One of Satan’s favorite ways to confuse and deceive people is by changing the meanings of words . If he can’t change the meaning completely, he’ll change the value or implications. Let’s look at some of the numerous words that have been changed in recent years.

Isaiah 5:20  (ESV)

Left -A positional word, but also meant something bad,and was usually the incorrect choice. Rebellious. Now means the Democrat party that opposes traditional values and promotes a platform of Socialist Democracy, legislation, regulation,and  dependence on government to provide equal living conditions. Used derogatorily by the Right.

Right– Correct, good, related to righteousness, proper, godly. Has now been applied to the Republican party and Conservative platform to mean traditional values such as Capitalism, Constitutionalism, and self-determination and responsibility. Used derogatorily by the Left.

Patriotic– Had a good connotation, meant love of one’s country and willingness to defend it and serve it. Now given a negative meaning by those who believe America has unfairly treated the rest of the world. Also, nationalism. 

2 Peter 2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (Italics added)

White-The color which used to indicate cleanliness, purity, having sins washed away, untainted. Now spoken with condemnation  against people with ‘white’ skin, claiming they have unfair privileges.

Revelation 7:14 (ESV)

¹⁴ I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Adultery-Sex or lust with someone other than your spouse. Once considered a terrible selfish sin that caused much pain and suffering, destruction of relationships . Now something people do without shame, even inviting their spouses to do it with them.

 ³ For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Divorce-Abandonment of the sacred vows made to a spouse. The Bible clearly says, I the Lord, hate divorce. But has become an accepted and encouraged option when someone just ‘isn’t happy’ or finds someone they like better.

 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. ⁹ And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

Jesus– Once considered to be either the Son of God, the Messiah or a madman, now considered to be an inspiring prophet or just a man who died on a cross.

Pride-Love of self and blindness to one’s faults. Rejection of humble submission to God. Called a sin in the Bible, now encouraged in every way imaginable.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.

God-The Creator, Sovereign overseer of the Earth, Most wise, Spiritual Being. Now, someone to ask for things from, or to reject, or to blame, or to blaspheme.

Idol-Something that you worship, pray to, trust, love, other than God. The Bible warns over and over not to do this. Now, a TV show encouraging undue adoration to singers and music.

^{2 Kings 24} Moreover, Josiah put away the mediums and the necromancers and the household gods and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might establish the words of the law that were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

Faith-Trusting God with your life and problems and death. Now, trusting in your own ability or thoughts or wishes to make things happen.

^{Romans 10:17} So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Christian-Those who trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus to save them from judgment for their sins and who follow him and keep his commandments. Now, according to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, “Easter Worshippers”. Also, now used in a negative way where in the past Christians were mostly seen as good people.

^{John 14:15} “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

 

Note: I wrote this awhile back and never published it for some reason. Maybe I was afraid it was polarizing? Is it? Can you think of any other words that get twisted or have different meanings for different people?