“Ideal” or Unbiblical? Author’s Interracial Marriage Stance Sparks Christian Uproar

Conservative Christian author and pastor Dale Partridge has ignited a firestorm by asserting that while not sinful, interracial marriage is “not ideal,” creating what he calls unnecessary “hurdles” for couples and families. This controversial stance emerged in online discussions where Partridge, who is himself married to a Mexican American woman, agreed with another pastor’s claim that such unions fall outside God’s “normative design.” He framed his own marriage as a glorious exception made possible by divine providence, yet argued that the cultural and racial differences inherent in interracial marriages prevent them from achieving the inherent harmony of a same-race union, a viewpoint many have labeled as blatantly hypocritical and theologically unsound.

The backlash has been swift and fierce, with critics highlighting a profound disconnect between Partridge’s personal life and his public doctrine. Many respondents pointedly noted that the Bible offers no racial blueprint for an “ideal” marriage, stipulating only that it be between a man and a woman who are equally yoked in faith—a standard that has nothing to do with skin color. While a minority echoed his concerns about navigating cultural differences, the overwhelming response condemned his comments as creating unbiblical hierarchies and undermining the scriptural unity found in Christ, which transcends all ethnic divisions. The debate has thus laid bare a sharp divide within conservative Christian circles on whether such views represent biblical wisdom or a harmful injection of human prejudice into divine ordinance.