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weekly sermon 12-6-09
X Marks The Spot
I received an email just recently explaining to me the letter "X" in Xmas. This email explained how it was extremely ok to replace the word "Christ" with the letter "X" in the word Christmas. They had a very good reasoning behind their research.
The email stated that the letter "X" is the first letter of the Greek name of Christ, being Xristos. Since this name Xristos is the Greek name of Christ it is therefore ok to take the first letter "X" and place it where the word Christ should go. This is their way of abbreviating the word Xristos by just using the letter "X". This being the case, Xristros mas would stand to mean Christ's Mass, or Christmas.
The email stated that by replacing the word "Christ" with the letter "X" as an abbreviation for Xristros and forming the word Xmas, was not in any way, as many have claimed, an attempt to take Christ our of Christmas, or make it a secular holiday. This is just an abbreviated word meaning the complete written word of Christmas. Since it is an abbreviated version of Christmas, it was therefore perfectly fine to write it as Xmas.
As I stated, the points they make in their research make perfect sense and I know that many are thinking, now I can see why it is written that way, that is quite alright now. Why did someone not fill us in on this research years ago so that we did not feel so bad when we witnessed this holiday written as Xmas.
Am I going to agree with this email? How well do many of you know me? If any of you know me at all, then you will know that there is no way I will ever agree with this so called logic. I completely understand their way of thinking, but I have a few things to say myself.
Have you ever had any friend anywhere that you would take their first initial and call them by that name? Have you ever known anyone in your life that was ever called by one letter as their name? Have you ever known anyone in your life that was born with just a one letter first name?
I know I am asking ridiculous questions here, but I am actually going somewhere with this. I understand that some famous performing artists have shortened their names down to one letter, for publicity stunts, or to keep their true identities hidden so that they may make every attempt to live a normal life outside the limelight, but to their closest family and friends I am very sure they go by their birth names.
With all of this being said, let me dwell into my thinking of this particular email.
Yes, I am going to be one of those old folks that do not agree with this email's way of thinking. Has our society become such a lazy society that we can not spell out a simple six letter word? Has our society actually lost sight of the true meaning of this special holiday?
If for some reason that we, as an American society, ever start speaking the true Greek language then, and only then, would it be ok to change the first word in Christmas. Even if we do for some reason start speaking Greek, I still do not believe that it is appropriate to call this holiday "Xmas". We would be calling this holiday Xristos Mass. If we were to go to Greece, or any area of the world where the Greek language might be spoken, I do not believe you would hear anyone there say 'Praise X' or let us worship "X".
I believe in my heart that calling someone by just the first initial is rude and insulting. If you really want this holiday to be known by it's Greek name that start saying 'Merry Xristros Mass' instead of 'Merry Xmas'.
The reasoning behind the writer of this email may not have bad intentions with their way of thinking, by stating that the "X" is not Xing Christ out of Christmas, but let me give you my reasoning.
This is my way of thinking; the general consensus of the so called 14 percent of those that want the name of God removed from the buildings, money, or any other public areas, are to blame for such kinds of emails. Any way they can sugar coat something in order for you to believe that it makes sense and is ok, then they will and we are buying right into it. I do not care if the letter "X" is the first letter to the Greek name for Christ, I do not care if there are a hundred X's in the Greek name for Christ, but any time you use the letter "X" in place of the word Christ, you just took His name out of whatever it was you were writing. Before reading that particular email, or now knowing what it was about, how many of you knew what the letter "X" stood for in Xmas? Not too many folks knew what the "X" stood for or why it was replacing the name of Christ. Had most of the population been aware of this information then there would have been no reason for the email that I am talking about. This being said, most folks only know that it is Xmas and not Christmas and no reason as to why. Also it took the word Christ away from the eyes of someone that may not know that Christ should be there in the first place. Christ in no way wants to be taken out of the limelight, so using one letter to represent His name is definitely not necessary. If there is a way of eleminating the name of Christ or God from anywhere, whether it be intentional or not, there will be folks that will make that attempt.
In conclusion, I do NOT believe that using the term "Xmas" is appropriate to use to wish someone a merry Christmas. Why do we, the 86% that claim to be Christians, not stand on solid ground and let everyone know that Christ belongs in this holiday and every day for that matter. This holiday is supposed to represent the birth of our Saviour, Christ. This holiday does NOT represent the birth of the letter "X".
If you still truly believe the letter "X" is not replacing the word "Christ" then by all means write the word Christmas how ever you see fit, but to me anytime the name Christ is removed from anything and replaced with something else, no matter the reasoning, then Christ has been removed. There is only one way of saying why the "X" is in the word, X replaced the word Christ, even if as an initial for the Greek word Christ. Look at what word MUST be used to put the letter where Christ once was, replaced. One thing must replace the other. When is it ever ok to replace Christ?
You want to replace something? Replace the "X" in Xmas and put Christ back where He belongs, in the beginning of Christmas, in the beginning of everything, and in all of your life.
If you would like to have Christ in your life but have never been invited, please take this opportunity to say a simple prayer with me to make Christ Lord over you life. Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone
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