Question:  Greetings, Greg!

            A question has been asked by a friend in respect to interracial or “mixed” marriages.  I understand that intermarriage in Old Testament times referred to religion rather than race.

            Would you be so kind as to help us with some scriptures or scripture references to clarify this question?

            Thank you,

            Eben

 

Answer:  Dear Eben,

            Regarding interracial marriage:

1.      It is clearly erroneous for a Christian to appeal to or look to Old Testament passages that reflect old covenant practices.  Put another way, there is an old covenant moral law that is reiterated under the new, and where that is the case, many New Testament passages exist as illustrations.  However, simply because something was done or not done under the old covenant does not make that thing required behavior for a Christian.  The Hebrews were the people of God, by God’s choice, through whom he would eventually bless all nations.  That blessing was Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, born of a woman, flesh, as a Jew.  He fulfilled that particular promise—to bless all nations through the people who lived by Sinai.  So, exactly what the Israelites did or did not do under the old covenant is not necessarily germane for Christians, and certainly not required.  The question of who married whom in the Old Testament—whether it was inter-faith, or inter-racial (or both at the same time) has about as much practical moral relevance for the Christian as whether Christian males may have multiple wives, since Old Testament patriarchs did.

2.      Christians are saved by grace, and, having accepted Christ, we live under the new covenant.  We are told in Ephesians and Galatians that the wall of partition is broken down, that Christ has made us all one, that we are all one in Christ, that “there is neither Jew nor Greek”, etc.  Racial barriers that existed under the old covenant do not exist under the new.

3.      Inter-racial marriage is therefore not forbidden by the Bible.  However, whether it is wise or expedient depends upon other conditions—cultural, family, etc.  There are places in our 21st century world where inter-racial couples and families will be accepted by society, and places where they will not.  Human discrimination and racial bigotry is a fact of our human, sinful natures.  It does exist, and we would be wise to behave accordingly.  Paul tells us that the fact that we are free to behave in a particular way does not mean that such behavior will always be expedient.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht