Christianity Question and Progress Update

[Realizer]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people? It shouldn't matter what skin color you are in my opinion. I don't understand that way of thinking.

UPDATE on my journey: I found a church before I had to move back home. It was hard to move back home, because the church I found was amazing. I learned a lot and keep in touch with my all girls college youth group I had to leave. I listen to their podcasts as well, and it helps me when I miss it. But, I moved and now I'm close to a spiritual mentor I guess you could say, and he has helped me a lot too in answering my questions, but I wanted to ask a wider community about this question above.

 

[Albion]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

I have no hesitation in calling that idea a very rare and extreme one among Christians and Christian churches. I would not give it any more thought, if I were you, Realizer.

 

[bling]

The Ethiopian Eunuch was black, so why would it matter who you date?

 

[Realizer]

I have no hesitation in calling that idea a very rare and extreme one among Christians and Christian churches. I would not give it any more thought, if I were you, Realizer.

I wasn't sure if it was more common than I've been hearing about it.

The Ethiopian Eunuch was black, so why would it matter who you date?

I didn't think it mattered, but I wanted to ask. I dated someone who's black for four years, so it's not like I really followed that belief. I just found it odd to be a "Christian" belief.

 

[Bible Highlighter]

God is concerned with the matters of the heart and not the outward appearance.
Before I met my wife, I made a promise to myself that I would never marry an unbeliever or someone who did not believe the same way I do. This was largely in part because my childhood taught me that if one parent (or the other partner) does not believe in God (i.e. Truly believes in God where it changes their life and actions), then it is best not to get involved with that person because they can cause you great hardship, and cause you heart ache. Granted, everything in life happens for a reason; And even a believer may not be perfect.

So what are you to do?

Follow the Lord and study His Word more and ask for God to bring you your soul mate into your life. Do not go by just feelings in the moment. These feelings are fleeting.
I remember having a crush on a girl in school, and I am glad I did not end up with her. It's not that she was not a nice person, it was that she was not the person for me. God has a specific person out there for everyone who follows Him (if they desire a mate).

Jesus says seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.
So I would encourage you not to seek a relationship with this person not because of their outward appearance, but because chances are they are probably not the person God has in mind for you yet.

I hope what I said helps;
And may the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

Sincerely,

~ Jason.

 

[miamited]

Hi realizer,

I haven't found that the Scriptures have anything to say for or against mixed race marriages. God's word encourages that we be yoked with like minded believers, but that depends on whether one is a believer when they marry and the depth of that belief. In a lot of the new covenant conversions of faith, many people come to faith in Jesus after they are already married and so Paul then encourages the new believer to stay with their spouse as far as it is within their power to do so. He does, however, allow that if the unbeliever wants to leave the marriage then the other spouse can allow that.

The Scriptures do ask, in the old covenant, that Jews marry within their nationality or faith. But, there are also instances where the Scriptures seem to show that God was ok with marriages outside of their own people. Ruth is probably the best example. But Ruth did convert. She did later declare to Naomi that Naomi's God would be her God, also.

So, I wouldn't agree that it's a christian belief, but rather that it is a belief that some christians hold.

God bless,
ted

 

[Albion]

I didn't think it mattered, but I wanted to ask. I dated someone who's black for four years, so it's not like I really followed that belief. I just found it odd to be a "Christian" belief.

I would put it this way: AS A Christian belief, it is odd.

About the most we could say is that there are some few Christians who do believe that, but no denomination that I am aware of holds to that view, and the individual Christians who do are almost certainly bringing their socio-political views into the faith and looking for some way to justify them with the Bible.

 

[Realizer]

...and the individual Christians who do are almost certainly bringing their socio-political views into the faith and looking for some way to justify them with the Bible.

This is kinda what I felt was going on.

 

[AFrazier]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people? It shouldn't matter what skin color you are in my opinion. I don't understand that way of thinking.

UPDATE on my journey: I found a church before I had to move back home. It was hard to move back home, because the church I found was amazing. I learned a lot and keep in touch with my all girls college youth group I had to leave. I listen to their podcasts as well, and it helps me when I miss it. But, I moved and now I'm close to a spiritual mentor I guess you could say, and he has helped me a lot too in answering my questions, but I wanted to ask a wider community about this question above.

The concept is rare and is generally found in extremist groups, like the Ku Klux Klan, for example, who consider themselves Christian.

The Biblical support for the idea (indeed, there is support for it, surprisingly) is from the Old Testament. God wanted the Jewish bloodline kept pure, because they were his chosen and peculiar people. However, this never applied to anyone else, and the true nature of Israel is now spiritual in nature, being made up of the collective body of believers. In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, free nor bond. We are all the same in God's eyes.

While some groups have latched on to that Old Testament concept in the same way certain denominations may frown on tattoos, dancing, etc., they are nevertheless Old Testament precepts carried forward by those who don't understand the abolition of the Old Covenant and the subsequent transition to the New Covenant.

Date whomever you please. Marry whomever you please. Just do your best to find your Christian match. Paul does warn us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers, and often enough, being tied to someone who is much stronger or weaker in faith can create a very trying situation, even if you are both believers.

 

[FireDragon76]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Some southern fundamentalists may still believe this, but it's a wrong. There is only one race that God cares about: the human race.

 

[maintenance man]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

I think that came form racial segregationist who likely justified their position with scripture from the Old Testament when God was trying to keep his people separate from those worshiping false gods.

It's a good example of people trying to twist the scripture to fit their prejudice.

It's not true.

 

[tampasteve]

Indeed, it is ridiculous and simply an incorrect viewpoint to hold. At one time racists used the scripture to justify their beliefs, they were and are wrong. My wife is Chinese and I am Northern European - our Lutheran minister had no issues whatsoever marrying us. There are also other interracial marriages in our parish.

