Question: Is Interracial Dating Biblical?
Unfortunately prejudice and racism is still a worldwide issue. In countries that have a variety of races in its population the question of whether or not interracial dating is an acceptable practice for Christians is appropriate. In order to answer the question we need to take a close look at God’s Word.
Answer:
What About the Old Testament?
Some people use scripture in the Old Testament to try and prohibit interracial dating and marriage. They take scripture verses like Deuteronomy 7:3 (“Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons,” (NIV)) and claim that the scripture means that people of different races should not date or marry. Yet we need to remember that this scripture was written at a different time, and Hebrews were warned against marrying gentiles more out of keeping believers from marrying unbelievers rather than race. For instance, Solomon was not just judged for marrying women of foreign countries, but actually women of different faiths who worshipped false gods. Actually, there were instances where those from different races were allowed to convert to Judaism and marry Hebrews. Ruth and Rahab were both examples of women who converted to Judaism and married men of a different race.But Paul Said…
What about people being unequally yoked? In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” (NIV). While some people try and use this scripture to discourage interracial dating, it is not talking about the color of our skin at all. In fact, it is only discussing the idea that believers should not be dating or married to unbelievers.God Loves Us All
God created us all, and that includes the color of our skin. In the Book of Genesis we learn that God created all things, including Adam and Eve, who gave birth to all the nations. He then made a covenant with Abraham that, through him, all the nations would be blessed. Then people waited for the coming of the messiah, Jesus Christ, to be a light to all people – Jews and Gentiles alike. In the New Testament Jesus breaks down boundaries. There is no difference between Jew or Gentile, just believers and non-believers. It is a problem for the apostles early on, because they do not understand that even Gentiles could be accepted into the body of Christ without first converting to Judaism.
Acts 10:28 – “He said to them: ‘You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.’” (NIV)
