It's "that time of year" again...

Merry Christmas!

There I said it. Does that mean I dont' respect the Hebraic traditions of Hanukkah and their celebrations? Does it mean I don't respect those that celebrate the Afro-American Kwanzaa or the African Kwanza? no, and no. It means that I celebrate the Xmass.

I don't have any problem at all with someone telling me "happy holidays" or "seasons greetings", especially if I dont' know them or they don't know me. The end of the year has many celebrations or many peoples. it is not just about Christmas. why do "we" think it must be and get offended when a place of business chooses to be more generic in their greetings and advertisements?! (rhetorical)

As a Christian and if I were to still have my sole propritership busines, I would probably have Christmas sales and the like. But then, by business is a Christian run and Christian-managed business, it's my perrogative. If I was the sole owner of a large business, say for example like Wal*Mart, I woudl still have Christmas event and advertisements, but again - that would be my personal choice. I dont' expect that others should do the same thing.

In any case, I just don't see the fuss of all the issues "Christians" have with the political correctness (PC) of this time of year. It is nice to see the manger scene in public places and hear "Christian" music played on intercoms in public places, but it's not like church - they don't have to do those things, it is just nice that they do, and if they don't - it doesn't affect my personal relationship with Christ or how I feel about the Xmass.

I know some people that are Jewish and they still celebrate "Christmas" with a tree and presents and everything. I also know others that celebrate their Hanukkah week. and yet more that do both! At this time, I can't recall anyone I know that celebrates either Kwanzaa or Kwanza, so can't comment there.

I do know that if I am greeted with a Happy Holidays, I do not take it as being disrespectful to the Xmass. Howeve, if I am in the midst of Christians, I will say Merry Christmas and hear it as well; no matter where I am, at the store, at work, or whereever.

So, here 's the deal - we don't live in a theocracy, adn we (Christians) aren't the "boss" of everyone - why would we think that our Christmas celebration should be universal? At least it is still a national holiday. you know even if that changed, it wouldn't change me or my mind. I would stil celebrate the birth of my savior. I know, I know it isn't even the right time of year, let alone probably not the day, especially since the original celebration this time of year was catholicized/Christianized.

but it is a set time of year where I can publicly declare and celebrate the manifestation of God, our Lord, creator and Yaveh Elohim - as a miraculous birth from a virgin woman.

And before I get mugges and flame-o-grammed for saying Xmass, and be accused of trying to take Christ out of Christmas - pease read this compilation of posts I made over the last couple years on teh subject to various forums:

Xmas, or Christmas. This is an issue that seems to come up every year.

Webster:
Xmas \kris-məs also eks-məs\ noun
[X (symbol for Christ, from the Greek letter chi (X), initial of Christos Christ) + -mas (in Christmas)](1551)

Xristos=Christ in Koine Greek, and the use of just the capital X us sometimes used in many theological circles (depending on the knowledge level of Greek in that group). However, it is the "mas" part that is confusing to some. It really should be X-Mass or Xmass, with 2 s's, to be more correct in the usage. Mass is from Latin and literally means the ending of a service, but when capitalized it also means the celebration of Christ (in many forms). Depending on the dictionaries and lexicons used.

My local church celebrated Christmas (Jesusmas, is how Bea Youngs calls it - hehehe - I like it) with a special music and drama special called "Xtreme Xmass". There were many (mostly older) folks that didn't like the title and said we were taking the Christ out of Christmas. After I explained it to them, they had no problem seeing it.

I have not found any specific evidence one way or another, but it is my feeling that the original use of "xmas" was an abbreviated term, and had nothing to do with Xristos. And was later "turned into" an acceptable term. Kind of like the term "Christian" was originally derogatory in use. Words are funny that way.

Many "Christians" even believe (for example) that "X-mas" is offensive, even though it is a (perhaps) more accurate word-usage of the mass for the Xristos, God's anointed. But Most "Christians" wouldn't recognize a Chi from a Xi, let alone historical origin.

