SUBJECT:  Interracial Marriage

QUESTION:  What is your church’s doctrine or belief regarding interracial marriage?

ANSWER:

The following is from our Doctrinal Statement regarding the Christian and His Relationship to His Fellow Man:

Race Relations in the Church

Jesus Himself laid down the highest standard for a human in relation to his fellow man when He described the second most important command as being "you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39).  This love for neighbor must transcend the human barrier of racial, ethnic and social background.  It arises above the human weaknesses of jealousy, envy, hate and bitterness.  It teaches man how to hate the sin, but to have compassion for the sinner, and it must grow to the place where a man will even have love for his enemies when they are persecuting him.

Of course, the ultimate example of Christianity for all generations and times was set by Christ Himself, who gave His life for all sinners.  Philippians 2 shows that He emptied Himself of His power and glory as a member of the godhead and came to the earth, not to be served or waited upon, but as a servant of all mankind.  His every action and thought while on earth depicted the epitome of true Christian outgoing concern; this serving attitude is perhaps best illustrated by His willingness to die pitifully on a tree between two criminals.  Thus Jesus Himself personified the greatest love a Christian can have for another which, by Jesus' own words, was to lay down one's life for a friend.

Loving one's neighbor means that a Christian must not harbor racial prejudice within his heart. The official doctrine of the Church is that discrimination toward persons because of race or ethnic origin is wrong and totally contrary to the teachings of the Bible.  Almighty God is the Creator of the different races of man.  He puts no spiritual distinction between these races (Acts 15:9; Galatians 3:28; etc.). In the Kingdom of God, there will be no racial stigma of any kind.  The Church of God strives to reflect the coming Kingdom of God in its attitudes toward race at the present time.

God is no respecter of persons; He shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35; James 2:2).  He deals justly with all men.  There is no double standard with the Almighty:

 "There shall be one law for the native and for the stranger who sojourns among you" (Exodus 12:49; cf.  Numbers 15:15, 16).

How to deal justly and how to love one's neighbor is set forth plainly by Paul in Philippians 2:2-4:

"Complete my joy, by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfishness or conceit; but in humility count others better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

The giving of esteem, one to another, is a two-way street.  To love one's neighbor is to be concerned for his spiritual and physical welfare.  To love one's neighbor means to respect him, to admire his accomplishments.  The point of Philippians 2:2-4 is that a Christian must radiate the attitude and the actions of unselfish service toward his fellow man.  He must esteem his fellow Christians better than himself, because he knows his own weaknesses in contrast to his brothers accomplishments.  It is this attitude of love and concern which is imperative if we are to have proper individual and group relationships.

Ethnic integration of the races is as much a factor of modem western society as was integration of various ethnic groups in the Roman society of the first century.  The example of the early history of the New Testament Church was to show no partiality between Jew, Greek or any other ethnic group.

"Truly I perceive," said the apostle Peter, "that God shows no partiality, but in every nation everyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him" (Acts 10:34-35). And again, God has "made no distinction between us and them" (Acts 15:9; Galatians 2:11-16).

While the political situation in some few areas of the world may require a limitation of social integration, this is not a doctrine or overall policy of the church.  In matters of church fellowship and office, there is no discrimination because of ethnic background.  Different ethnic groups are free, of course, to preserve their own culture and identity, including having such church-sponsored ethnic socials as a Latin dance or a German evening.  But the church does not teach or practice a regular segregation of different ethnic groups in its services.  Members are encouraged to get to know the members of groups in its services.  Members are encouraged to get to know the members of groups other than their own.  Only then can they appreciate the qualities of others and practice that love of one another which is the central message of the Bible.

In matters of church fellowship and office, there should be no discrimination because of ethnic background.  The criteria for baptism are repentance and belief.  Ordination to the ministry—at whatever level—is based on those spiritual criteria indicated in the Bible, such as conversion and calling.  Ethnic origin is no factor.  This is the present belief and practice of the church, and it holds this to be in accord with the Bible and the mind of God.

