i came across this blog on my myspace page that I wrote several years ago, and thought that I would re-post it here.
well, it's christmas time again, and I thought I'd share a bit of light on the whole "x"mas thing. I've used the term xmas in some of my writings and comments and such, so I thought I should share the wealth of knowledge that I've been privy to for the past few years.
I used to think like most Christians that we should put Christ back in Christmas, when everyone started putting the X in place of Christ. I've come to the realization that there are two very different ways to look at this.
Some use the x, just like that algebraic "x"= the unknown. That reminded me of a story in Acts 17, when Paul was in Athens. The Bible says in vs. 22-23, "Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'men of athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you."
For these men of athens they were worshipping something they weren't aware of, and for many people in our world today, they put the X in X-mas not to, in my opinion, take the Christ out, but that they are unaware of what the season is about. So, it is our job to proclaim that to them.
How can we tell them what the X really means without sounding like an idiot? Well, you're in luck, I'm going to tell you!!! The other way to look at the X is the most logical and proper way. X represents the first letter of the word Xtos (XPIETOE), which in Greek is the word for Christ. So, what is the X in X-mas? The X is Christ.
On a side note, Xmas has been used for hundreds of years in religious writings, where the X represents a Greek Chi (X). In this use it is parallel to other forms like Xtian, "Christian." But people unaware of the Greek origin of this X often mistakenly frown upon the term Xmas because it seems to them a commercial convenience that omits Christ from Christmas, when in all reality, we are really pronouncing Christ.
So, take this knowledge to those who you know use Xmas, and see if they know what the X really is!
Now go watch a Charlie Brown Christmas, and spread the cheer by reading Luke 2 with your loved ones!
