Whether you’re for or against interracial relationships, most people have a definite opinion on the topic. Some people are influenced by the values and mores of their families of origin; whereas, others have been influenced by the media’s increasing propensity for interracial inclusion. So, what do you think? (please comment below!)
Three students at UNC Chapel Hill put together an interesting “ethnography on interracial relationships by UNC Chapel Hill students”:
After listening to opinion, it’s good to ask, “Does the Bible have anything to say about interracial relationships?” I think it does.
In the Old Testament, God forbid the Israelites from marrying anyone outside of the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). Does this mean that God is a racist? No. The express purpose of the command was because God knew that the mixing of those people would lead to Israelites worshiping false gods. The same principle is found in the New Testament for believers today (2 Corinthians 6:14) where believers need to be “equally yoked.”
So, are there any reasons to be cautious about interracial relationships? I would say yes. Interracial relationships are often comprised of two people with very different cultural backgrounds. These cultural backgrounds heavily play into one’s paradigm of marriage, marital roles, and overall expectations. Innately, we naturally view our view as “normal” and division can be quickly caused in the relationship when both parties aren’t on the same page in a variety of areas. I highly recommend good pre-engagement and premarital counseling and to dig deep in these areas because they will have a large impact on the relationship.
Lastly, on a personal note, I am frustrated with how the term race is used in America. People differentiate race by the color of someone’s skin; however, we now know that such a distinction is solely based upon the amount of pigmentation (i.e., melanin) the person has in their skin. Instead, I posit that we are one race – the human race. If we weren’t of one race, then people of varying skin shades could not procreate with one another. I believe it would be better to have people self-classify based upon their culture, for that is really what distinguishes one people group from another.
What have you been taught about interracial relationships? What do you now believe?
Jim says
Read the entire chapter, then come back and tell us what you got out of it.
It’s saying that Israelites must not marry and mix with the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites because of the their distance with God.
No where does it mention race.
I wish you well in your future marriage.
Eric says
It looks like we came to the same conclusion. Thank you for commenting!