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Indubitably
Guest
Most do not know it but X in Xmas is not necessarily taking Christ out of Christmas...
There’s no X in Christmas?
First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas. We see the English letter X there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ. We don’t see people protesting the use of the Greek letter theta, which is an O with a line across the middle. We use that as a shorthand abbreviation for God because it is the first letter of the word Theos, the Greek word for God.
X has a long and sacred history
The idea of X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus. The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym. Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish. That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom. There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.
Adapted from Now, That’s a Good Question! ©1996 by R.C. Sproul.
NOTE: The early church was under tremendous persecution. Areas where a church existed or where a group of Christians resided were often marked with and X, in bricks in the road. The X signified Christ. The Greek language is so cool.. Go on, Google it!
There’s no X in Christmas?
First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter X that is put into Christmas. We see the English letter X there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ. The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an X. That X has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ. We don’t see people protesting the use of the Greek letter theta, which is an O with a line across the middle. We use that as a shorthand abbreviation for God because it is the first letter of the word Theos, the Greek word for God.
X has a long and sacred history
The idea of X as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus. The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym. Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish. That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom. There’s a long and sacred history of the use of X to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.
Adapted from Now, That’s a Good Question! ©1996 by R.C. Sproul.
NOTE: The early church was under tremendous persecution. Areas where a church existed or where a group of Christians resided were often marked with and X, in bricks in the road. The X signified Christ. The Greek language is so cool.. Go on, Google it!
Stop complaining about people who take 'Christ' out of xmas (for instance by spelling it AS 'xmas'). Christ has little to do with that pagan holiday anyway.
Also stop complaining about the 'mas' in xmas, as a reference to the catholic mass. Let's just face it: it's the catholic church that took popular pagan traditions and turned them into a pseudo christian holiday.
If you 'love christmas,' you can do without the 'mas' entirely, but for other reasons:
STOP LOVING 'CHRISTMAS' AND LOVE CHRIST INSTEAD!
Also stop complaining about the 'mas' in xmas, as a reference to the catholic mass. Let's just face it: it's the catholic church that took popular pagan traditions and turned them into a pseudo christian holiday.
If you 'love christmas,' you can do without the 'mas' entirely, but for other reasons:
STOP LOVING 'CHRISTMAS' AND LOVE CHRIST INSTEAD!
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looly
Guest
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looly
Guest
Stop complaining about people who take 'Christ' out of xmas (for instance by spelling it AS 'xmas'). Christ has little to do with that pagan holiday anyway.
Also stop complaining about the 'mas' in xmas, as a reference to the catholic mass. Let's just face it: it's the catholic church that took popular pagan traditions and turned them into a pseudo christian holiday.
If you 'love christmas,' you can do without the 'mas' entirely, but for other reasons:
STOP LOVING 'CHRISTMAS' AND LOVE CHRIST INSTEAD!
Wasnt complaining, just wanted to know the difference but you are totally right on that
Wasnt complaining, just wanted to know the difference but you are totally right on that
It was a general comment, not specifically directed at you. Thanks for the 'like' btw.
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Indubitably
Guest
Newluke, there is so much you do not know of what is and is not contained in scripture. I am offended by your continually referring to the celebration of the birth of my Savior as a "pagan holiday."
This is a day set aside by man to honor the birth of our Messiah, the King of Kings and Lords of Lords. Because pagans also have traditions that relate to the holiday, honoring Christ is not pagan or wrong. Sinners celebrate the holiday and remain sinners. But we're not celebrating a sinner's holiday either.
God says in Isaiah 66:2
"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Study the Word of God for evidence of what you proclaim here, and tremble at it's meaning. I believe you will stop making these sweeping statements that deny every element of God's Word.
This is a day set aside by man to honor the birth of our Messiah, the King of Kings and Lords of Lords. Because pagans also have traditions that relate to the holiday, honoring Christ is not pagan or wrong. Sinners celebrate the holiday and remain sinners. But we're not celebrating a sinner's holiday either.
God says in Isaiah 66:2
"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
Study the Word of God for evidence of what you proclaim here, and tremble at it's meaning. I believe you will stop making these sweeping statements that deny every element of God's Word.
Simply put...: noone really knows when Jesus was born. In principle they could have picked almost ANY date on the calendar to celebrate His birthday, but they just HAD to pick a date that's so related to many pagan holidays. Now I think THAT's offensive.
Now I study my Bible on a daily basis, and I'm sure you do too; it's a good habit. So if you come across any scripture which says we should celebrate the birth of our Savior on december 25th, with all the pagan rituals to go with it, I will indeed shut up. To be honest I think when you read your Bible closely there's more there AGAINST how xmas is celebrated today. If true christians would only have the nerve to face the facts, they would indeed TREMBLE at God's Word, for having made such an abomination out of His Son's birthday. You said it: this day was indeed set aside by MAN, and yet again humanity has made a mess of things.
