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xMikex
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 Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:15 pm Post subject: Xians?? |
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OK folks, I must say that Ive never represented myself or anything I care about with an X. So I see alot of yous use X to replace Christ.
Are you in too much of a hurry to write it out??
Is there not enough room for Christ??
Do you pronounce xmas as 'ecksmas'??
What's up, Christians??
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| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| i actually only use it sometimesif im writing a huge deep post ill sya christians but if im refering to christians just in some sentence i may use xians. i am certainly not writing christ AT ALL, its just a product of my lazyness. |
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SABBATICAL!
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punkrockerpj
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| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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something i find ironic:
| Quote: | Xmas (or X-mas) is an abbreviation for Christmas. It is derived from the word ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ, transliterated as Christos, which is Greek for Christ. Greek is the language in which the whole New Testament was written.
Originally, Xmas was an abbreviation where the X represents the Greek letter χ (see chi. It is pronounced with a hard ch), which is the first letter of Christ's name in Greek. However, because of the modern interpretations of the letter X, many people are unaware of this and assume that this abbreviation is meant to drop Christ from Christmas as a secularization or political correctness vehicle. The occasionally seen belief that the X represents the cross Christ was crucified on has no basis in fact; St Andrew's Cross is X-shaped, but Christ's cross was probably shaped like a T or a + sign with long lower foot. Indeed, X-as-chi was associated with Christ long before X-as-cross could be. The use of X as an abbreviation for cross in modern parlance may have reinforced this assumption.
In ancient Christian art χ and χρ (Chi Ro--the first two letters in Greek of Christos) abbreviate Christ's name. In many manuscripts of the New Testament and icons, X abbreviates Christos (Xristos), as does XC (the first and last letters using the lunate sigma) along with IC for Jesus in Greek. The Oxford English Dictionary documents the use of this abbreviation back to 1551, fifty years before the first English colonists came to America and sixty years earlier than the completion of the King James Version of the Bible. At the same time, Xian and Xianity were in frequent use as abbreviations of Christian and Christianity..
The abbreviation is widely but not universally accepted; some view it as demeaning to Christ, whilst others find it helpful to use in text messages and emails to save space. Similarly, Xianity is sometimes used as the abbreviation for Christianity (although this usage is much less common than "Xmas").
In the animated television show Futurama, which is set in the 31st century, Xmas is the official name for the day formerly known as Christmas. |
-wikipedia
I've come across a few times where people were arguing that using X for Christ was a cop out. I've also come across conversations where people were upset at the fact that people have taken X out of Christmas because they wanted to take the Christian story out of Christmas. however, instead of seeing this as a hazard to the Christian faith, why don't you see it as a chance to share the gospel with people...
heres a way you can do it..
in the english speaking world, use an X to represent something of the unknown. ie. Mr. X, or mathemetical terms where X is the varieable or unknown.
why is that ironic?
In the 17th chapter of the book of Acts, Paul was visiting the philosophers in Athens (greece). While he was wandering around, he was examining all of the alters to all of the gods that the greeks were paying homage and respect to. among these altars, was an alter to an unkown god, in which case, Paul used as a chance to minister to the greek philosophers there. The book of Acts tells us that some mocked, while others said they would hear him again on that matter. but in the 34th verse of the chapter, the bible clearly states that some men joined him (Paul) and believed.
how is that ironic?
As I said before, in the english language, X is often used as a symbol of the unknown. In Athens, the unknown altar was a chance to share the gospel message.
is there a direct parallel to an X representing the unkown and the story in the book of acts?
heck no. it's just something i find amusing. if i were to try to make parallels and references, i'd be no better than those tv evangelists like benny hinn and jack van impe. and i'd make millions in book sales in which i could live in a mansion... MANSION!!!!!!
So is there a point to all of this PJ?
well.. no.. not really.. well.. kinda... yeah...
the point i guess is this. you can use something as simple as an X to be an ice breaker to share the gospel with friends and family. the term "X-mas" is widely accepted in today's culture, as Christmas is seen as "too Christian" or "exclusive"...
So what do i do if someone is using an X instead of saying Christ?
What you do, is burn their houses down, destroy everything they love and club them to death like in the times of the crusades in the dark ages...
then you argue with fellow christians about who is right when interpreting scripture, and if baptism means the immersion of the body or the sprinkling on the head...
THEN, you wear a ton of WWJD bracelets and FROG bracelts..
and after its all said and done, you start a christian band and sell millions.. and live in mansions!!!! MANSIONS!!!!
...just some more useless information you can share the next time someone complains about X-mas. |
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| Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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| I definately dont think christmas is exclusive, so many cultures do it in one form or another. |
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Showtime
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Joined: 30 Jun 2005
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Location: Waterloo
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| Short of blaspheming, I think it's important to communicate in ways that people are comfortable with. Why else would the disciples be gifted in tongues in Acts? If people are more comfortable with Xmas, use the X. To be honest I've yet to meet someone who was offended by my use of "Christmas" (at least, no one's told me so) but I'm sure there are those out there who might be. |
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xMikex
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 1:54 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting info... And Im sure everyone except for me speaks and understands perfect Greek. I understand english the best actually, and the only cool 'X' I know of is the ones that make you xstraightx. It seems to me that someone just figured theyd twist the cross a bit. How much more of a twist would make a swastika, and nevermind what that means a million years ago, it means bullcrap right now, today!! Its tough enough trying to convince people that Im a Christian and not a bullcrapian!!
