Dear Brother ___________,
Thank you for contacting the Ellen G. White Estate. I see from one of the other message that you sent that you are (or were) a student at AIIAS. If this is where you are doing your masters work, you are fortunate to have the services of the Ellen G. White Research Center there and the help of Dr. Reuel Almocera. You may want to take this matter up with him.
I don't have additional statements from Mrs. White to share with you on this matter. As you know, she was addressing interracial marriage, while you are looking at intercultural marriage. There may be some overlap there, but the two are not necessarily identical.
You can find her reasons for giving the counsel she did right there in her statements. Where the conditions persist today that called for her counsel then, the counsel presumably is still valid.Beyond her concern for the happiness of all the parties involved (including any children born to the marriage), Mrs. White expresses a concern for the work of God. She recognizes that ministers and church members have a work to do in this world, and she doesn't want their energies diverted by problems and questions that arise concerning these issues, as you noted in citing 2SM 344.
Your reference to certain Bible cases was interesting. Let me just comment briefly on one of them. Moses' wife is called a Cushite in Numbers 12:1, though the KJV translates this as "Ethiopian."Ancient sources indicate that the term Cushite was applied to Ethiopians, but it also was applied to certain people from the Arabian peninsula. In light of Exodus 2, which says that Moses fled to Midian and married one of the daughters of the priest of Midian (who was not likely a foreigner there), our assumptions about the skin color of Moses' wife may not be accurate. In any event, it was at least an intercultural marriage.
I hope that this may be helpful to you.May the Lord bless and guide you as you continue your studies.
William Fagal
Associate Director
Ellen G. White Estate
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 U.S.A.
Phone: 301 680-6550
FAX: 301 680-6559
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.WhiteEstate.org
Dear Ellen G. White Estate,
My name is ___________. I am studying for a master of arts in Religion. I am studying about marriage, especially intercultural marriage. I have very recently come across a passage of EG White in the chapter 42 of 2SM about counsel regarding Intermarriage.
Chap. 42 - Counsel Regarding Intermarriage [NOTE: THESE MESSAGES WERE WRITTEN BY ELLEN G. WHITE IN 1896 AND 1-2. REPEATED STATEMENTS FROM HER PEN CONCERNING RIAL RELATIONSHIPS CLEARLY INDICATE THAT HER COUNSEL ON INTERRIAL MARRIAGE IS NOT AN ISSUE OF RIAL INEQUALITY; BUT ESSENTIALLY A QUESTION OF ADVISABILITY OR INADVISABILITY STEMMING FROM CIRCUMSTANCES AND CONDITIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN "CONTROVERSY, CONFUSION AND BITTERNESS." SEE APPENDIX 2, "IMPORTANT FTORS IN CHOOSING A LIFE COMPANION." ELLEN G. WHITE HAS REPEATEDLY REAFFIRMED HER UNDERSTANDING OF, AND FIRM BELIEF IN, THE EQUALITY OF ALL RES AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND. SEE APPENDIX 3, "THE BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND."--WHITE TRUSTEES.
We are one brotherhood. No matter what the gain or the loss, we must act nobly and courageously in the sight of God and our Saviour. Let us as Christians who accept the principle that all men, white and black, are free and equal, adhere to this principle, and not be cowards in the face of the world, and in the face of the heavenly intelligences. We should treat the colored man just as respectfully as we would treat the white man. And we can now, by precept and example, win others to this course. {2SM 343.1} But there is an objection to the marriage of the white race with the black. All should consider that they have no right to entail upon their offspring that which will place them at a disadvantage; they have no right to give them as a birthright a condition which would subject them to a life of humiliation. The children of these mixed marriages have a feeling of bitterness toward the parents who have given them this lifelong inheritance. For this reason, if there were no other, there should be no intermarriage between the white and the colored race.--Manuscript 7, 1896. {2SM 343.2}
Answer to an Inquiry
Dear Friend:
