament prohibits interracial marriage. Christians are at liberty to marry whomever they wish--as long as the other person is also a Christian (1 Corinthians 7:39). The Old Testament contained some restrictions on whom the Israelites could marry. These were meant to protect the people of God from pagan influences (Deut. 7:3-4) and to guard the purity of the Aaronic priesthood (Lev. 21:13-14). There were even some strict regulations about inter-tribal marriage, designed to keep the various tribes' inheritance from being lost by intermarriage (Num. 36:3-9). All such restrictions are explicitly annulled by the New Testament (Gal. 3:27-29)." Taken from http://www.gty.org/IssuesandAnswers/archive/marriage.htm" (Nolan Keck) Grace to you, Nolan |