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Justin
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Location: London
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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I think x should only "mark the spot", it has been burdened so much lately by the pressures of extreme life and needs to get back to the basics..........
If you are a Christian, say Christ... unless you have a terrible lisp, and end up spitting on people instead of spreading the word
Justin
p.s. Kerry, good to see you remembered the addy, get anyone's help with that |
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SABBATICAL!
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| Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2005 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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i dont see what the big deal is what we call ourselves, as long as you're not ashamed of the gospel. people might not know greek and understand the deep significance of "x", but in the same way, noone understands what the word "christ" means either:
"anointed one"?
i'm afraid half our fellow christians dont understand the significance behind THAT.
the churches my family worked with in bangladesh avoided the label 'christian' because its associated with violence, western decadence, and immorality. they instead referred to themselves as 'isai muslim', which means 'followers of jesus'.
xians, christians, jesus people, followers of the way (the original church's label for themselves), or whatever else you call it. its not the label that's important to me.
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Aaron Hamill aka. HAMMER
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:32 am Post subject: |
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oh im with adam on this one fo sho.
why does it matter what we call ourselve or how we write it on the screen. it means the same thing and what matters is where the heart is. i actually dont think ive ever heard anyone say "xmas". even when people see signs they say "christmas". so i don't see what the big deal is. everyone has their own views and opinions and they are all entitled to them.
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theunbrokendreams
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:12 am Post subject: |
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no, I've totally heard atheists say x-mas before. I think they (us) were called "Christians" first at Antioch, which as I understand it is the English interpretation for the Greek word. And as far as the word "Christian" having negative connotation to the world, or bringing about perhaps persecution in certain parts of the world, call me a Christian for sure, because Jesus said that's what it's all about. Being a "little Christ" is never easy. That's why it's also the most fun, and least boring way to live.
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Aaron Hamill aka. HAMMER
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:20 am Post subject: |
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a christian life... so simple, so hard
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Chris
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, followers of Christ were first called "Christian" in Antioch in southern Turkey.. Today the city is called Antakya and is covered with tributes to St. Paul, who lived there for a long time.. There's St. Paul's Hotel, St. Paul's Square, etc etc..
"Christian" literally means "follower of Christ".. It is not a label divinely handed down directly from the mouth of Christ.. It is who we are.. If you are a follower of Christ you are - according to the Greek language - a Christian.. If you'd like to call yourself a follower of Christ, a Jesus hippie, a born again, or whatever - you are a Christian..
No harm, no foul..
In Turkish, "Jesus" is "Isa".. I love the way it sounds.. Christians there will call themselves "followers of Isa" - but I can't remember the Turkish translation..
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SABBATICAL!
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Chris wrote: |
In Turkish, "Jesus" is "Isa".. I love the way it sounds.. Christians there will call themselves "followers of Isa" - but I can't remember the Turkish translation.. |
quite possibly the same as in bangladesh.. "isai muslim"
since the turks and the bangladeshis are both islamic, and "isa" is the arabic name for jesus, both would probably have most of their religious terms borrowed from arabic, so i wouldnt be surprised if it was the same!
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Chris
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| Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2005 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| optimus prime minister wrote: | | quite possibly the same as in bangladesh.. "isai muslim" since the turks and the bangladeshis are both islamic, and "isa" is the arabic name for jesus, both would probably have most of their religious terms borrowed from arabic, so i wouldnt be surprised if it was the same! |
It wasn't that.. Turkish Christians would be very quick to distance themselves from the "muslim" label..
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SABBATICAL!
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| Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2005 8:04 am Post subject: |
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oh. wellllllll i dont know then. muslim is arabic for follower. maybe they use a turkish word or something
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scottstyras
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| Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2010 4:38 am Post subject: |
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Holmes and others, who use the term, Xian, you might get flutter away like the New Jersy couple a few months ago who critizized Islam on the internet, if you called Islam Xlam.  Relax though, the true Christians don't do that.  Only the Xians did that back in the dark ages when the popes and bishops acted like they were gods and christs, disregarding/Xing out the teachings of the true christ, Jesus, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and making up their own doctrines. |
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CJ
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 12:25 am Post subject: |
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The use of the 'X', as has already been pointed out via the Wiki article, is part of an ancient symbol derived of two Greek letters: Chi, and Rho. Or, if you've studied Koine Greek at all, X and P. The 'P' was imposed over the 'X' as an ancient shorthand for Christ.
Writing 'Xmas' carries nothing inherently wrong with it. Nor does writing Xians, or ☧ if you're looking for a quick way to jot out the messianic title.
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