[Greek] ἀλλάσσω (allassō), [Latin] mutare, [French] changer, [French] deplacer: to change, to exchange, to alter, to make different; Acts 6:14, Rom. 1:23, 1Cor.15:51-52, Gal.4:20, Heb.1:12
Let’s not forget that the devil was first one who went against God’s teachings in saying, “I will not serve and do not believe. I know better.”
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to make otherwise, to exchange, to repay, to alter, to take a new position, to turn, to be reconciled, and to change.
Euripides’ Alecestis 661: “For I have always shown you every respect. And now this is the repayment you and my mother have made to me.”
Antiphon’s On the Murder of Herocles 5.79: “They exchanged great prosperity for great misery, and saw their country pass into the possession of others.”
Euripides’ Medea 878: “Shall I not cease from my wrath, what has come over me?”
Euripides’ Medea 1168: “For her color changed, and with legs trembling she staggered back sidelong, and by falling on the chair, barely escaped collapsing on the floor.”
Euripides’ Electra 89: “I have come from the mystic shrine of the god for Argive, to repay my father’s murderers with murder.”
Euripides’ Phoenissae 7.4: “But as soon as Eteocles was seated on the bench of power, he drove Polyneices into exile from this land.”
Old Testament: This term means to turn, to overturn, to pass on, to change, to exchange, to renew, to dispose of, to ransom, to redeem, and to alter.
New Testament: This term means to change and to exchange. Stephen, before his martyrdom, claims that Jesus will destroy the temple and change the customs Moses handed down. While claiming to be wise, the idolaters become foolish exchanging the glory of God for images of man (himself), birds, animals, and snakes. In the resurrection event, we will all be changed. The dead will be raised incorruptible. Paul is perplexed as to why the Galatians have turned away from him, becoming slaves to other powers. Paul now becomes an enemy for telling them the truth.
Scripture:
“For we have heard him (Stephen) claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” Acts 6:14
Stephen was martyred because he elevated Jesus’ status above Moses. Stephen makes reference to Jesus’ destroying the temple of God and rebuilding it. This notion was too much of a change from established Jewish tradition and teachings.
“While claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of a mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.” Rom.1:22-23
While claiming to have wisdom, these people ‘worshipped’, followed, or advocated man and animals. These people claimed that man a higher knowledge and wisdom.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1Cor. 15:51-52
The resurrection even will change both the dead and living. Our bodies will be transformed with incorruptibility.
Erroneous or misleading assumptions for changing Church teachings for the LGBTQ community:
Same-sex attracted persons with gender dysphoria must be labeled by their attraction or dysphoria. Therefore they must be “identified” this way: The Church teaches that we are not defined by our sexual inclinations. We are defined by the Gospel’s teaching that our identity is found in Jesus Christ, created in the image an likeness of God, rather than by one’s sexual inclinations. Besides, this diminishes the person by being characterized only by this aspect. Therefore, it is not cruel to not be defined by one’s sexual inclinations and dysphoria.
Some people are born “gay”: Studies have shown that there is no “gay” gene. Homosexuality is the product of a variety of actors. Any implication that one person’s behavior is predetermined, with little or no intellect or free will involved, is both false and destructive, especially to young people.
Catholic teaching calling same-sex attraction as “objectively disordered” is needlessly cruel: Catholic teaching states that the act (or inclination), not the person as a whole, is disordered. The wisdom of the Church, rooted in the Word of God and centuries of human experience, is not cruel and misguided.
Catholic organizations supporting Pride events: This causes confusion among the faithful as they will ask: “Why is the Church supporting this when homosexual behavior is disordered (forbidden) in the Catechism?”
Father James Martin: “The Church teaching that LGBT people must be celibate their entire lives will not be accepted by the LGBTQ community. Therefore, this must change.”: But this goes against Church teachings. There is also something called chastity. We are all called to have chastity in our state in life.