Over the years, the term "integration" has been tarnished with the corrosive taint of emotionally loaded epithets. Webster's New World Dictionary defines "integrate" in the primary sense to mean: "to make whole or complete by adding or bringing together parts ... (secondarily) unity."

God has integrated His church to teach us His way of harmony between peoples.  It is this Christian unity, the Christian culture and the mind of Christ, rather than the rigid ideas and entrenched biases of men, which unites rather than separates us and which will determine how "integrated" or fitly framed together we (the Church of God) really are (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Misunderstandings have often arisen from incorrectly interpreting another's thoughts or motives about what is true integration.  When the topic of race relations is brought up, many in the white community tend to think immediately of the question of racial intermarriage.  The black and other minority communities, by contrast, are more concerned about having the same opportunities for education, work, advancement and economic reward that the average white citizen has, than about interracial marriage or ethnic assimilation.

Minority people perceive their struggle for justice, fair play and racial equality to be life and death attempts to stay afloat in a competitive society while shooting the rapids of racial prejudice and injustice.  Human cultures have their inherent weaknesses.  So long as this present evil world stands, there will always be unjust weights and measures—something God Almighty hates.

Church history reveals that the attitude of contemporary society has, to one degree or another, always been reflected in religion.  But we in the Church of God cannot allow society to determine our racial mores and standards, nor to force us into its mold of racial bigotry.  Our conduct is rather to be exemplary of the principles set forth in the pages of the Bible.  Our unity cannot be artificial, but a clear expression of Christian love.

Race relations in the church can be termed human relations—the attitude, respect, appreciation and brotherhood that should be expressed among all races.  We are admonished by the Word of God to be willing to lay down our lives for our brethren: not just loving in word or speech, but in deed and in truth.  And who are our brethren?  Christ clearly answers this for us: "For whosoever [regardless of race] does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matthew 12:46-50).  God does not see as man sees, nor does He look on the outward appearance.

The integrated Church of God is the herald of God's Kingdom and a new culture, wherein God's perfect government will at once banish racial discrimination, while urging all families of the human race to develop to the fullest their unique ethnic human potential.

In view of the grave importance of marriage—for what it symbolizes, for the stability of society and for the happiness of the individual—the Church of God strongly urges that dating and marriage emphasize similar racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  The reason for this is to insure the greater likelihood of mutual compatibility between marriage partners and the predictability of patterns of appearance, talent and temperament in their children and that their children may fit in with society more easily.

Furthermore, God created the races and national groupings of families; He created the diversity in man to encourage the richness of cultural experiences and to generate the combined creative product of divine contributions to society.  Consequently, God wants each ethnic group to take pride in its own origin and heritage.  In the world tomorrow, there will be different races and nations and each will be encouraged to maintain and strengthen its own identity and culture; most marriages, therefore, will preserve this identity and culture by remaining within traditional boundaries.

Wise marriages are those which match people suited for each other.  Compatibility may be determined by consideration of the many different traits of personality, cultural background, intellect, character and even physical features.  A marriage in which neither partner properly understands the other's language is not likely to be the most fulfilling.   The same general considerations come into question when people of two obviously diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds consider marriage.  Two people could, hypothetically, be compatible though of diverse racial backgrounds.  In actual practice, such differences usually imply other important differences which will compete with rather than complement each other.

The church cannot and does not forbid people of the same race or ethnic background to marry even when unsuited for one another.  Likewise, we cannot and do not forbid people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds to marry even though such marriages may not be wise.  The church simply does not attempt to regulate who one may or may not marry. (And no stigma must ever be attached to children that may result from such a union—though in the world they may well face social strains and heartaches.)

There is no limit to what the Holy Spirit can do through the individual that submits himself to God.  God's church is exhorted to break the bonds of prejudice by putting on the “new man” which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision ... bond or free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:9-10ff); It is the responsibility of each church member to repent of past wrong attitudes toward those of other race or ethnic groups.  We are all one in Christ and must have that Christian love for all which only God's Spirit makes possible.