Is it wrong to say Xmas instead of Christmas? There are many who view the word Xmas as part of an overall war on Christmas. They view it as a blatant attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. While it is undeniable that some use Xmas in that manner, the actual origin of the word Xmas has nothing to do with taking Christ out of Christmas. In Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the word for Christ is Χριστός, which begins with the Greek letter that is essentially the same letter as the English letter X. So, originally, Xmas was simply an abbreviation of Christmas. No grand conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas. Just an abbreviation. But there is no denying that there is a trend to, in a sense, take Christ out of Christmas. In pursuit of tolerance, inclusiveness, and political correctness, some are attempting to obscure the Christian origins of Christmas-as if our societys materialism has not already obscured the meaning of Christmas. Whether they refer to it as Xmas or the winter holidays or something else, some will not be satisfied until the celebration is entirely secularized. In response to this, rather than getting angry or complaining about the use of Xmas, we should be sharing the love of Christ through word and deed. ================================= No, it is not wrong. One can say Merry Christmas, Merry Xmas, Happy Holidays, Have a good day, God Bless You, Happy Snow Days, or whatever polite personal greeting you feel is appropriate that time of year. It is a matter that is up to your own conscience and the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Do you feel that it is disrespectful to say X-Mas? Then say Christmas instead. Do you feel it is disrespectful to say Christmas or Xmas? Then say Happy Holidays, or use another alternative like God Bless You. No specific phrase is commanded by God, or specifically banned by God. However, one should take care not to force a personal conviction onto others. Whether another person says Merry Christmas, Happy Xmas, Happy Tree Day, Happy Holidays, or nothing at all - dont treat them as a lesser Christian or freak out that they are attacking Christ. Also, do not purposefully use your favorite phrase to goad a fellow believer if you find out that they disapprove of it. Take the example of 1 Cor 8:1-13 and act with grace and love. Dont tempt another person to change their ways just because you disapprove - you may be tempting them to sin against the Holy Spirit by asking them to do what they are convicted is wrong. As S. Michael Houdmann mentioned, XMas and Christmas actually mean the same thing. Christmas is short for Christ-Mass. Mass is a latin term (Missa -dismissal). For the Catholics, the Mass is equivalent to the sacrifice of Calvary and involves the worship of the eucharist (communion ceremony). Some Christians today, disliking the connotations of the original mass term, instead treat the mass portion of Christmas as a call to be missionaries sent into the world. The celebration of Christmas became mandated by the Roman Empire in the 5th century. We are not bound under the Roman Catholic church to keep it, or use its terminology. We are free in Christ to keep it just as an holiday like a birthday or St. Patricks day, but we should take care not to teach it as a requirement, a commandment of God, a holiday set up by God, etc. We should also take care that our choices reflect love and unity with the brethren. Which will an unbeliever be more persuaded towards Christ by?- that we always say Merry Christmas, or that we are pleasant and loving towards others even when we disagree? Will they be more persuaded by an opulent display of wreaths and musical lights, or by a gracious heart that esteems others before self? In the end, our personal choice of greeting - indeed the choice of holidays we keep or not, are minor matters. When we chose to follow Christ, we did not sign on to a new list of rules and traditions that we should keep to show others just what good christians we are. Rather, we were freed from sin and we died to our very selves. What matters now is growing in our personal relationship with Christ, working together in unity with the Church, and sharing the Good News with a lost world.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 16:12:15 +0000
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