[Greek] ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi), [Latin] resistere, [Latin] avertere, [French] detourner: to resist, to stand against, to withstand, to cope, to set against; Mt.5:39, Lk.21:15, Acts 6:10, Acts 13:8, Rom.9:19, Rom.13:2, Gal.2:11, Eph.6:13, 2Tim.3:8, 2Tim.4:15, Jas.4:7, 1Pet.5:9
Harrison Butker seeks to “arm” and prepare the students with wisdom for the battle ahead in this secular, anti-Catholic, and often evil world in which we live in.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to set against, to match with, to withstand, to hold out, and to hinder.
Plutarch’s Theseus 1: “With such a warrior who will dare to fight? When I shall I set against him?”
Homer’s Iliad 16.305: “They still sought to withstand him.”
Sophocles Ajax 1231: “So it is you, they tell me, who dared open your mouth wide to make fierce threats against us–and are you still unpunished?”
Sophocles’ Tracking Satyrs 256: “I won’t put up with your loud quarrelsome words.”
Old Testament: This term means to be alert, to be courageous, to cause strife, to take a stand, to resist, to rebel, to contend, to be strong, to be insolent, to deceive, and to be hardened.
New Testament: This term means to resist (oppose), to offer no resistance, and to be unable to resist. For purposes of brevity, Jesus’ teachings on turning the other check (Mt.5:39) is mentioned in another post. https://resoundingthefaith.com/2020/11/16/greek-%e1%bc%80%ce%bd%ce%b8%ce%af%cf%83%cf%84%ce%b7%ce%bc%ce%b9-anthistemi-latin-contendere-latin-resistere/ (How can I resist being able to promote another post! ☺☺☺
Scripture:
Lk.21:15: “I shall give you a wisdom in speaking (from the Holy Spirit) that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” (Interestingly, this scripture appears in light of Jesus’ foretelling a coming persecution. Some will be seized, persecuted, imprisoned, and brought before authorities.)
Acts 13:8: “Elymas the magician opposed them in an attempt to turn the proconsul away from the faith.” (Paul call Elymas the son of the devil, full of deceit and fraud and twisting the straight paths of the Lord.)
Rom.9:19: “You will say to me then, ‘Why then does He still find fault? For who can oppose His will'” (Paul responds to the objection that if God already has a plan for everybody, then God cannot then accuse unbelievers of sin. But this objection is a sign of human insolence (placing humanity on a level with God). God grants us free will to do as we choose. Yet, God grants mercy upon whom He wills and hardens whom He wills.)
Rom.13:2: “Whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.” (Paul was responding to the issues of what are the responsibilities, duties, or freedoms from Roman authority and control. Roman imperial protocol was interwoven with devotion to various deities.)
Gal.2:11: “I [Paul] opposed Peter to his face because he clearly was wrong.” (Paul criticized Peter for improper table fellowship with the Gentiles. Kosher food regulation had not yet been settled.)
Eph.6:13: “Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and to hold your ground.” (Paul alludes to THE CHRISTIAN WHO MUST BE A BATTLE-PREPARED SOLDIER IN FIGHTING AGAINST EVIL. The evil day is the period of time of Satan’s evil works.)
2Tim.3:8-9: “Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so they also oppose the truth–people of depraved mind, unqualified in the faith, for their foolishness will be plain to all.” (Jannes and Jambres were part of Pharaoh’s inner circle who discredited the truth in Moses.)
Jas.4:7: “Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (The devil is essentially associated with disobedience, PRIDE, and rebellion.)
1Pet.5:9: “Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.”