At one time I too, was offended when I saw people use Xmas and Xtian, many years ago. However, I soon realized, once I began to actually study the Bible that X is often used in theologian circles as the shortened form of Xristos, Koine Greek for Christ.

It has been used that way since the early church fathers. Xtian is not taking the Christ out. Xmas is not removing the Christ either. In fact, it is actually "more correct" to the "original", as a cross-language word-usage. It isn't latin, it's Greek. Yes the "Mass" is from Latin (Messa), However, Xristos, is not.

I often tire of "Christians" that want to be so legalistic in their views that they leave no open-mindedness for anything other than what their pastor told them or what they learned in Sunday School.

I sometimes get ultra-conservative (from an onlookers POV), but at least I try to do the research and study it for myself to know and not just take the word of some man that happens to be "preaching" to me

(Christianity)
I have a few thoughts on the subject.

• I don't prefer to call myself a Christian, because I am not nearly as "Christ like" as I would like to be. Though I don't mind being called a "Christian".
• Sometimes I wish that some "Christians" would just "shut-up", rather than say anything. Being defensive is no answer, and if a "Christian" isn't studied enough to defend (not "defensively") what they believe, then they need to hit the books/Bible a bit more.
• Xtian and Xmas are not offensive, even if it is said purposefully as such. X=Xristos=Christ, X is used as an abbreviated term for Christ in many theological circles, if you are offended by it, you may need to do some self evaluation of why and pray about it.
• Science and Christianity are not opposed to each other. Evolutionism does not disprove creationism, and creationism does not disprove evolutionism. Evolution is not a "dirty word" in Christianity. I believe that mankind (anthropan) has evolved from our creation, though we were created initially as man. God formed us from the non-living, in one (24 hour) day (or less) time.
• Having some experience in other religions, and having studied many others, Christianity is what I have found that is the most consistent, believable, logical and understandable.
• Believing your priest, pastor or Christian teacher at face value and not comparing their teaching with scripture is a bad thing. People are fallible, God is not.
• The very light of nature in man, and the works of God, declare plainly that there is a God; but his Word and Spirit only do sufficiently and effectually reveal him unto men for their salvation. The Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, the only rule of faith and obedience.
• God is a Spirit, in and of himself infinite in being, glory, blessedness, and perfection; all–sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, every where present, almighty, knowing all things, most wise, most holy, most just, most merciful and gracious, long–suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.
• One who has received the gift of salvation is not necessarily a disciple of Christ. However all Disciples of Christ, have received His gift of salvation.
• I am Armenian, in that I believe that we have free-will to choose to accept the gift and to know the difference between good and evil and choose either. I am Calvinist, in that I believe that God knows the outcomes of our various choices and even to the matrix of the choices of the choices we make. I am protestant, in that I believe in scripturea sola. I am catholic, in that I do believe in a theocratic government and hierarchy.
• I believe that God is love and that He loves. He doesn't "need" us, but He does "want" us. He loves us without respect for whether or not we love Him back. He loves us, because He loves us.
• I believe that there is much truth to be gained/gleaned from just about every "religion".
• Lewis Fawcett (IIRC, about 1961 or so) said this about "religion" and I agree wholeheartedly in the intent - Recipe for a Real Religion:

Get religion like a Methodist
Experience it like a Baptist
Stick to it like a Lutheran
Conciliate it like a Congregationalist
Be proud of it like an Episcopalian
Simplify it like a Quaker
Glorify it like a Jew
Pray for it like a Presbyterian
Work at it like the Salvation Army
Propagate it like a Roman Catholic
Enjoy it like a Negro.

Sometimes we miss the trees because we are concentrating on the vastness of the forest. and we try to either hide our candle under a basket, or on the flipside, we sometimes try to hold our candle high for everyone to see, but do not guard it against the various winds of doctrine

When I was a child, I thought and spoke as a child. Though more mature, I still sometimes speak as a child, but my thoughts are no longer those of a child.