Intermarriage

Malachi has scolded the Israelites for offering blemished sacrifices. He next lays into the priests for their improper teaching. The third thing that he brings to light is that God's people had intermarried with those that were not part of His chosen people. After their return to the Promised Land, the Israelites had taken wives and husbands from people that were not in covenant with God. So what's the big deal? I mean "you can't control who you fall in love with"; and besides "maybe they could influence them and they would turn to the true God". Sound familiar?
"Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob—even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty." (Malachi 2:11-12)
To understand why God feels this way, one only has to look back and the results that have come when God's people chose to marry outside of His people. Over and over, His people were pulled away from Him by those that they had married. The influence that a wife or husband has on their spouse is almost complete. How long can a person withstand the constant chipping away at their faith? On the other hand, how strong can a person be when their life mate shares their beliefs and they encourage one another?
And then there are the children. God knows that the next generation of believers is greatly dependant on the last. A home united in their belief in God will be a place that “brings them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord". (Ephesians 6:4) The home and marriage is God's invention and as such serves His purposes. When we start messing with His recipe for success, we get bad results. Just ask Solomon. Or David.
God does not pull any punches when it comes to His feeling about intermarriage. He says that they will be "cut off from the tents of Jacob". In other words, marrying someone that is outside of the "household of faith" will result in them being removed from God's family. He does not want their influence to permeate His people. That sounds a little drastic, doesn't it! But when you consider the seriousness of the eternal consequences of unfaithfulness on us and our children and future generations, maybe, just maybe God knows what He is talking about. His plan was and is for His people to be a light to the world.
"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15) Some would argue that these verses are not addressing marriage, but what relationship is more of a yoking together? No matter what, the principle is certainly the same, as Christians, when we choose our life mate; we should look for a believer. Even beyond that, we should look for a believer with our same beliefs. If not, conflict is sure to arise as you try to work through your differences. Confusion will reign in a home where the husbands and wives cannot agree on spiritual matters and the children will suffer the consequences.
A couple of closing thoughts, Paul instructs the mate who becomes a Christian to remain with the unbelieving spouse, as long as the unbeliever will remain with them. (1 Cor 7:12-15) The Bible doesn't speak specifically to the modern day issue of same sex marriages. The reason is same sex marriage did not exist. Marriage was understood to be between a man and a woman. Every teaching in the Bible dealing with marriage addresses male and female. Sexual relations between people of the same sex are dealt with in both the Old and New Testaments and it is called sin. (1 Timothy 1:9-11, Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13) While this might not be a popular teaching these days, God has spoken on the issue and in all matters, He settles it.
As for intermarriage, God calls His children to be united with those of common faith. May we teach our children and grandchildren to look for a mate from within the body of Christ. They will be blessed and their children will be blessed and so on and so on. :-)