A few years ago my pastor told a story about a Christmas party he had thrown for some kids, back in his youth ministry days. He said that he almost cost his job over the fact that he referred to it as a X-mas party. The church deacons almost had a stroke at his attempt to “take Christ out of Christmas.” But the problem wasn’t Jimmy’s use of X, but ignorance of the meaning of the X by the leaders. X is the Greek letter for Chi. Which (if you can’t tell) is the first letter in the Greek word for Christ. It’s not an attempt to cross out Christ, but only a short had for his name. There is plenty of history backing to the understanding of letter “X” for Christ.
Fast forward to today. There is a ridiculous effort by some to take the word Christ out of Christmas. Understandably people, who don’t know the story behind the “X”, get upset when they see the word Xmas used. But to be honest with you I don’t even see people using X mas any more. The preferred saying/writing is “Happy Holidays”. I don’t have a problem with people saying “Happy Holidays”; using it in context to describing the time period of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. But when someone sends a card, email, or greeting in December, along with a graphic of a tree and a wreath and it reads Happy Holidays; I feel like it is an intentional effort to avoid saying Christ-mas.
I was disappointed to see some Christian Corporate leaders, whom I respect, go to the “Happy Holiday” greeting this year. I understand that they may lead others who are not Christians; but do they not think that Christ has anything to do with the fact that they are leaders? I understand the litigious politically correct culture we are in. But in the name of not offending (aka don’t want a law suit) people are sacrificing the “core confession” of their faith to appease the crowd and by the way, appeasing the crowds never work out really well (just ask Jesus).
So in an attempt to be silly, create more controversy, and provide an opportunity to witness; I propose we start saying to others “Merry Xmas”. This will cause the religious and non religions to take note that something different was said, and maybe afford us the opportunity to educate people about the X, about the Christ, about the cross, about the God who came to rescue mankind from themselves. This Xmas don’t fight just to say Christmas, fight for Christ. Many who use the words Christmas have never connected with the Christ anyway.