“The Church ‘welcomes gay people’ or ‘needs to be more inclusive and welcoming'”: Many often forget, ignore, or overlook the conditions for an authentic Christian life (the need for conversion). The Church is like a field hospital where sinners are healed. Jesus also stated: “And sin no more.” (Jn.8:21) Accompanying does not mean tolerating.
Cardinal Roche, part of Pope Francis’ inner circle, states “You know, the theology of the Church has changed.”: As a result, the Vatican, along with its synodal process, has drawn that proverbial “line in the sand” doubling down in its intentions to modernize the Church. This is manifest in that the Vatican has now restricted the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM).
Conclusion:
Mutation, change, changing, mutate, displace, displacement
By being distracted, confused, or deceived, one can even be potentially or unknowingly influenced by the devil.
In Greek Hellenism, it was interesting to discover the more nuanced senses of changing: exchanging, acting towards others, and taking a new position of authority.
In the Old Testament, this term is used extensively.
It is interesting to note that Stephen, through the Holy Sprit, perceives the fuller implications of Jesus’ teachings. This is where the differences between Judaism and Christianity began to appear. The major impetus of Christianity shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch. The term Christian first originated in Antioch.
These Christians become more foolish in relying more upon the ‘wisdom’ and ‘philosophies’ of man.
The Galatians at one time did know God and was known by God. Then they focused on more elemental and worldly powers. Paul says that he has now become hated for telling the truth to the Galatians. Paul is perplexed by their behavior.
Update: Changing criminal justice with racial (equity) justice has allowed for the release of prisoners with no bail or reduced bail for criminals. Now our society is being ‘repayed’ with increased crime. San Francisco, among other cities, is turning into a ghost town.
Pope Francis continues to use the synodal process, flirting with questionable worldly customs and heretical practices, in his attempts to transform the Church.
Although perhaps well intentioned, the changes, results, and “fruits” from Vatican II have have been disastrous for the Church.
LGBT persons only seem to want to be defined by their sexual inclinations, rather than their whole identity. Perhaps this can help to explain their behavior at Gay Pride parades.
How times have changed when Pope Francis has now called Catholics supporting traditional practices as those having “a disease of nostalgia”. (What a great way to marginalize Catholics!)
LGBTQ values, transgenderism, gender ideology can be considered as examples of current human philosophies.
It seems that Bishop Strickland will get a “talking down to” by the Vatican for having the audacity to speak the truth and the courage to protest against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ honoring the ‘Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence’. For many, Bishop Strickland has become an enemy for stating the truth. How times have changed when you get criticized for standing up for the faith! Contrast this with Pope Francis and his inner circle of cardinals, bishops, and priests are seeking to change teachings to accommodate the LGBTQ values and culture. (Let that sink in!)
Times have really changed for the worse when there are now very few Cardinals, bishops, and priests who are willing to publicly stand up and protest against against sacrilege and scandal.
The Wagner Group’s leader’s open defiance against Putin may possibly have perhaps changed the perception of Putin’s invincibility and changed Ukraine’s prospects for victory.
It seems that nothing has really changed for Bud Light in its refusal to apologize for its actions. Instead, Bud Light continues to support Pride parades and continues to believe that the American people have short memories.
It would be a refreshing change if obscene behavior, lewdness and nudity (from Gay Pride events and parades) would be immediately called out by others. But no, it took several days for the White House to make a comment. Democrats, liberals, and Progressives often remain silent. (Could it be because they are beholden to this identity group?)
“Oh My!” It was just a matter of time in how celebrities will eventually ‘step in it’ when having to explain, rationalize, or justify how nudity, lewdness, and obscene behavior are OK in gay parades and drag queen shows.
Pope John Paul II had stated that recognizing homosexual relationships to be another form of family is a violation of God’s law and an ideology of evil. How times have changed when now Pope Francis and his inner circle are seeking to change church teachings to accommodate the LGBTQ community. (Let that sink in!)