I don't know exactly what spurred me to post this today. I was reading my Bible in Ezra and thinking briefly about Ezra's rebuke of some Israelites inter-marrying with local pagans. I know that such passages have led to a lot of folks, particularly in previous generations, justifying their anti-interracial marriage position.

I would like to point out something that is patently obvious in the Biblical text if one is willing to read it: intermarriage with other nations and people groups was forbidden by God on theological grounds, not socio-political grounds. In other words, the Israelite nation was marked off as the adopted ones of God. They were a kingdom of priests to God. The other nations were in rebellion against that same God. To marry them is to join yourself to them. And thus, to marry them would be to join yourself (yoke yourself Paul says) to unbelief. That is why it was forbidden. Because more than likely, it would lead to spiritual apostasy (as it did on numerous occasions, most notably for King Solomon).

So once again, God forbade those marriages because they were between believers and unbelievers, regenerate and unregenerate. NOT because they were of different nationality, skin color, language, etc. In fact, if one of those people from the other nations became an adopted child of God (like say, Rahab the Harlot), they were free to marry. Is that not clear?

I was raised in a town with moderate hostility between black and white folks. There were many black students bussed into my school. I said my fair share of "black jokes" in my day. And so, when I became a Christian, much of that continued with me. I continued to softly oppose interracial marriages, mainly on pragmatic grounds. "It's hard on the children." "Society doesn't understand."

It wasn't until John Piper (and if you're keeping score, you'll notice that same refrain over and over in my spiritual life) preached on this subject that my assumptions were challenged.

I have included here a link to an excellent sermon by Piper on this very subject. Read it (or listen to it) and be challenged! Here is the outline of his argument:

1. All "races" have one ancestor in the image of God, and all humans are in God's image
2. The Bible forbids intermarriage between unbeliever and believer, but not between "races"
3. In Christ our oneness is profound and transforms racial and social differences from barries to blessings
4. Criticizing one interracial marriage was severely disciplined by God
5. Closing Implications
   1. Opposition to interracial marriage is one of the deepest roots of racial distance, disrespect, and hostility.
   2. Christ does not call us to a prudent life, but to a God-centered, Christ-exalting, justice-advancing, counter-cultural, risk-taking life of love and courage. Will it be harder to be married to another race, and will it be harder for the kids? Maybe. Maybe not. But since when is that the way a Christian thinks? Life is hard. And the more you love the harder it gets.
   3. Christians are people who move toward need and truth and justice, not toward comfort and security. Life is hard. But God is good. And Christ is strong to help.
   4. At Bethlehem [Piper's church] we will not underestimate the challenges of interracial marriage or transracial adoption (they go closely together). We will celebrate the beauty, and we will embrace the burden. Both will be good for us and good for the world and good for the glory of God.