Interfaith marriage: matters arising from Funke Akindele’s wedding

So its all over the news: Funke Akindele of the Jenifa movie fame got married yesterday  – and from the pictures it was quite a grand affair. Prior to the wedding, everyone was talking about her husband and whether she was going to be a second wife, or whether he was just a baby daddy. It seems like it is the latter because he did not appear to marry his children’s mother (not legally anyways).

Funke's christian ceremony

But even more interesting, to me anyways, and less debated is the fact that Funke is a christian (rumored to attend Mountain of fire and Miracles (MFM)),  and her mother is said to be a pastor. On the other hand, her new husband is a Moslem, and an Alhaji to boot.  The end result of all this is that they had a Nikkai ceremony, and a christian ceremony in addition to the traditional engagement.

While the rest of the press is focused on asking questions about who attended or did not attend the wedding, or where it did and did not hold, I have other questions: In yorubaland, it is very common to find interfaith marriages, particularly of the moslem-christian variety. I know so many marriages of this nature personally. And there are quite a few famous examples as well,  including the current governor of Lagos State – Governor Fashola, as well as the late Tunde Idiagbon (military deputy head of state under Mohammadu Buhari). So it is culturally acceptable in yorubaland, what Funke has done.

Is it right though? As a christian, would you encourage and support anyone you love to do so? Or would you be in strident opposition? As a pastor or spiritual leader, would you officiate at such a wedding? And how do you think GOD feels about it?  Apostle Paul says

⁴ Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? Source

Is that the word of GOD, or just Apostle Paul’s opinion – there are some places in the bible where he differentiates between the two.

Funke's Nikkai (moslem) ceremony

Does it promote religious tolerance (which is common among the yorubas) – which is a great thing, or does it lead to spiritual compromise? And the children from this union – are they empowered by being exposed to two different faith systems, or are they confused?

My people, abeg, if you fall into any of these categories I have outlined, please join in this debate. Many people have struggled with this question (even me, but that is another story!), and there may be somebody reading who may be swayed one way or another by what you say. Thanks.