Harrison Butker “arms” the college graduates with great wisdom for the battle ahead in the secular, anti-Catholic, and evil world:
- Pervasiveness of disorder: abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia. (evil and grave man-made decisions in killing and controlling God’s life processes)
- A “Catholic” US President who supports abortion. This harmful message unfortunately illustrates some Catholics being pro-choice. (evil man-made decisions to kill life)
- A Church of niceness, lukewarmness, and cowardice is a not a winning proposition. (A Church afraid to confront the culture and world)
- One needs to be authentically and unapologetically Catholic. Our Catholic faith must be countercultural (One must be a voice of contradiction in the world)
- The world says that we should keep our beliefs to ourselves. One must not go against the tyranny of diversion, equity, and inclusion. (Inability to confront the world)
- Why is it harmful or illegal in stating the Jews killed Christ? (Being fearful, being afraid of offending others, and being afraid of being seen as anti-Semitic)
- Too many clergy are fearful, cowardly, and faithless. Some clergy mislead their flock. (Some clergy are fearful and afraid of telling the truth and speaking out)
- We must call out those bishops and priests do not act like bishops and priests. (Too many clergy seeking praise, recognition, and adulation in the world)
- Bishops, failing in their responsibilities, do not deserve respect from the laity. (Too many bishops are failing to act like true spiritual shepherds)
- We live in a world where many focus on self-centered PRIDE rather than submission to God. (Pride and selfishness lead to disobedience, despair, sin, and evil)
- Society (culture) has dictated that jobs an title are more important than vocations (wife and mother). (Vocations bring deeper meaning than careers)
- Men must be unapologetic in their masculinity. Do hard things. (Men must regain their masculinity given to them by God)
- Young and old people are embracing tradition. (People strive to seek deeper meaning in a more worthy worship service)
Antihistamine: This is a substance (drug) that counteracts or blocks the effects of a histamine which causes the symptoms of hay fever and allergies.
Conclusion:
Antihistamine, histamine, resist, resistance, contend, contention, detour
Oftentimes in difficult situations, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will provide the needed words to resist or refute opponents.
Update: As Pope Francis and his inner circle seek to remake Jesus’ Church into a worldly synodal Church (in the image of man), many conservative and traditional Catholics (and Christians) are being marginalized and cancelled.
In response to seeing the many innovations, confusion, chaos, and evil caused by Pope Francis, many people are waking up in seeing more clearly the damage being done by the Modernists to Jesus’ Church.
The Modernists are clearly being deceitful in stating the truth about the Church’s teachings in light of Jesus’s command to sin no more (Jn.8:11). In their outreach to the LGBTQ community, the Vatican is deceitful in not stating the sinfulness of homosexuality and same-sex unions. Instead, they are providing non-liturgical blessings for same-sex “irregular couples”.
Aftermath (response) to Fiducia Supplicans: This has created an inflection point for our Church. Do we want a Church that blesses evil? Many of the faithful opposition are now clearly seeing (with the help of the Holy Spirit) that the Modernists are succumbing to the values of the world. Are you surprised?
Like Elymas, the Vatican is intentionally using sophistry (word games) and verbal gymnastics in their statements and documents. The “pope-splainers” are in full force defending the Vatican. Yet, many of us can see through their efforts.
The Modernists, hard-hardened in their hearts, have become “true-believers” in their ideological cause to adapt the Church to the world. These Modernists have now become blinded by their ideology. Perhaps God’s providence is allowing this, in order for all of us to stand up in response to their destructive actions.
It can also be said that the Modernists are also undermining, diminishing, and remaking Jesus’ Church. It is as if the Modernists are managing the decline of the Jesus’ Church into a worldly synodal Church.
Cardinal Parolin, part of Pope Francis’ inner circle, has now recently stated that these Modernist reforms will remain in the Church. The cardinal says this in light of the continued liturgical chaos, and opposition to Pope Francis’ reforms.
More smoke of Satan: All Catholics and Christian must be prepared and vigilant in fighting against the subtle influence of Satan in the Church and the world. Satan influences and controls us through, busyness, distraction, rebellion, disobedience, pride, worldliness, worldly values, and vulnerabilities. Satan will do whatever he can to undermine the Church, God’s moral laws and obedience to Church teachings. Satan hides in obscurity rather than in plain view.
Satan is the epitome of pride and rebellion. Faithfulness and obedience to Church teachings and God’s laws will drive Satan away. But Satan hopes that you do otherwise.
Harrisom Bukter has become an important counter-cultural voice in the wilderness in laying out the challenges, obstacles, and evils in the world. The reactions to his speech range from standing ovations to “What the f*#k!”
At the end of the day, haters gonna hate
We just got shake it off and arm and defend yourself in this battle.