ARE MARRIAGES ACCEPTED WITH OTHER NATIONS ACROSS THE COLOUR LINE?
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “Is huwelike oor die kleurgrens geoorloof?”
Someone sent me a question, which came down to this: “Are marriages allowed with other nations across the colour line?
Here then is how I look at this matter:
In the Old Testament, according to the Law, under which Israel served our Lord, you could say, there were only two groups – The Jews, and the group you and I descend from – the Gentiles.
Jesus came to change that:
EPH 2:13-15
13But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us], 15by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
Why did Jesus do this?
JOHN 3:16
16“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Can you see?
He did this for every person on this earth and the only requirement that you must meet, is that you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and this applies to you and me and every other person around the world, regardless of colour:
1JOHN 2:2
2And He [that same Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins [the atoning sacrifice that holds back the wrath of God that would otherwise be directed at us because of our sinful nature—our worldliness, our lifestyle]; and not for ours alone, but also for [the sins of all believers throughout] the whole world.
What amazes me are people who call themselves Christians, and who read that the Lord they serve does not distinguish between the different population groups, but arrogate to themselves the right to do just that:
ACTS 10:34-36
34“So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to listen to everything that you have been instructed by the Lord [to say].”
Gentiles Hear Good News35Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“Most certainly I understand now that God is not one to show partiality [to people as though Gentiles were excluded from God’s blessing], 36but in every nation the person who fears God and does what is right [by seeking Him] is acceptable and welcomed by Him.
GAL 3:28
28There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus [no one can claim a spiritual superiority].
REV 5:9-10
9And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying, “Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.10“You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.”
There it is written, and I conclude with:
If it read: gender and language, people, and nation, then no one was left out – then how
can I look down, or be puffed-up against one of Jesus’ co-heirs for whom He went to hang on the cross?
It amazes me that people who know that our Lord do not discriminate – not even on the cross – seem to usurp themselves the right to do so.
My personal view is that someone who act like this, just because the person is a different colour, is making a mockery of the cross.
I am a white person. I didn’t choose to be white. Our Lord chose to make me white, and no one has the right to look down on me because I’m white. If someone does, then the person is looking down on our Lord’s handiwork and how He chose to do it.
What applies to me, applies to every other person, whatever his or her colour.
I said at the beginning, that in the Old Testament there were two groups. There were the Jews and there were the Gentiles.
Then the New Testament came into existence and again there are only two groups:
There are the Believers and there are the Unbelievers, and this is all the criteria that, according to how I understand the Word, may be used.
To put it in another way –
The Word only forbid a believer to marry an unbeliever.
Colour or language, for example, is not something that should be considered if two believers want to marry each other. They are both our Lord’s children. He dwell in both, and both are His heirs:
2 COR 6:14-16
14Do not be unequally bound together with unbelievers [do not make mismatched alliances with them, inconsistent with your faith]. For what partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said: “I WILL DWELL AMONG THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
As I understand the Word of our Lord, as far as man is concerned, there is only one race, and that is the human race.
What a couple do have to keep in mind if they are not of the same colour, is whether they will be able to handle the actions of many people in society, including religious people. Among these people there may also be many moral family members.
However, according to the Word, if you are both born again, in other words, Christians, there is nothing against it.
You are both born again children of our Lord and belong to the same people – God’s people. You are both blood-washed children of our Lord and you are both human and as human beings, you are both created in His image.
Gen 1:26-27
26Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Therefore, be proud of your colour. Our Lord has decided He want you in that colour.
Then just this:
I know I touched on this, but it is very important that you note this.
A marriage is not always moonlight and roses, but if you marry across the so-called colour line, a large part of society is going to make it even more difficult and a large part of that society that is going to make it even more difficult, is going to be very religious, but unfortunately also very far from God.
For those who don’t like what I just wrote about marriages across the so-called colour line, I just want to point out again that I say, and stand by it, that there is nothing in the Word that forbid one Christian to marry another born again child of our Lord who is from another nation. Regardless of what the person’s language or colour may be.
Greetings,
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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