If you take a drive around Seymour, Indiana, the signs of the season are starting to show. Men and women across this small town have made the trek into the inner recesses of their attics, garages, and various other storage areas to retrieve their holiday decorations so that they can begin the process of preparing for the coming festivities. The most wonderful time of the year is almost here!
The vast majority of our Christmas decorations declare the glorious truth that resides at the very center of the Christmas holiday: Jesus the Christ has come!
Last week was the appointed time for decking the halls at Casa de Myers. Throughout our house, both within and without, there are a variety of symbols that represent various aspects of the Christmas season. There are several Christmas trees throughout the rooms of our home, the “evergreen” branches (they are truly evergreen because they are all fake) reminding us of the eternal life made available through Christ. There are nativity scenes on just about every surface in our primary living space keeping the story of Christ’s coming in view at all times. There are copious amounts of lights adorning trees, various decorative items, and the house itself announcing that the Light of Life has come to illuminate the darkness of our world. The vast majority of our Christmas decorations declare the glorious truth that resides at the very center of the Christmas holiday: Jesus the Christ has come!
Christmas does not come without its share of controversy, though. For as long as I can remember, there have been debates concerning how the holiday should be represented. Some take umbrage over the use of the term “Happy Holidays.” Others are offended by the prominence of jolly old St. Nicholas. But, in my personal experience, few symbols of the season inspire greater cries of protest and lament, particularly among Christians, than the abbreviation of Xmas. The argument supporting the consternation concerning this abbreviation is the belief that the world is attempting to remove Christ from Christmas. But, history tells another story and I submit that Christ is and has always been represented in and through the X in Xmas.
What we see as an X isn’t an X at all. At least that’s not how it would have been perceived by those in the early church. In the biblical Greek, what looks like an X to us is actually the Greek letter Chi (pronounce kai). Most notably, this letter serves as the first letter in the word Χρίστος (Christos). Throughout church history, the X has served as an important symbol representing the name of Christ. There is historical evidence that the early Christians would make an X with their arms to indicate membership in the church. The X, then, was not an attempt to remove the name of Christ, but to represent it. Many churches have trees adorned with what are known as Christmons.
The X isn’t a cancellation of Christ, but a rich and historic reminder that Christ has come. Much like the X on a treasure map, it reminds us of where the true treasure and worth of Christmas resides.
The first recorded use of the word Christmas stylized as Xmas came about around 1021. Writing materials weren’t as cheap or easily accessible as they are today. In an effort to save space on expensive parchment, a thrifty scribe abbreviated and wrote “XPmas.” The scribe wasn’t attempting to eliminate Christ from Christmas. Rather, he was using a venerated symbol to represent Christ. It wasn’t seen as controversial or combative. It set an example that still impacts what people of faith do today.
I think it’s time we reclaim and redeem an important Christian symbol. Rather than feeling frustrated or offended when we see “Merry Xmas,” we should celebrate the presence of yet another reminder that Christ has come. The X isn’t a cancellation of Christ, but a rich and historic reminder that Christ has come. Much like the X on a treasure map, it reminds us of where the true treasure and worth of Christmas resides. The X is a sign of the good news of great joy for all people (Luke 2:10-11). X marks the spot and when we find the X we find Christ. So, Merry Xmas! May you find the Christ of Christmas this holiday season and may His coming fill you with peace, joy, hope, and love.
