Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License in LouisianaA black man and a white woman who were recently seeking a permit to get married were denied by a justice of the peace in a small town in Louisiana. The justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell, has said that he never marries interracial couples because he is “concerned about any children they may have.” Bardwell further explained that interracial children sometimes have a hard time being accepted by society, including members of their own family. Moreover, Bardwell has said that it is his experience that interracial couples “do not last long.” Therefore, when sought for a permit or to perform a ceremony for interracial couples, Bardwell said he always denies the request and refers the couple to another town (where they can seek the service of a different justice of the peace). Nevertheless, as Bardwell’s position on interracial marriage has reached national attention, he emphatically declares that he is not a racist.
Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell is Many Things
First, Bardwell is a lawbreaker. A Supreme Court decision of old declares that individuals cannot be denied marriage permits due to ethnic differences. This is why I support Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal’s recent call to investigate Bardwell and, hopefully, have him swiftly terminated. Second, Bardwell is a hypocrite. As a justice of the peace, he (more than most) should be one who strives to follow the law. Moreover, as a servant of the people, he should strive to serve “all” people under his jurisdiction. Third, Bardwell is indeed a racist. He can claim that he is not a racist, but doing so does not negate one simple fact … that indeed he is a racist. A person cannot get away with treating people differently who have different ethnic backgrounds without being labeled exactly what he or she is. For Bardwell, the “racist” shoe fits perfectly. His excuses, regarding his concern for any potential kids and his experience that interracial couples do not last, do not cut it! They’re bogus! Do you think he would marry an interracial couple who produces evidence that they cannot have kids? Likewise, do you think he would deny a white couple seeking marriage, who (between the two of them) have already had ten divorces? – Talk about “not lasting long!” Of course these answers are obvious, and so it is with Bardwell – he’s a racist through and through. (I’m not saying he’s a sheet-wearing hater, but check the definition of racist … and you’ll see that he fits the mold).
People Who Agree with Bardwell …For the Sake of the “Children”
I already know there are a handful of people reading this very article who find themselves in agreement with Bardwell. These are good people, strong Christ-followers, people who lovingly befriend and accept people of all races … and yet they, like Bardwell, tend to believe that races should not mix when it comes to marriage, but mixing everywhere else is decent and good (including church, work places, schools, friendships, etc). I’ve also heard the line about the kids many times …”It’s a cruel world. Mixed kids shouldn’t have to go through that!” and “It’s better when people of the same race marry each other … to avoid problems … to prevent persecution.”
Please do me a favor, and think about your own marriage. (If you haven’t been married yet, think about the future – if and when you plan to marry). Was it anybody’s business (aside from you and your beloved) who you fell in love with? Hopefully, you made it God’s business, of course … and so if God gave you the “go ahead” on your desire to get married, and yet others stuck their nose in your business (albeit with the best of intentions) to try to spare you (or your future kids) from persecution and grief, you would not have stood for that mess at all! Who is anyone to think they have better intentions and more wisdom than God himself, that we (are anybody) could tell a couple what is best for them (or their potential kids) based on how we view things? …Would it have been right for someone to tell you not to marry your spouse because he was poor, and thus – your family might suffer in the long run? Would it have been right for someone to tell you not to marry your spouse because she’s a Christ-follower like you, and the Bible says that Christ followers will be persecuted …so yeah, double the persecution is coming if you get married!!?? Would it be right to tell someone who has fallen in love with one who is deaf or has a missing leg not to marry them because, no doubt, struggles and persecution (even towards future kids) may come as a result? Obviously, these are ludicrous examples. And it is just as ludicrous to believe that two people of mixed races who have fallen in love and have received the “go ahead” from God to marry should do anything aside from marry. Persecution and hard times will come on all couples and children for a variety of reasons, therefore to single out interracial couples and mixed children (and not the rest) is absurd and …well …”racist.” If you find yourself in this camp, believing that interracial marriage is not “ideal” (at best), then please think of the things mentioned previously.
For Those Who Believe Interracial Marriage is Biblically Wrong
Does the Bible say anything about interracial marriage? It sure does! It says that the race of God (now Christians, but formerly Yahweh-servers in the Old Testament) should not marry those of the opposite race, composed of non-God-servers (now non-Christians, but formerly those who did not serve Yahweh). (See Clarification #1 about the “Yahweh” reference).These are the only two races, or classifications, of people that the Bible is overall concerned about. This is why the Old Testament warned people not to marry foreigners – because of the false gods that they served. This is why Solomon’s splendor came crashing down, when he married Egyptian wives who worshiped other gods aside from Yahweh. This is why the New Testament warns us not to become marriage partners with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). Nowhere does the Bible forbid two people of opposing races (concerning ethnicity) to marry based solely on ethnic concerns. It’s all about the spiritual factor! In other words, two Christians can marry and be blessed in the sight of God no matter what their ethnic diversity might be.
Are There Biblical Examples of Interracial Marriage?
There are several biblical examples of blessed marriages between two people who were of different ethnicities, but perhaps one of the most telling examples would be that of Moses. Moses married a Cushite woman (a black woman), and his brother (Aaron) and sister (Miriam) were jealous of the work God was doing in Moses (Numbers 12), so they concocted a reason to get angry with Moses; they chose to complain about his interracial marriage. Suffice it to say, God was not pleased with Aaron and Miriam, and he showed his disapproval ever so severely. (Read Numbers 12). This forefather of the faith and author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was interracially married … and Jesus himself read from Moses’ writings and quoted him often! Never did Jesus say a negative word about Moses for marrying a black woman. Never did he warn others not to follow Moses’ example. In fact, Moses had married a Cushite (who was a Yahweh server), and so everything was just fine! Again, it’s about the spiritual factor – not about ethnicity!
Christ is Also Interracially Married (Please Read This Before You Cry Heresy!)
Last but not least, consider the biblical example of Christ – who is married to an interracial body of believers, the collective church of Christ. Both Old and New Testament examples compare God’s people (his church) to his bride. In the Old Testament, God’s bride was unfaithful, and God remained faithful to her and promised to restore her. In the New Testament, the church is called the bride of Christ, as Christ is the “bridegroom” (John 3:29). The church or bride of Christ is a mixture of both Jews and Gentiles who have come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. (See Clarification #2)
With that said, it’s a little ironic how Christ-followers who are not Jewish (the race of Jesus Christ, the man, and the race of God’s original group of chosen people) can be against interracial marriage when in fact they belong to one themselves. And to think …”God is opposed to interracial marriage??” Haha! Obviously not!
Clarifications
1. “Yahweh” is the name of God. When you see “the LORD” in your English version of the Old Testament, you are reading a transliteration of the word “Yahweh,” which is actually a series of letters (YHWH) that some say cannot be pronounced, while others (Pastor Rob Bell, for example) say the letters produce the sound you make when you breathe. YHWH was turned into “Yahweh” by man, who added vowels in order to better pronounce the name. “Yahweh” is equivalent to the manmade name, “Jehovah.”
2. Jesus Christ was not married to any one particular human woman, but the “bride of Christ” is a figurative term used for God’s collective church, which belongs to Christ. This does not mean we cannot compare the so-called “marriage” of Christ to his church to the marriage between two individuals. Both are love covenants, and the Bible compares the two.
