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A number of cross-cultural weddings takes place in our country now. There are ardent advocates for both sides of the argument. Does the Bible say anything on this?


Reading: Acts 17:22-28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28)
 
A number of cross-cultural weddings takes place in our country now. There are ardent advocates for both sides of the argument. Does the Bible say anything on this?
The Bible does not discourage cross-cultural marriages directly or indirectly. The only thing it speaks against is a believer in Christ marrying an unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14,15). Abraham's plea with his servant not to go to the Canaanites to find a bride for his son was not because of the cross-cultural factor. He did not want Isaac to return to the land from where God had called him out (Gen 24:1-19). God got angry with Miriam and Aaron who spoke against the cross-cultural marriage of Moses (Num 12:1,9). Joseph's wife was a non-Hebrew (Gen 41:45).
Personally, while I am not against cross-cultural marriages, I am not advocating them either. Even when the bride and groom are from the same cultural background, there may be so many differences—temperamental, intellectual, spiritual, etc. Cultural difference will certainly increase the stress. When the Bible says that there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek, it is relating to our salvation and standing before God (Gal 3:28).
When the marriage partners belong to different countries, the children may develop identity crisis. When they belong to different languages, they have to be fluent in a common language to communicate and confide. One has to be pragmatic about all these.
We do not encourage cross-cultural marriages among the field believers in pioneer missionary work, as this hinders mass movement of people groups as communities embracing the Christian faith. When young people from other faiths come to Christ, we must do all that is possible to find them life partners among believers of their own communities. Otherwise their folks will turn hostile and bitter towards anything Christian. Social reformation is not the priority in Evangelism. Otherwise, Paul in his time would have campaigned against the slave trade. Instead he was a Jew to the Jews and a non-Jew to the non-Jews (1 Cor 9:20,21). It would not please God to reject a marriage proposal purely on caste consideration when other factors are satisfactory.
"Dearest Jesus, we kiss You for choosing us" 
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