A chance to explain: Inter-racial marriage

I really don't want to post in this thread. There's so much emotion here. But I feel I should because of one point that has not been made which I am uniquely qualified to make.

First of all, I am not a bigot nor a racist. My parents raised me right, and paid the price themselves, since my father was fired as pastor of a Tennessee church in 1962 for allowing a young black to come to a white church. Further, I have dedicated my life to reaching another race for Christ, the Japanese. Again, I don't believe there are any Scriptures that support forbidding interracial marriage.

Having said all of that (and hopefully avoided emotional attacks), may I point out that in interracial marriages race is not a problem but culture often is. A responsible pastor about to marry a couple from two different cultures is neglecting his duties if he does not help the couple work through how they will adjust to each other's culture.

I have dear friends in Japan, several couples, in international marriages. The ways men and women relate and respond to each other when the American and Japanese cultures clash can be extremely different and difficult. One couple sat at the table with me and said that if they had it to do all over again they would not. The cultural differences were and are extremely difficult for them.

To apply this to America and a marriage between blacks and whites is not easy. There are various subcultures involved. To give a radical example, think of the problems that might occur between a black man just saved in a hip hop culture who wants to marry a woman from a KJVO subculture. I might marry this couple as their pastor, but I would sure have some long counseling sessions trying to help them deal with the cultural differences.

Again, think of two whites from radically difference cultures marrying, say a French girl just off the boat from France marrying a Southern Baptist from south Georgia. The implications might be staggering!

God bless all. :type:

 

Sorry, Salty, missed your point. :wavey:

Yeah, as I understand it there were some distinct cultural clashes between those Anglos and Saxons.

 

Giving a couple loving counsel and advice is wonderful for a pastor to do. Hating or refusing to marry a couple solely because of their race is the antithesis of that.

 

Sorry for being off topic but the above made bust out laughing (pertaining to God's statement), and at the same time effectaully correct. Well stated :thumbs:

 

No need to apologize. I meant what I said and said what I meant. And for anyone on here who thinks of it as being hateful, cruel, mean, bigoted, or racist I shall pray for you. raying:

 

Scarlett posted...

And Cutter said...

I am speechless.

(and that doesnt happen much)

 

Cutter, why can you not present credible Biblical evidence instead of insults. I've lived in the South all my life and you are typical fare amongst hypocritical Christians who preach God's love out of one side of their mouth and hatred from the other side. Actually, the reason you refuse to present a Biblical argument is because you know their isn't one. You need to get over the red neck, pillow case wearing heritage that you evidently are hanging on to and realize that in Christ Jesus there is no black, white, etc. We are all one in Christ Jesus. Jim Crow doesn't exist in heaven.

 

Is that anything like an GARBC California valley girl marrying an IFB, NASCAR loving man who spent his last ten years in the heart of Georgia?

(wonder how long until hubby reads this and comes back here with that Georgia look?)

 

My, my. To be called a Hypocrite and Hater all in one sentence. What a stretch. Who made you a judge? Frankly Scott, I expected better out of you. It is unfortunate that if someone who is a Christian Minister says that they would not marry a mixed couple then all of sudden they are less than Christian and that it would irk someone so badly that they would resort to hateful and cruel name calling. Did I say that I cared whether you performed one or not? Just because I would not preside over one does not mean that someone such as yourself would not step up and do so. Amazing that my little personal decision would so annoy you that you would spew such vitriol. Is it any wonder in my previous post that I said, "I shall pray for you.?"

 

I would like to ask those who say they aren't predjudice anylonger a question, I need an answer for. What do you say to someone, who blames you for how they've been mistreated?. Even though you didn't have anything to do with it. You just happen to be the race that mistreated them. All this after they have beaten you so bad you needed to be hospitalized.
How would you feel about them afterwards.
I was beaten and robbed and left for dead and now I avoid this race as if they have leporsy. Now I'm told I'm predjudice. What do you think.
MB

 

I know you would like to hear from some of the others on here about this issue, but I feel compelled to say that I think you are a very wise man! :thumbsup:

 

That sounds perfectly normal. I think a lot of people end up feeling more trusting of those that look to be the opposite of their attackers. I spent a lot time avoiding and strongly disliking skinny white men who had blond hair and blue eyes. (hmm...maybe that's why I went Baptist...ain't NONE of 'em skinny!)

 

I agree with what John of Japan said. If one of my children wanted to marry someone from a different race or culture, I would sit down and have a talk with them. I am not bigoted at all, but a person needs to understand that people are raised differently and there might be problems because of this.

That said, my younger brother married when he was in the service in Hawaii, his wife is half black and half Hawaiin. She is very dark skinned and the first time I met her she had a big Afro hair style. She is a wonderful girl and loved by all of us, including my father (deceased) and mother who are (were) very old fashioned Southern folks. They have been married now over 30 years and have 5 children.

 

I am amazed that you can even try to defend a "personal decision" by using such a broad brush to paint with. It makes one wonder what other "personal decisions" you have made that are ........ well for lack of a better word "unchristian". You say you are a pastor? I bet your church is so proud of your "personal decisions". I can not help but wonder from whom your calling came, it does not seem to me it is from the same source as most pastors I know.
As far as praying for someone, with your "personal decisions", it is almost a certainty that James 5:16 would not apply.

This type of bigotry breaks my heart more than makes me angry. For it comes from someone who claim to be a leader and a teacher of the Word of God.

I am praying for you.

 

I luv you too honey!! :tongue3::laugh::love2: