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Why Pastors Should Bless Interracial Marriage
John Piper more from this author »
Desiring God
John Piper offers wisdom for handling the issue of interracial marriage with a strong biblical perspective.
"Biblically, what the Bible stresses is 'don't marry an unbeliever.' The Bible doesn't stress or teach 'don't marry a person of another race,'" says Piper.
Discussion: Is interracial marriage accepted in your church?
John Piper is the Pastor for Preaching at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, and studied at Wheaton College, where he first sensed God's call to enter the ministry. He went on to earn degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary and the University of Munich. For six years he taught Biblical Studies at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1980 accepted the call to serve as pastor at Bethlehem. John is the author of more than 30 books, and more than 25 years of his preaching and teaching is available free at desiringGod.org. John and his wife, Noel, have four sons, one daughter, and an increasing number of grandchildren.
Comments
December 22, 2011
10. Kim Lawrence says...
I'm sorry but I don't completely agree with this article. While I accept and embrace a mixed race marriage it does not mean that I think it is for the best. Do you realize the difficulty that is sometimes involved with a mixed marriage There are times in which the cultures are completely different bringing more strain to the marriage. I have seen first hand the damaging effects of mixed races in the family and in the childrens lives. Disagreeing with a mixed mariage does not mean that a Christian is racist either. There are same race marriages which should never be entered into because of problems on their partners side. It may be a lack of maturity or a host of other issues which will create problems down the road. I personally think we have to be very careful about who we marry.
December 20, 2011
9. Peter Walters says...
It is sad that an issue like this would need addressing but that's the way it is let address it. I can't wait until the whole world is beige:)
December 19, 2011
8. John Jackson says...
Is this an American issue? In the UK this is a complete non-issue across all denominations. It would be alarming if it were.
December 17, 2011
7. Norman Dowe says...
I think I understand why this is still an issue in 2011. The church has not repented of its racism. Instead, we have chosen to try to act "post racial" and let bygones be bygones. A fundamental part of repentance is acknowledging our sin and agreeing with God about our sin. Until we come to grips with our sin we are probably going to have to keep dealing with this issue. By the way, when I checked by Google news feeds this morning, it found a North Carolina church being sued for $500,000 for firing a white secretary because she married a black man. This issue should have been buried by the American a long time ago. Please let's address and then move on.
December 17, 2011
6. ricky kennedy says...
If the issue is truly about marriage and that to believers only, why the discussion about race. It seems we always have to bring up the racial issue. Let that alone and each to his own as God wills it.
December 17, 2011
5. Samuel Stone says...
Like, John Gerlach, who commended before me, I am also surprised that this is still an issue for John Piper's environment in 2011. I love Piper for his "meaty" theological sermons, but he seems to be surrounded by down right fundamentalists if this is an issue in his church or around his church. When it comes to women's leadership, he justifies his position from outside of the Bible, that women are not created to take the role of leadership in the church, like the does here with the birds. Why doesn't he apply the same logic for the homosexuals, since there are animals that are homosexual too?
December 17, 2011
4. Carron Odokara says...
I appreciate John Piper's answer to this topic. I am saddened to know that the church still wrestles with this matter. When will the church start to model the unity and oneness that Jesus prayed for us to have instead of the sinful division and separation that shows nothing of God's love to the world?
December 17, 2011
3. John Gerlach says...
Wow! Is this really an issue for the church in 2011? Where have I been? Get over it ladies and gentlemen. We have Kingdom work to do. There is no difference...
December 17, 2011
2. Matt Krachunis says...
Do I even need to watch this video?? people are people!!! Christians who are racist are not worthy of the title.
December 17, 2011
1. Roger Wilson says...
Brother John you are right on target with this! I live in Alabama and have seen wonderful things happen when a church embraces a mixed race family despite the long history of segregation and separateness. A Christian heart that is sold out for Jesus will always trump differences in race and culture!