In reply to inquiries regarding the advisability of intermarriage between Christian young people of the white and black races, I will say that in my earlier experience this question was brought before me, and the light given me of the Lord was that this step should not be taken; for it is sure to create controversy and confusion. I have always had the same counsel to give. No encouragement to marriages of this character should be given among our people. Let the colored brother enter into marriage with a colored sister who is worthy, one who loves God, and keeps His commandments. Let the white sister who contemplates uniting in marriage with the colored brother refuse to take this step, for the Lord is not leading in this direction. {2SM 344.1} Time is too precious to be lost in controversy that will arise over this matter. Let not questions of this kind be permitted to call our ministers from their work. The taking of such a step will create confusion and hindrance. It will not be for the advancement of the work or for the glory of God.--Letter 36, 1-2. {2SM 344.2} The Lord looks upon the creatures He has made with compassion, no matter to what race they may belong. God "hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth."... Speaking to His disciples the Saviour said, "All ye are brethren." God is our common Father, and each one of us is our brother's keeper.--The Review and Herald, Jan. 21, 1896. {2S
Again in appendix 3 of 2SM:
"SIN RESTS UPON US AS A CHURCH BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT MADE GREATER EFFORT FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS AMONG THE COLORED PEOPLE. . . . YOU HAVE NO LICENSE FROM GOD TO EXCLUDE THE COLORED PEOPLE FROM YOUR PLES OF WORSHIP. TREAT THEM AS CHRIST'S PROPERTY, WHICH THEY ARE, JUST AS MUCH AS YOURSELVES. THEY SHOULD HOLD MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH WITH THE WHITE BRETHREN. EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO WIPE OUT THE TERRIBLE WRONG WHICH HAS BEEN DONE THEM. AT THE SAME TIME WE MUST NOT CARRY THINGS TO EXTREMES AND RUN INTO FANATICISM ON THIS QUESTION. SOME WOULD THINK IT RIGHT TO THROW DOWN EVERY PARTITION WALL AND INTERMARRY WITH THE COLORED PEOPLE, BUT THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT THING TO TEH OR TO PRTICE."--THE SOUTHERN WORK, P. 15.
It is further written:
WHILE THESE FOUR MESSAGES OF COUNSEL WERE WRITTEN AT A PARTICULAR TIME TO MEET SITUATIONS IN A PARTICULAR GEOGRAPHICAL AREA, MAY THEY NOT SERVE TO ALERT ANY CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE TO CIRCUMSTANCES AND FTORS THAT COULD IMPERIL THE UNION AND BEQUEATH TO THE CHILDREN AN INHERITANCE THAT SOME MAY RESENT? {2SM 484.1} THESE COUNSELS ARE AMONG THOSE GIVEN THE BELIEVER, DEALING WITH A SIGNIFICANT AND FAR-REHING EXPERIENCE IN LIFE AND PRESENTING A COURSE OF TION LEAST FRAUGHT WITH FTORS THAT MAY LEAD TO HEARTHES AND COULD IMPAIR OR DESTROY THE UNION. AS ELLEN WHITE SAYS, "JESUS WANTS TO SEE HAPPY MARRIAGES, HAPPY FIRESIDES." {2SM 484.2} THE REPEATED STATEMENTS MADE BY ELLEN G. WHITE ORALLY AND IN HER WRITINGS MAKE CLEAR THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT THAT OF INEQUALITY OF RE. SHE EVER MAINTAINED THAT THERE IS A CLOSE BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND, AND THAT IN THE RECORDS OF HEAVEN THE NAME OF THE INDIVIDUAL OF ONE RE STANDS BESIDE THE NAME OF ONE OF ANOTHER RE. READ CAREFULLY THE APPENDIX WHICH FOLLOWS ENTITLED, "THE BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND."--WHITE TRUSTEES.
ELLEN G. WHITE ESTATE, INC. WASHINGTON, D.C. AUGUST, 1967 {2SM 484.3}
In one of his books, Reading Ellen White, George R. Knight explains the need to understand and to apply EGWhite counsels in our daily life based on some fundamental principles of interpretation. We do not have to push the application to the extreme. We do have to consider it in its context.... I have heard that EG White wrote this letter in the particular context of racial segregation in the USA. The others passages that she mentions "intermarriage," are between believers and non-believers.
In what way can we implement this particular counsel today? Does she mean that intercultural marriages are not, in any case, what God desires for His children? She does talk about white and black. What about European and somebody from the Pacific?African and Asian? Does this counsel have to be considered in its historical context? Or should the counsel be followed as it is written?If it does concern an historical context, what are the principles behind it?
EG White even says that, "Time is too precious to be lost in controversy that will arise over this matter. Let not questions of this kind be permitted to call our ministers from their work. The taking of such a step will create confusion and hindrance. It will not be for the advancement of the work or for the glory of God.--Letter 36, 1-2. {2SM 344.2}"
The Bible talks about the example of Moses, whose wife was from different color and ethnic background of Him. She even suffered prejudice from her sister in law. We can see the example of Rahab, Ruth. Yet, they are a kind of exception. The Bible seems to not say so much about it.
I acknowledge the fact that you certainly do have a busy schedule. If, however, you could give me some hints and the principles of these passage from EGWhite, I will certainly appreciate it!
In waiting for an answer from your part, receive our salutation in Christ Jesus
sincerely yours
___________
