The X in Christmas

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by jimslade:
Replacing Christ with the greek letter for CHI in a world where few people know Greek ( I DO )is a pathetic arguement and not worthy of further responce!!!!!.

1.) Lots of people understand the meaning. We use Greek symbols all the time in this culture.
2.) It is an opportunity for witness, like all other symbols of the Christian faith. Lots of people don’t understand the symbolism of the fish in Christian circles. Should we forbid it as well? For that matter, should we toss out hymns that may not make much sense to an unchurched person (“Here I raise mine Ebeneezer…”)?
3.) If you know Greek, then you know that what I am saying is factually correct. Since you likely learned Greek in order to understand the Greek New Testament more completely, you are probably experienced enough to know that liturgical churches use “X” and “XP” quite often in art and worship symbols. Therefore, many people in church life are aware of the meaning from sheer familiarity with worship.
4.) Saying it is a “pathetic argument” is quite a different thing from the assertion being true. I’m sorry you do not feel it is worth your time. Thank you for your opinion.

Foolish words from a wise man are still foolish words.

Quite true. Foolish words from uninformed people are also still foolish words.

 

[jimslade]

I do not know of one unbeliever that knows that X means Christ. Confusion is author of Ignorance.

 

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by jimslade:
I do not know of one unbeliever that knows that X means Christ.

For that matter, I don't personally know a nonbeliever who understands the verse, "Here I raise mine Ebeneezer...". But it provides an opening to talk about biblical truth.

You now have a great opportunity to talk to them about Christ when you and a nonbeliever see a "Merry Xmas" together.

Confusion is author of Ignorance.

I don't understand your assertion. I certainly don't think that confusion creates a lack of knowledge.

I think lack of knowledge (ignorance) is simply the result of Christians not spreading the gospel.

[ December 27, 2002, 12:45 AM: Message edited by: Baptist Believer ]

 

[Matticus]

I don't know of any Christians that DON'T know that 'X' is a greek symbol for Christ. Most non -christians I know also know this fact!

 

[russell55]

I don't know of any Christians that DON'T know that 'X' is a greek symbol for Christ. Most non -christians I know also know this fact!

This has been my experience as well. I had never, ever even heard of the "crossing out Christ" thing until this very thread!

I just asked my kids about this and they hadn't heard of it either. My 13 year old says his grade 5 public school teacher told them the X is shorthand for Christ.

I suspect the idea that the x is crossing out Christ is fairly recent and mostly American......

 

[stubbornkelly]

Hmm . . . I do know many people who don't know how to pronounce it, but haven't met anyone who pronounces it "eks-mas." I've encountered people who ask, though, and I tell them.

In fact, I remember not knowing how to pronounce it, too, when I was a kid. I asked my Dad how you pronounced it. And he told me "Christmas." No problems. I was maybe 4 or 5.

 

[post-it]

Xing out Christ? Can we say paranoia?

X=Cross + mas. Christ is signified by the cross. That is my thoughts on the subject.

We have Cross bones that are most commonly placed in this shape. We use X at crossing paths of children and animals on our street signs. We are use to thinking "Cross" when we see an X followed by something else. Deer Xing

To use a +mas looks too much like plusmas.

[ December 27, 2002, 04:15 PM: Message edited by: post-it ]

 

[LadyEagle]

Originally posted by jimslade:
I do not know of one unbeliever that knows that X means Christ. Confusion is author of Ignorance.

Amen, jimslade. Your short posts are like little nuggets of golden truth.

 

[Baptist Believer]

bump

 

[Johnv]

(regardless of the largely unknown and meaningless history concerning the "X" as reported on this thread)

Unknown to you, that is obvious. But not unknown to the general population. I've known of the Christian meaning of X-Mas since I was in gradeschool.

 

[Baptist Believer]

bump

 

[BrianT]

Originally posted by SheEagle9/11:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by jimslade:
I do not know of one unbeliever that knows that X means Christ. Confusion is author of Ignorance.

Amen, jimslade. Your short posts are like little nuggets of golden truth.

</font>[/QUOTE]Why not use this as an opportunity to tell an unbeliever X in Xmas *does* mean Christ, and then tell more about him?

 

[jimslade]

When I become the Prime Minister of Canada, my first order of business is to replace the first three letters of every word with the letter X, and then, We will become a trully Christian Nation.

Just Kidding

Jim

 

[Baptist Believer]

Originally posted by jimslade:
When I become the Prime Minister of Canada, my first order of business is to replace the first three letters of every word with the letter X, and then, We will become a trully Christian Nation.

Xt Xld X Xy Xeresting, X X Xy Xctical! X X Xll Xe X X Xn X X X Xice. Xs, X X Xadian...

(That would be interesting, but not very practical. But I'll vote for you when you run for office. Oops, I'm not Canadian...)

 

[jimslade]

Too bad

jim