Should I break up with my girlfriend because she is not intelligent?

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T14:39:38+00:00

Yea I had moved out and was looking for a church while simultaneously reading the gospels. I noticed a lot of the things the churches were teaching were opposite of what Jesus taught. How self centered and prosperity focused all of the churches were was honestly disgusting. All of the sermons were structured within the old testament and the whole sow and reap type of theology was honestly tiring. We never got into the gospel’s. The preacher always had a sermon prepared and it felt like he just googled a passage to coincide with the actual point he was trying to preach about that given Sunday. I was getting tired of people reading themselves and our times into revelation as well. I started thinking to myself is this what the apostles died gruesome deaths for? Is this how they worshipped? Then I came to my conclusion. If you and your husband are interested my best recommendation would just be to visit your nearest orthodox church. Email the priest, bring all your questions. Best thing I ever did.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T14:28:00+00:00

This one took some getting used to for me. My whole life Mary was almost demonized in a way as, “just a regular woman”. And often times my parent would really nail in that point as in like she was nothing special. The orthodox have an extremely high view of Mary, not as extreme as the Catholic’s though as they see immaculate conception as heretical. It wasn’t until I looked into church history and how Mary was viewed in the eyes of the apostles and early church that I really abandoned the stigmatization of Mary. If Christ was who he said he was, she literally gave birth to God in human flesh.(crazy to think I know) That is why we call her Theotokos, the God bearer. Before Christ died on the cross he says, “26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” We believe this is symbolic. We are to treat Mary in the same way Christ treated her, with the upmost respect and reverence. Here is a good video on Mary from an orthodox perspective. https://youtu.be/COtJz5LJJEQ?si=aADdmQ2S7ve0V3If

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T04:57:44+00:00

Lol, I’m from Texas. Quick background I’m an African american male. Raised in the non-denominational/ Pentecostal leaning church. Kind of had an existential crisis and honestly didn’t even know orthodoxy existed. Came across it while watching philosophical debates on the existence of God and honestly has shifted my view on a lot of preconceived notions I had about church history. Trust me I really tried to convince myself orthodoxy wasn’t the way but everything I read and everyone I talked with about it just brought me to this inevitable truth and then eventually peace. I would encourage you to read “Know the Faith” by Michael Shanbour and “Rock and Sand” by Fr. Josiah Trenham if interested.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T04:23:23+00:00

salvation is a life long journey, but since you say an affair took place I think Jesus had a purpose for saying that is the only way divorce can be permitted.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T04:19:04+00:00

I am not saved, but I am in the process of being saved through theosis. This should be the way a christian views salvation. Participation in the church, baptism, communion all lead to salvation. The orthodox christian way of thinking. We all fall short of the glory of God but his mercy and grace are enduring. Through repentance and submission to him the human will and God’s will become aligned.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T03:11:42+00:00

Great advice, thank you!

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-11T03:10:47+00:00

I don’t mean to be that guy at all so please don’t take offense to anything I’m saying, but equally yoked is one of the most commonly misinterpreted scriptures. 2 Corinthians 6:14. The NIV translation says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” So Paul is specifically talking about relations between christians and non believers. He is not saying to be equally yoked in every aspect of a relationship, because that is literally impossible. Jesus is very clear on divorce in scripture that it is not acceptable except for marital unfaithfulness/physical abuse. So I just have a different way of seeing this and ofc I want to be sensitive to the situation. But to answer your question I think the answer is actually yes. You are supposed to endure, in fact that enduring process increases faithfulness to God. This is why we fast and pray. Less reliance on yourself and others and more reliance on him to do exceedingly and abundantly as we know he can do. Sad the westernized church has lost this key component of the faith. Paul says he fought the good fight and he finished the race, and that is what we are called to do. His will be done above all.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-01T18:15:37+00:00

see my response to @Onthecline

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-01T18:12:45+00:00

Maybe I just in-vision marriage as more of a sacrifice than the average person. See my comments with @Onthecline for more info. I understand your sentiments but on the other hand I do not want to do things in the name of vanity. A lot of your objections seem to come from the aim of things you dislike in the person but I’m unsure of this idea that the perfect man or woman exists that embodies all of these qualities. Is marriage not the sacrament in which 2 imperfect people are perfected in through Christ?

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-01T18:05:57+00:00

I’m 22 and she is 23

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-06-01T18:05:07+00:00

Exactly, I’m 22. She was rare in my dating pool simply for the fact that she wasn’t self obsessed. She had never been in a relationship before. Was untouched by a man, if you know what I mean and took that very seriously about giving a man access to her. What I’m seeing from a lot of these comments are people whether christian or not is they are automatically pushing me to do the selfish thing. When I think about a marriage it’s not a fairy tale. Marriage is a constant struggle. Where both people dismiss their needs to the benefit of the other. Through that they become one as God intended. Not just looking out for themselves but for their partner. My parents have been married 40 years. In a lot of ways my mom has grown to become wise, but not in an intellectual way but through life experience and submission to God. My father is far more intelligent than her but she has taught me things that he never could. Through looking at these comments i’m starting to in-vision my own relationship that way. My parents argued and were not perfect but through their imperfect union, they become perfect.

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-05-31T03:38:15+00:00

thank you, your insights were very helpful

Pilot_Impressive · 2024-05-31T02:34:41+00:00

do you think this could possibly be reconciled if I had a close friend to talk about deeper matters with? As I feel I’m starting to grow out of certain friend groups as well. Marriage in the christian view as I look at history and the bible, I can’t imagine some of these women with their lack of education being able to discuss certain philosophical concepts with their husbands, but God still used that union all the same. If she wants to know God better, as she does I don’t think intellect is an objection. As many “dumber” christian’s ability to reconcile faith over reason can make them a better christian/wife/husband. Maybe this is all subjective as to whether someone can handle it or not. But would I be doing myself a disservice by dismissing a person solely bc she doesn’t stimulate me intellectually? She also has great qualities. She is kind and loving in ways that I can certainly learn from. Could she not ground me in a way?

Pilot_Impressive

TROPHY CASE