No, the Bible teaches that race is unimportant in our relationship with God:

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him. (Romans 10:12 NIV)

The New Testament also makes no mention of race when discussing marriage. It does, however, command that believers should only marry other believers. For example, Paul wrote

A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. (1 Corinthians 7:36 NIV)

There was a similar law in the Old Testament: believers were only to marry other believers. However, in the Old Testament believers were almost always Israelites, and so the law was often stated in terms of Israelites not being allowed to marry people of other nationalities. For example:

When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations---the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you ... Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the LORD's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. (Deuteronomy 7:1-4)

The verses make it clear that it was not their nationality that was the problem, it was their religion. This is evident when Boaz married Ruth, a Moabite woman (Ruth 4:10,13). Although it was normally forbidden to marry a Moabite (Neh 13:23-25), in this case it was acceptable because she had converted to belief in the true God (Ruth 1:16).

Tagged with →  
Share →

2 Responses to Are interracial marriages wrong?

  1. brother yochanan says:

    often other races have their Gods and beliefs.
    If both are christian then it should not matter.
    If one is christian and the other not a christian this is wrong. Its not being under the law its just good common sense.
    If neither are christian, who cares, lol.

  2. Ed says:

    The word race or the ideal of their existing more than one, is not supported by scriptures. Actually, one race -(the human race) is offered Biblically: The origin of Man. Gen. 1-2; No superior ethnic group. Acts 17:26, Gal. 3:28, Col. 3:11.

    The Bible’s only requirement is that the couples be equally yoked. What does this entail for the Christian today? 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1. Let me suggest that these verses are a warning against any and all associations with unbelievers that would place believers in situations where they find it difficulty or impossible to avoid compromising principle. Because there is so great a difference in ideals and conduct between Christians and non-Chrisitians, that to enter into any binding relationship – marriage, business, etc., inevitably confronts the Chrisitian with alternatives for abandoning principles or difficulites in belief and conduct. To ignore this warning would be to disobey God and to bargain with the devil.

    All associations with unbelievers is not prohibited, only those that would diminish the Christian’s love for God, to lead to a compromise of a pure outlook on life or derail a right pattern of conduct.

    Remember, as Christians we are mission oriented. Thus, the question we ask ourselves when it comes to associations is “Will I be a light to this person or is my desire to connect with this person due to my desire for worldliness that I see in this person? Whose influence is likely to prevail, that of Christ or that of the adversary?

    Our salvation and our blessed hope is too precious to compromise. We must guard it.

    However, remember “Eyes have not seen nor ear heard the wonderful things God has in store for those who love Him.” l Cor. 2:9.

    If we are patient and wait on the Lord, we can expect in a special way to enjoy God’s favor, and will find that His plan for us is the very best, far surpassing any plans we migh have for ourselves.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *