[Greek] ἀνθίστημι (anthistēmi), [Latin] resistere, [Latin] avertere, [French] detourner

[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

Pope Leo XIII prophetically warned about man’s human reason stripping away divine authority in society. Pope Pius X later develops this idea at the individual level. One will look inside himself/herself in finding the consciousness of God in his/her human reason and visible world. (Divine immanence)

Pope Leo XIV now wants to further strip away doctrinal/scriptural guardrails, divine authority, and Jesus’ commandments/restrictions  ===> calling for a Church that is an “open house” and “listens without judging.” Shocker!

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 not being able to promote another post! ☺☺☺

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.” (Some will be persecuted, imprisoned, and brought before authorities. You will be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. You will be hated because of Me but by your perseverance, you will secure your lives.) 

Acts 6:10: “But they could not withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which Stephen spoke.” (Stephen’s defense provides an indictment of the Jews opposing the prophets and the Holy Spirit. Stephen diminishes the temple of Mosaic law and elevates Jesus’ stature. The differences between Judaism and Christianity become more apparent. The major impetus of the Christian movement shifts from Jerusalem to Antioch.)

Rom.9:19: “You will say to me then, ‘Why then does He still find fault? For who can oppose His will?'”

1. This question addresses the issue of divine justice and human responsibility.
2. There is often a tension between God’s sovereignty and human accountability.
3. God grants us free will to do as we choose.
4. God will even allow those to become hard-hearted [like Pharaoh] if it serves God’s divine Providence.
5. Those who are hard-hearted will still be held accountable for their actions.

Rom.13:2: “Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves.”

1. Paul instructs those who to defer to the authority of earthly and secular governing authorities.
2. God is still sovereign over all nations and rulers.
3. It is important to recognize that these rulers are sometimes imperfect.
4. God still uses imperfect leaders to accomplish His purposes.
5. These principles align with Jesus’ teaching to “render to Caesar what is Caesar’s.

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 act like a battle-prepared soldier in fighting against evil. The evil day is the period of time of Satan’s evil works.)

1Pet.5:9: “Resist him [devil], steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.”

Resist him: Paul instructs believers to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil’s schemes. This requires vigilance and strength. The devil is a real adversary.

Standing firm in your faith: Steadfastness in faith is required in resisting the devil. Faith is not merely intellectual assent but also trust and reliance on God.

Acknowledging fellow believers: This underscores the familial bonds among Christians. This shared struggle fosters solidarity and encouragement. This shared experience of suffering serves to unite believers during these trials.

Gal.2:11: “And when Cephas came to Antioch, I [Paul] opposed him to this face because he clearly was wrong.” (Paul’s confrontation with Peter illustrates the tension with Jewish and Gentile believers. Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers, due to peer pressure from certain Jewish Christians. Paul criticized Peter for not following the Gospel and for not showing that salvation is by faith alone, not by adherence to the Law.)

Antihistamine: This is a substance (drug) that counteracts or blocks the effects of a histamine which causes the symptoms of hay fever and allergies.

The Church: another sign of contradiction:

1. When the Church opposes and contradicts the culture ===> the Church grows
2. When the Church faces persecution and opposition from the culture ===> the Church grows
3. When the Church moves with the world (Vatican II and Synodality) ==> the Church falters and stagnates
4. Not surprisingly, the parts of the Church OPPOSING AND RESPONDING AGAINST Synodality ===> resurgence of Traditional Catholicism and the TLM (not Synodality!) ===> this part of the Church grows
5. A CHURCH THAT OPPOSES AND CONTRADICTS THE CULTURE ===> MOVES THE WORLD

Man’s pride resisting the God’s objective law in society:

1. Pope Leo warned against replacing God’s objective law with human nature.
2. He points out the false pride of man as the source of authority.
3. This lead to a collective spiritual selfishness.

Man’s religious sentiment (lived experiences) replacing God’s authority.

1. Pope Pius X warned that external supernatural revelation (truth) would be reduced to an internal human sentiment.
2. He declares that the human mind and subconscious becomes the creator of dogma.
3. This standardizes making religious truth self referential.
4. Making an open Church that does not judge: this further strips away divine authority

Conclusion:

Antihistamine, histamine, resist, resistance, contend, contention, detour

Update: The Modernists and Synodalists are causing much damage to the Church: synodal innovations, confusion, chaos, worldliness, heresy, and evil.

