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There Ain't No 'X' in Christmas

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by Revmitchell, Dec 19, 2012.

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  1. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    I am sick and tired of a few atheists, politically correct elitists and the lawyers at the ACLU telling Americans we have no right to publicly display of the symbols of Christmas.

    Talk about the tail wagging the dog. The only reason we even have Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, hence CHRISTmas. What's so hard to understand about that?

    Does this seem as ridiculous to ya'll as it does to me?

    The truth of the matter is that it's only a tiny minority of the population who claim to be offended by the public display of religious symbols, and I refuse to believe it's their rights they're trying to preserve, but yours they're trying to take away.

    If everything that offends a handful of people had to be taken out of public sight, there would be little left because almost everything offends somebody.

    http://cnsnews.com/blog/charlie-daniels/there-aint-no-x-christmas
     
  2. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    I want to remind folks the so-called X in Xmas goes back to the early days of Christianity. What looks like an English\Latin X is based on the Greek chi/khi the first letter of the Greek Kristos. It was used back in the day as an abbreviation for Christ. They also used a capital theta (Theos) as shorthand for God. I use both when taking sermon notes (especially marginal notes in my Bible).

    The ACLU and other may think they are "deleting" Christ from Christmas. The reality is by using the chi they are doing no such thing.
     
  3. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Yep, our Pastor told us this. Here's what Wiki says;

    Yes the "X" is the first letter of the Greek word "Χριστός" which translated means Christ.

    We as Christians can use this to tell folks about Jesus. :thumbsup:
     
  4. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    The shorthand came up in my homiletic's class when the teacher used X in Xian. One of the more spiritual students asked why he was xing out Christ. The teacher then "educated the class."
     
  5. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    I generally use XMas in texts and shorthand notes. I don't say or publish anything like "XMas" as it doesn't make much sense.

    The historical justification seems clear. Especially when one knows Greek. :)
     
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Most people do not know greek. We have to wonder which is better to visually see "Christ" or to only see "x". The answer is obvious in our context and culture.
     
    #6 Revmitchell, Dec 19, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 19, 2012
  7. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Like using an X for Xmas, huh?

    (This is too easy...)
     
  8. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    Please tell me that I am wrong and you really do get it.
     
  9. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    I understand that Charlie Daniels says he is offended by many, many things but he doesn't go around complaining and/or protesting about them.

    And then he proceeds to complain and protest about the people that complain and protest.

    Even holds up a "wiry little bronc rider from Louisiana" as a hero since he complained and protested about a policy he didn't like.

    Yeah, I get it.
     
  10. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    I agree with you on this point. I just get a private chuckle at seeing secularists tie themselves into a knot which doesn't really work out they want to.
     
  11. Oldtimer

    Oldtimer New Member

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    Poll a hundred, a thousand people walking down the street and ask them about Xmas. How many will know the Greek basis?

    I didn't until recently.

    I saw the X as taking Christ out of Christmas which is exactly what secular society is doing. It doesn't matter what the Greek basis is if the average person doesn't know it. What matters is how society is using it today.

    (Reminds me of the debates on modern Bible versions needed to keep up with societies changes in the use of words.)
     
  12. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Come on, man. Let's put the X back in Xmas.
     
  13. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    So silly. There's a war Christmas and we made up the facts to prove it!
     
  14. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
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    It's a great opportunity to explain what the chi (X) means. From that, you can explain what the word "Christ" (Greek for Annointed One) means. And that can lead directly to a discussion of the Person of Jesus.

    I've had the conversation more than a half dozen times in the last few years.

    The last thing we need is for Christians to rant and rave over something that they should use as an opportunity.

    There's nothing wrong with the use of Xmas. I actually tend to use it in writing more than "Christmas" with people I know who are not believers but know I am a committed believer. It makes them ask questions and begins a conversation.
     
  15. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Yeah, I grin every year over the silly semantics arguments.

    Think I'll get java out of my life by drinking coffee instead. :laugh:
     
  16. TC

    TC Active Member
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    I'll raise ya my cup of joe
     
  17. Arbo

    Arbo Active Member
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    How many people aren't aware that Xmas really means Christmas?
     
  18. jaigner

    jaigner Active Member

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    Further than that, how many care and are led away from Christ because of a silly abbreviation they don't understand? I'm thinking a big, fat zero.
     
  19. webdog

    webdog Active Member
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    All this time I thought the X Factor was a singing competition.
     
  20. TadQueasy

    TadQueasy Member

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    Amazing how so many Christians spend precious time fighting imaginary battles instead of obeying the Great Commission.
     
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