There Ain't No 'X' in Christmas

[Revmitchell]

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

 

[Squire Robertsson]

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.

 

[Winman]

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.

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

Xmas is a common abbreviation of the word Christmas. It is sometimes pronounced /ˈɛksməs/, but it, and variants such as Xtemass, originated as handwriting abbreviations for the typical pronunciation /ˈkrɪsməs/. The "-mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for Mass,[1] while the "X" comes from the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, translated as "Christ".[2]
There is a common misconception that the word Xmas stems from a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas[3] by taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas".

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:

 

[Squire Robertsson]

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."

 

[preachinjesus]

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.

 

[Revmitchell]

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.

 

[InTheLight]

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.

Like using an X for Xmas, huh?

(This is too easy...)

 

[Revmitchell]

Like using an X for Xmas, huh?

(This is too easy...)

Please tell me that I am wrong and you really do get it.

 

[InTheLight]

Please tell me that I am wrong and you really do get it.

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.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

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.

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.

 

[Oldtimer]

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.

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.)

 

[jaigner]

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.

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

 

[go2church]

So silly. There's a war Christmas and we made up the facts to prove it!

 

[Baptist Believer]

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.

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.

 

[Gina B]

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

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

 

[TC]

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

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

I'll raise ya my cup of joe

 

[Arbo]

How many people aren't aware that Xmas really means Christmas?

 

[jaigner]

How many people aren't aware that Xmas really means Christmas?

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.

 

[webdog]

All this time I thought the X Factor was a singing competition.

 

[TadQueasy]

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