Inter-racial Marriage in the Church

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world! Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight! Jesus loves the little children of the world!”

Racism is a form of "hate" in its worst sense, and the Word addresses this directly: "If a man says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" (1 John 4:20).

Let me start out by saying I am categorized as a white woman (though I am Irish and Native American). I was raised in a white neighborhood and really, racism wasn’t a part of my upbringing.

I’ll tell you a little story. When I grew up and married an Air Force (white) guy, I used to sing in the A.F. base talent shows. I was a consistent winner and applauded others who were incredibly talented. When the time came for the Tops In Blue competition, I asked a very talented gentleman named Henry (also a black man) to sing a duet with me. We got together to select a song and I met his lovely wife. She was white. She loved the Lord! Then I realized, in the back of my mind, that I’d always had the idea that inter-racial marriage was wrong when it came to Christianity.

I didn’t know the Word and asked my pastor about it. He simply said, “I wouldn’t recommend it in the south”. I told him I needed to know what the Bible said about it. We should never worry about persecution by man! Isn’t that the message of Jesus Christ?!

So, I asked Henry’s wife. She told me that Moses married a woman from Ethiopia (Numbers 12). Moses’ brother Aaron and sister Miriam spoke against her and were struck with leprosy by God! King Solomon married the love of his life, a Shulamite woman who was black! (The Song of Solomon 1). Therefore, we know Jesus Christ our Messiah was born of the lineage of David, King Solomon’s father. Yes, there are indeed black people in the line of Christ! Even Jesus wasn’t categorized “white”, or European. He was Jewish! Henry and I won first place in that talent show! Whoo Hoo!

People, the Bible not only states that Eve is the mother of all of us (every single race), it is scientifically proven that all humanity came from one chromosome, that of Eve. According to genetics (DNA) originally, cells contained only the X (female) chromosome.

Well, eventually, I became the choir director at the Air Force Base Chapel. I noticed when the “white” service got out the “black” service came in. This really bothered me. Why is it that Christians of the same faith are segregating themselves? Through communication with the chaplains and in combining of the two choirs, we saw the two services intermingling in the Lord. When the base was closing and few people were left, the different services also came together into one service. It was so good to see no more division of race or religious tradition, but unity in the Lord!

The point is, people mistakenly interpret, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Cor. 6:14, KJV). Do you see “race” mentioned here anywhere? If you think “light” means “white” and “darkness” means “black”…just kidding! God isn’t concerned with people worshiping with or marrying people of a different race, but is concerned we do so with those of the same faith!

The church has no place for racism of any sort! What if Jesus only allowed olive-complected people into heaven?! He was born a Jew! My first husband and I divorced after 12 years of marriage. My second husband? A black man. I have a beautiful inter-racial daughter and I’m so proud of her. We love Jesus with all our hearts, and I will always know that we stand as a witness of this truth of race united in faith.

Galatians 3:28 states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek (racism), there is neither slave nor free man (slavery/master), there is neither male nor female (sexism); for you are all one in Christ Jesus." And all God's children of the world say, "AMEN!"