WHY IS CHRISTMAS SHORTENED TO XMAS?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Why do people shorten or abbreviate the word Christmas to Xmas? Is it done to DISREPECT Jesus?
a) Changing the word Christmas to the word Xmas does not 'cut Jesus short.' We will explain in a moment. Before we do, however, let's find out where the X in the word came from and then we'll go back fifty years or so when the idea to shorten the name of the holiday seems to have first caught on. The word for Christ in the Greek is Christos (which is Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #5547). In Greek, the twenty-second letter of their alphabet is written as "X" and is pronounced CHI. It is the first Greek letter in the word for Christ.
b) Many years ago retailers realized they could save both space and ad costs by shortening the word Christmas to Xmas using the letter X to replace the letters "Christ." After a few years of this practice, however, the religious community countered with the slogan, "Let's put CHRIST back into Xmas." Generally they succeeded, especially since modern advertising layouts don't depend on the number of letters in a word.
c) Changing and shortening the spelling of Christmas does not somehow "cut Jesus short" nor does it disrespect him. This is primary due to the fact that most people (whether they go to church or not) realize Christ never really was in the holiday in the first place. Most know that the origin of the holiday is based on pagan, not Christian, beliefs and practices. For example, the celebration of the holiday uses pagan sex symbols to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
d) These facts about the most popular holiday in the world should be no surprise to most people, since every year we're reminded by the media and even ministers and pastors that Jesus was not born anywhere near December 25th. In fact, a good argument can be made that Jesus was born in the FALL of the year, around our September - October period, in 5 B.C. The date of the 25th of December was picked by the Catholic Church many years ago because it was the date when the pagans had an important festival. The thinking was that if the church adopted some pagan holidays, then stripped off some of the more blatant non-Christian activities ("Christianizing" the holiday), then the church was in a better position to attract the pagans and have them convert. Think of it as a membership building program - where the goal is attract more regular members (which means more money and power for the church).
e) One non-Christian holiday that was used to worship the Sun was adopted, changed, and had its focus changed from worshipping the Sun to worshipping the Son (Jesus). Its celebration was eventually called the mass of Christ or CHRISTMAS.
@1. "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them . . . and that you do not inquire after THEIR gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve THEIR (false) gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall NOT worship the LORD your God in that way' (Deuteronomy 12:30-32)
h) Why do churches today continue to combine pagan Xmas celebrations and Jesus' birth? Because it's tradition. But Jesus told the religious leaders of his day that following man's traditions regarding how to obey and worship God is simply not acceptable (Mark 7:9).
i) Since Christ never was in nor endorsed Christmas in the first place, using the word Xmas to represent it does not disrespect the Savior of mankind.
The End ...
1. Why do people shorten or abbreviate the word Christmas to Xmas? Is it done to DISREPECT Jesus?a) Changing the word Christmas to the word Xmas does not 'cut Jesus short.' We will explain in a moment. Before we do, however, let's find out where the X in the word came from and then we'll go back fifty years or so when the idea to shorten the name of the holiday seems to have first caught on. The word for Christ in the Greek is Christos (which is Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #5547). In Greek, the twenty-second letter of their alphabet is written as "X" and is pronounced CHI. It is the first Greek letter in the word for Christ.
b) Many years ago retailers realized they could save both space and ad costs by shortening the word Christmas to Xmas using the letter X to replace the letters "Christ." After a few years of this practice, however, the religious community countered with the slogan, "Let's put CHRIST back into Xmas." Generally they succeeded, especially since modern advertising layouts don't depend on the number of letters in a word.
c) Changing and shortening the spelling of Christmas does not somehow "cut Jesus short" nor does it disrespect him. This is primary due to the fact that most people (whether they go to church or not) realize Christ never really was in the holiday in the first place. Most know that the origin of the holiday is based on pagan, not Christian, beliefs and practices. For example, the celebration of the holiday uses pagan sex symbols to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
d) These facts about the most popular holiday in the world should be no surprise to most people, since every year we're reminded by the media and even ministers and pastors that Jesus was not born anywhere near December 25th. In fact, a good argument can be made that Jesus was born in the FALL of the year, around our September - October period, in 5 B.C. The date of the 25th of December was picked by the Catholic Church many years ago because it was the date when the pagans had an important festival. The thinking was that if the church adopted some pagan holidays, then stripped off some of the more blatant non-Christian activities ("Christianizing" the holiday), then the church was in a better position to attract the pagans and have them convert. Think of it as a membership building program - where the goal is attract more regular members (which means more money and power for the church).
e) One non-Christian holiday that was used to worship the Sun was adopted, changed, and had its focus changed from worshipping the Sun to worshipping the Son (Jesus). Its celebration was eventually called the mass of Christ or CHRISTMAS.
f) Getting back to the idea of ancient sex symbols used to honor Christ. The pretty balls you might use to decorate your tree originated with the pagans as a representation of the female egg. Candles that are sometimes used around Christmas were at one time used by pagans (non-Christians) as a symbol for an erect penis (the pagans loved to worship their ability to procreate). The wreath many people even today still hang on their door was first used, again by those worshipping a false god, to symbolize the opening of a female's vagina. And, although it's not seen so frequently today, years ago wreaths use to have a candle standing upright within them. It's doesn't much of an imagination to see what they together symbolize. Even something like mistletoe, used today to solicit a kiss, had it start with the Druids.
g) God has clearly stated what he thinks about mixing how he wants to be worshipped with the practices and symbols used by those who worship false or pagan gods.@1. "take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them . . . and that you do not inquire after THEIR gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve THEIR (false) gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall NOT worship the LORD your God in that way' (Deuteronomy 12:30-32)
h) Why do churches today continue to combine pagan Xmas celebrations and Jesus' birth? Because it's tradition. But Jesus told the religious leaders of his day that following man's traditions regarding how to obey and worship God is simply not acceptable (Mark 7:9).
i) Since Christ never was in nor endorsed Christmas in the first place, using the word Xmas to represent it does not disrespect the Savior of mankind.
Comments
Post a Comment