 

[redleghunter]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

This is usually a cult idea. Be wary of people who try to divide the Body of Christ His Church into ethnic groups. Paul preached against divisions in 1 Corinthians and also said the following:

Galatians 3: NASB
26For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people? It shouldn't matter what skin color you are in my opinion. I don't understand that way of thinking.

It’s not a Christian thing. Christ came to unite the nations under Him.

 

[tampasteve]

This is usually a cult idea.

Not necessarily, I have heard it from otherwise well meaning mainline Baptist believers that were from an older generation. Sad, but it is pervasive still in some circles. But certainly not common as it might once have been, most Christians and churches would preach against it, even if some believes hold to it themselves.

It’s not a Christian thing. Christ came to unite the nations under Him.

Amen!

 

[redleghunter]

Not necessarily, I have heard it from otherwise well meaning mainline Baptist believers that were from an older generation. Sad, but it is pervasive still in some circles. But certainly not common as it might once have been, most Christians and churches would preach against it, even if some believes hold to it themselves.

I can see that and you are right. There are still circles out there believing racist eisegesis. I just find it interesting the first Christians were Jews, Greeks, Romans and African. And you have peoples who were not converted until hundreds of years later trying to force ethnic divisions.

 

[PloverWing]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

I regret to say that in my younger years, I more than once heard this view being discussed as though it were a completely sensible application of the Scriptures. As others have mentioned, the prohibitions on interfaith marriages among the ancient Israelites were the passages used.

I am in my 50s, and I grew up in the South. I was born before Loving v Virginia. Segregation was considered good and normal in that subculture at that time, and I suppose it's natural that Christians would go looking for prooftexts to support their views.

Thankfully, it has been some years since I heard someone twisting Scripture to defend a ban on interracial marriage. I hope that the belief in the "naturalness" of segregation dies when my generation dies.

 

[aiki]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people? It shouldn't matter what skin color you are in my opinion. I don't understand that way of thinking.

UPDATE on my journey: I found a church before I had to move back home. It was hard to move back home, because the church I found was amazing. I learned a lot and keep in touch with my all girls college youth group I had to leave. I listen to their podcasts as well, and it helps me when I miss it. But, I moved and now I'm close to a spiritual mentor I guess you could say, and he has helped me a lot too in answering my questions, but I wanted to ask a wider community about this question above.

I've heard people suggest that people of different ethnicities should not intermarry. We call those sorts of people racists. There is absolutely no Scriptural basis for such thinking.

You should not have a male spiritual mentor. Such a relationship is a recipe for disaster. And the fact that your spiritual mentor has not pointed this out to you is indication enough that you ought to avoid him carefully. Now, if its a young man and you are romantically involved, that's a different matter. But an older guy spiritually mentoring a younger female is extremely unwise.

 

[Sketcher]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people?

I've heard of this, and it is wrong. The argument I've heard is that it is self-evident from God confusing the languages of people and thereby splitting them up to prevent them from completing the Tower of Babel. However, this interpretation of that story is wrong for at least these two reasons:

1) Interracial marriage was approved of in the Old Testament - Moses and his Ethiopian wife, Rahab and Salmon, Ruth and Boaz are three examples of this. The injunctions against marrying foreigners were because of their pagan religions, not because of their race being different.
2) Colossians 3:11 clearly teaches that if a racial dividing line existed, Jesus erased it. The same concept is touched on in Galatians 3:28, which clearly states all Christians are one in Christ.

 

[Realizer]

I stopped getting email notifications for some reason and I'd been busy for a little while. I'm glad you all have replied and given some truth. I had a feeling it was just another version of racism, I just wanted to confirm. Thank you all so much <3

 

[ViaCrucis]

Has anyone else heard this as a Christian? You can't be romantically involved with someone of a different ethnicity because it's against the Bible?

Why is this a thing, and how is it Christian, when you should love all people? It shouldn't matter what skin color you are in my opinion. I don't understand that way of thinking.

UPDATE on my journey: I found a church before I had to move back home. It was hard to move back home, because the church I found was amazing. I learned a lot and keep in touch with my all girls college youth group I had to leave. I listen to their podcasts as well, and it helps me when I miss it. But, I moved and now I'm close to a spiritual mentor I guess you could say, and he has helped me a lot too in answering my questions, but I wanted to ask a wider community about this question above.

You'll find all kinds of bizarre and extreme ideas if you look hard enough. The idea that one can't be romantically involved with a person of another race or ethnicity is an extreme, stupid idea that arose exceedingly recently and is rooted in racist and racialist ideas. It's the same stupid reason you have some [white] Christians who tried to say that black people are descended from Ham and therefore were supposed to be slaves (not joking, that was a real argument some people have tried to make in the past); it's why you get people making stupid claims like that Eve had sex with Satan and gave birth to Cain, and that Jews are literally the offspring of the devil (again, yes, there are people who actually believe this).

The idea of race is, fundamentally, meaningless when one spends some time thinking about it. And the idea of not dating outside of one's ethnicity is equally ridiculous when given serious thought because it is based on the idea of people of different races or ethnicities being separate--the problem is that each and every one of us alive on earth is a mixed bag of genetics. And we are all related to one another, that should be obvious, but apparently needs to be stated--the differences between all human beings is of such minute difference that it approaches almost nothing at all. The same genetic differences that give rise to being tall, short, freckles or no freckles etc are the same genetic differences that give rise to things like skin color, hair color, facial features. Judging a person based on the color of their skin is like judging a person based on how tall they are--it is such a minute, meaningless, and arbitrary difference that it means nothing at all in the grand scheme of things.

-CryptoLutheran