Resisting (remaking) the truth in the image of man: refusing to follow Jesus’ commands (to sin no more), making Synodality (lived experiences) an idol, paying lip service to Church teachings.

The differences between Synodality (worldly ecumenical Church) and Tradition (divine Church and traditional teachings) are also becoming much more apparent.

The Church in Germany and Spain has been declining. This has become an indictment against the conciliar and synodal Church. Synodality, making the Church more worldly, will only exacerbate these problems. 

Pope Leo XIII, already foreseeing the rise of secular human pride in society, sought to reclaim God’s rights and divine authority in society.

Pope Pius X foresaw that God’s consciousness would be defined in one’s human reason and visible world. This leads religious sentiments and lived experiences defining the Church. ====> A SYNODAL CHURCH MADE IN THE IMAGE OF MAN AND HIS LIVED EXPERIENCES.

Young women being spiritually counter-cultural: more young women, gravitating toward the TLM, are veiling themselves.

The Synodal Church losing its traditions: it has been claimed that perhaps as much as 65% of clergy do not have an understanding of Latin.

Satan can “inspire” rebellion, heresy, apostasy, division, liturgical chaos and confusion, busyness, distraction, pride, worldliness, spiritual dryness, secularlism, and increased vulnerability to sin. Satan only needs to make one forget about God.

Cardinal Sarah: normalizing LGBTQ is a rebellion against the Cross. This undermines Jesus’ mission to overcome sin.

Stabbing Pope Benedict XVI in the back: Pope Leo awards the Ratzinger Prize to a theologian that says that the TLM is deficient.

St. Peter’s is open to LGBTQ but not the Archbishop Schneiders TLM. (This illustrates Pope Leo’ enmity against traditional Catholicism.)

Pope Leo opposes the use of Mary’s titles of  Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of All Graces. Shocker! (Evidently, this will no doubt offend the Protestants and non-Catholics.)

Another indication that the Synodal Church being a different Church that Jesus established: Jesus associated with sinners, but He did not tolerate their sinful lifestyles. Jesus DID NOT CREATE AN OPEN CHURCH. Jesus judged!

Synodal verbal gymnastics:

1. The “Holy Spirit of Surprises”: Synodal leaders often use this term to promote their Synodal innovations. This is deceitful and evil. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN ONLY STAND FOR TRUTH!
2. Fiducia Supplicans: Supporters always say that this refers to the individuals in the same-sex unions, but not the “marriage arrangement.”

Moslem organizations in France express concern for the renewal of Catholicism in France. (And that is a very good thing!)

Pope Leo claims that the death penalty is admissible on the dignity of the person. This represents a defiant rejection of God’s mandate (found in scripture and Tradition) of the death penalty for murderers.

Defiance against Tradition: many believe that “rigidity” is the cause for the obstacle against women deacons and women priests.

Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, welcomes and praises the heretical woman Anglican bishop who supports abortion. This is scandalous Synodal ecumenism!

God’s Providence and resistance against Synodality:

1. Continuing Synodal hard-heartedness: The Synodal Church leadership continues to marginalize the faithful with Traditiones Custodes.
2. Continuing Synodal hard-heartedness: Perhaps God is permitting this Synodal hard-heartedness to allow others to have a longing for Tradition and doctrinal clarity.
3. Younger generations of priests and seminarians are more traditional and conservative in response to liberal and progressive theology of Vatican II and Synodality.
4. Aside from Traditiones Custodes the Synodal Church is UNABLE to stop this desire for Tradition and the TLM.
5. Protestants are becoming Catholic because they are discovering the Catholic practices of the Early Church. It is NOT because of Synodality.
6. We only need to look at Acts 5:38-39 to understand who will prevail in this tension between Synodality (human activity) and Tradition (Holy Spirit -inspired activity).
7. Tradition, doctrinal clarity, and traditional practices will provide TRUE REFORM and TRUE RENEWAL for the Church.

“One must resist the pope who openly destroys the Church.” St. Cajetan

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St. Augustine.

“The truth suffers, but never dies.” St. Teresa of Avila.

“A dead thing can go with the stream.” GK Chesterton  (This sounds like a Church moves with the moral current and culture. Sound likes the Synodal Church.)

“But only a living thing can go against it.” GK Chesterton  (This sounds like an active and lively Church that opposes the moral current and culture.)