How
Can I Chose My Life Partner?
Bishop Moussa
Doubtless the matter of
choosing a life partner is of great effect on the life of ah who are called
upon by the Lord to take on the road of sacred marriage; and these are the
large majority of believers. This matter, in particular, deserves proper study in
its various dimensions. It would be appropriate that the young people -
especially teenagers - should know the dimensions of the subject so as to
correct any notions that might; creep into minds affecting principles and not
in the int erest of either partners in any way.
Punctuality of choice
Young people must
realize that there is a proper time to think of this matter, and that is for
the following reasons:
1. Young people at the starting phase breaches into a sexual
development stage called by scientists ."General Attro-Sexuality." In this phase, a feeling starts
towards the other sex and intuits specific facet of this person or other:
emotions as well as the bodily paramonthy come into
play at times in this moody attraction. Should either parties think that
feeling of attraction a choice, then it is mistaken most certainly, because
this young man / young woman is in that phase of General Attro-Sexuality
and needs to wait a little until breaching it : into
what is called "Degeneralized Attro-Sexuality” and that would be at the age of work and
of the bearing of responsibilities.
2. This rapid changeability causes many emotional and psychological
conflicts that tire: psychological operations' in both partners as one would
feel exploited and the other would feel exploitive.
3. Moreover, it causes damage to both partners, as time- especially
in the case of the girl - would never forget her attachment to someone without
official steps.
4. We cannot deny - to my knowledge - that the emotion is part of the
body, because it is part of the constituents of the human personality. That is
why it starts in purity then quickly reveals insinuations of instincts that do
not previously occur to the mind.
5. Finally, when the young man notices attention from the girl he
becomes attached to, he very quickly starts doubting
her integrity and abandons her, even after approaching official steps. This is
because even the most devious of young men chooses the most pure of at the time
of marriage.
For all of that the
young man and the young woman must persevere in the sacred life style, and in
avoiding submission to the allurements of emotions, instincts, and senses. This
can be done by keeping their relations sacredly Christian. So, what are the
characteristics of proper relation?
2. Characteristics of
proper enter counting
The relation between two
sexes is a natural matter present nowadays in the homes; at the schools; in the
universities; and in the field of work. The danger latent in relation lies in
going into extremes about it. Be it a going into extremes in the direction of
lax permissivity as it is evinced Western societies,
or be it a going into extremes in the direction of total sexual segregation
As for Christian
relation, it has characteristics and limits, some of them are:
1. The relation is to be in presence of' Christ. For that reason it
is a relation as per the demands of the nature of work and life in the spirit
of sacred fraternity. In Philippians 4.and Romans 16,.we
see a sacred example of Christian relationship: the male and female workers of
the; Lord wor k together in Christian charity,
purity, chastity, and prudence. Ah have their na mes written in the book
of life. That is why a Christian young man does not leave home without being
sure that he is in the hands of Christ and that Christ is in heart. With that
as a weapon the young- man comes down into the field, and in all situations
feels that Christ is light "sifting the soft from the gross"; and is
the power "gives assistance at the moments of need", and thus always
cries out "We through Him Who loved us."
2. It is relation within the limits of work; and conversations do not
go on aimlessly or in any subject, or in a corruptive issue, or backbiting; but
within the domain of work, and inside the place of work and not outside it. It
is a relationship of work and of responsibilities. If at all the person - with
the light of Christ living within him should feel the line is about to deviate,
he/she must quickly move towards the proper path resorting to the Loyal
Faithful Ever-Present Supporter.
3. It is a relation within the framework of the community. Each cooperating in chastity and innocence. It is a church
i.e. a community, in union with the Spirit, working for the glory of Christ and
for the happiness of everyone.
Therefore, the separate
concentration is rejected altogether, as that would be a departure from the
proper line and group Joint to Christ for the proper relation should be within
the framework of sanctity. Any separate -relationship with anyone is a
foreboding of danger pending on the two parties. However, should that occur
within the frame of choosing a partner, let it be in a sanctified style, official
under direction from the spiritual father and in clear light.
Now remains a question
what is the proper way of choosing the life partner?
3. Methods of choosing
A human being generally
takes decisions as a harvest of three forces penetrating within him-
·
Spirit the voice of God
inside human soul.
·
Thought the quite logic studious of matters
·
Emotions the feelings
that: possess the human individual towards particular objects.
·
The great error occurs when the balances mix. There
is no doubt that the given arrangement is Ch~ proper ranging God controls the
mind and the mind controls the emotions. The balance mix when the emotions lead
all the being of man or woman; for the mind must keep silent and God must
approve of what was left.
It is clear that the
emotions are not qualified to lead the human being for they are changeable
generally. In addition they are part of the old human nature exposed to error.
Moreover, they are part of the body - i.e. the currant of sin operative in the
instincts of the human being and his constituents. That is why yielding to
emotions is a grave error, and-the mind may not approve of that choice, or even
God may not approve of it and He knows best our interests and future.
Therefore, the proper
method for choosing the life partner must get in with God; with constant crying
out to Him to show us the landmarks of the way; without becoming controlled by
any particular idea, or any particular feeling or any particular personality;
in other words, by honest submission devoid of personal valuation.