There are plenty of other posts on xmas and it's pagan origins, some I posted myself. Now I'm not going to repeat myself here, you can read them if you want and make up your own mind. I'm kinda tired of this whole debate, so you and everybody else who loves xmas just go do your thing. Have fun!
It's the night before xmas here, I worked most of the day, so now I'm just going to have a beer and drink to your health and that of all the other CC-members.
Love ya, in Christ Jesus
Amen.
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Lol...rails against christmas...but then talks about getting a beer. Which based on the bible and his profile would be wrong since he is sixteen and in america and a s christians are called to live by the laws of the land. Hence drinking would be illegal. So i guess that just makes NewLuke a hypocrite or a troll...
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looly
Guest
So just on the basis of that little comment about me having a beer you conclude I'm either a hypocrite or a troll?
Aw, and to think I drank it the health of ALL CC members, which means INCLUDING you. Not very nice of you, don't you think?
Btw, I'm living in the NETHERLANDS atm, where's it's LEGAL for a 16 yo to buy a beer. So.....:
PHAIL!
Maybe you should think twice before you make accusations like that next time...
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So just on the basis of that little comment about me having a beer you conclude I'm either a hypocrite or a troll?
Aw, and to think I drank it the health of ALL CC members, which means INCLUDING you. Not very nice of you, don't you think?
Btw, I'm living in the NETHERLANDS atm, where's it's LEGAL for a 16 yo to buy a beer. So.....:
PHAIL!
Maybe you should think twice before you make accusations like that next time...
Then perhaps you should adjust your profile to the netherlands before you mislead others into thinking its ok to break drinking laws in the US.
Why? I've had 'the Netherlands' as my location from the very moment I joined CC. And don't you tell me I should change my flag too. I'm still (also) an american citizen. As if it was EVER my intention to mislead anyone into thinking anything. I mean... really?
It seems to me you're too obsessed with 'the law of the land.' In various posts you have even placed it above God's will.
And yet again you're trying to derail a thread with your nitpicking...
.... nitpicking again and trying to derail this thread with completely unrelated subjects, tut. Now who's the selfrighteous one here, if you don't even have the guts to admit you were wrong. I think you should apologize for the false allegations you made against me here. Btw I've never dismissed the concept of free will, even for atheists. I think everybody has a free will to accept Jesus as His Lord and Savior, for instance. I can't help it that a lot of people make the wrong choice and don't accept Him. Now please say something related to the topic or just stop with the trolling comments.
nope not wrong. From looking at your post which is what most people will do and go no farther...it APPEARS you are in America, are under the legal drinking age, and still talking about going to drink. What was that verse Abstain from all appearances of evil? Whether or not you still live the US, to a casual forum reader it appears you do and it appears like are ok with drinking underage, which isnt the best testimony, so you may also be creating a stumbling block for that believer...perhaps the better idea is just not to talk about drinking when there are that many visible signs going against you, regardless of how legal it might be in your actual situation.
Stop complaining about people who take 'Christ' out of xmas (for instance by spelling it AS 'xmas'). Christ has little to do with that pagan holiday anyway.
Also stop complaining about the 'mas' in xmas, as a reference to the catholic mass. Let's just face it: it's the catholic church that took popular pagan traditions and turned them into a pseudo christian holiday.
If you 'love christmas,' you can do without the 'mas' entirely, but for other reasons:
STOP LOVING 'CHRISTMAS' AND LOVE CHRIST INSTEAD!
Christmas is not a Pagan holiday its always been a Christian one since medieval times. I think what you mean is they put Christmas over a Pagan holiday some sort of winter solstice holiday they celebrated. Some people say the giving of gifts is originally also a Pagan like part of it but really Saint Nicholas was known to do this as well.
... funny how you keep quoted scripture, though when it suits your purpose you will always place 'the law of the land' over God's will. I think you're the only one here taking offense to my 'drinking comment.' When someone drinks to your health you should appreciate it first and foremost. I'm beginning to think you're only using it against me to 'win' this argument. Stop posting out of spite man, it's so pathetic.
Btw people can use any flag they want, so in principle the flag doesn't have to mean a thing. If people are REALLY interested they could always check out someone's profile. That could be especially useful when they intend to make farfetched allegations against the person involved. Having said that I'm going to put you ignore now, because frankly I've had enough of your nitpicking. Get a life already. Don't take it too personally though, I still love you in Christ Jesus.