Subsequent to the
guidance of God, one should reason in serenity: is this subject appropriate? He
thinks with his spiritual father, and he thinks with his family and friends.
Doubtless, thinking aloud gives sound resolutions if accompanied by submission
to God and by appealing to His counsel and management.
As for emotions little
of it is enough. That emotion should be calm and serene, not hot nor cloudy
hiding from us the voice of the mind, or even the voice of God. Christian love
is divine love, beginning calmly and increasing, 'In it there is effort and
large giving and concession of all that tires the partner. Thus both would meet
in Christ; the couple are united in one strong union
by the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of sacred marriage.
Objectives of Christian
Marriage
Is marriage a must for
most of people? Why? We see in Christianity three objectives for marriage
A. Holy Union
"It is not good
that the man should be alone; I will make for him a helper fit to him." It
is pure holy union in Christ, analogous to the union of Christ to the church.
B. Participation with
God in Creation
The married couple participate together with God in
the process of creation, and that is a great glory to the human being. It is
not a matter of sensuality alone, but includes in its folds the mission of
maintaining the human species. God gifted man, paternity and maternity so as to
keep humanity on earth, increasing the number of the.
children of God enjoying His love.
C. A Path of Salvation
"It is better to
marry than to burn with passion" (1Cor 7:9)
That the majority of
human beings have their path to salvation through marriage In it there is a
sanctified use of instincts within the framework of purity, chastity, and
Christian discipline- AS for "only those to whom it has been given"
(Mt 19:11), they feel that their salvation is in abstinence, so as to be
consecrated to God with all their being called forth to that path. There is no
merit for either path above the other, for there is no salvation without
Christ. Even though celibacy gives a spiritual launching and dedication, it is
a special call one neither hankers after nor effects, but merely accepts it
from the lord “as a gift” (1Cor7:7), and has nothing to do about it other than
strive to keep it.
General Principles Of Choice
The young Christian
should observe general and important principles in making hislher
choice, such as:
A. Spiritual Aspect
Is the other Party dose to Christ, Striding along
His Path or not? Is he or she spiritually tending, or mundane in heart?
B. Materialistic Aspect
The approaches of
materialistic standards is most preferred ' to ensure close and
. harmonious styles of living, dressing, and
the various expenditures etc. of living,
C. Social and Cultural
Aspect
Social and cultural
approaches is also preferred; for instance, the milieu is different from the
urban milieu, and both are different from the metropolitan 'milieu. The very
inclinations are different, and it is best that both partners have close
inclinations·
D. Physical Beauty
This aspect must not
acquire more than its portion for it is transitory and as ephemeral as weed:
newer. Often, physical beauty becomes a cause of troubles and jealousies.
Indeed, it has often been observed that physical. beauty
can for intellectual cultural and spiritual retardation owing to the amount of
self-preoccupation it can generate.
Continuity of Christian
Marriage
At stake in the
continuity of Christian marriage are many matters, most important among which
are: .
A. Family Altar
The family should gather
daily to read the Bible and pray. They should have Holy Communion together.
These are principal means for enforcing Christian life in the family, and
children simply drink it with milk taking.
B. Spirit of Giving
If both parties do not come out each of his/her
selfishness, it becomes impossible to build the home. Each party must stay
obligated to give of his/her love to the other party in profuse effort. There
is no doubt that the union of each party with Christ spontaneously unites that
party more to the other. The closure of one party upon him- or herself
displaces that party form the center to the circumference wherein the broadness
of the periferiality of which lie
separation and severment.
C. Mutual understanding
If either party is not
convinced that be/she is wrong in his/her thinking
and converses with the other party in an honest search for the better, pretty
soon each party would become heavily opinionated even when wrong leading to the
family's break down. Calm mutual consultation on matters of opinion and the
openness to Christ and to the opinion of the fathers is fundamental to the
preservation of the family entirely.
D. Constructive
Interference
How often do matters become worse by sympathizing
sickly with the partner prejudicial to me!! What is needed instead of that is
that the involvement of the families be limited and only for constructiveness,
regardless of the loyalties of each party. Should the Christian family put up
the motto of "Christ is the Head of this house" then that family will
stand up to all hurricanes.
In conclusion, we must
call upon all Christian young people to chastity and sacredness, for purity is
"the best bulwark for us on the road to and before and after the start of
married life. As for deviation it is always the in presence of everybody and of
God, and 'often the individual pays for it in bitterness and perdition; besides
that Christ refuses all forms of perversity, they all being sacrilege to the
temple of God that we are "Shall I take the members of Christ and make
them members of a harlot? Never!" "Do not
you know that
Your body is the temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you; whom you have from God and you are not Your own?" (1Cor:6:15, 19) “Do you not know that you
63a are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you” if anyone
defiles the temple of God "God will destroy him. For the temple of God is
holy, which temple you are" (1Cor 3:16,17)
Poor then is whoever
thinks that permissively is freedom or peace, for it is the foundation of
servility to the body and to Satan. There is no happiness in it for the
pleasure of vice increases the thirstiness and hunger of the human being, and
fills him or her with Bitterness and depression, there are those who “Hewed
themselves cisterns – broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer211)
"Every-one who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks
of The water that I shall give him will never thirst” (Jn4:13,14)
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