Factoring for X: Intentions, Distractions, and the Heart at Christmas

I was in University when I first began using “X” in place of Christ. 

As a History of Religions major, I had a fair number of courses on Christianity. I was front row, rapidly handwriting notes as my professors lectured, adopting any shorthand I found to ease hand cramps. In one of my first classes for “Introduction to Christianity”, the professor explained that X is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ. That was all the heavenly permission I needed. From then on, my scrawled notes read words like “Xnty” and “Xns”.

X, as a notation, can mean a lot of different things, depending on where and how it's used. It can be a noun or a verb, an abbreviation or an adjective, a symbol—and more recently—as part of a pronoun. But this ambiguity should not shroud the symbol in shame. Nor should it inform how we interact with the people behind the cards that wish us a “Happy Xmas”. Wider culture may be attempting to minimize Jesus at Christmas, but it's not happening through abbreviations. In light of our passion to keep Christ as the center of Christmas, here are a few things to keep in mind as we interact with others during the festive season.

Intention Matters

Since X can hold a lot of meaning, it would be wise to hold back judgment until we gather more information from the well-wisher. And this can be uncovered by the simple question, “What do you mean by that?” The X may be a deliberate omission or other times a convenient choice. More commonly, it will be innocence. It can be safely assumed that most people who replace X in Christmas are doing so without malice. This is living in harmony with the call in James’s letter: “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger: for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20 ESV)  It’s easy to get offended when we’re looking for reasons to get offended. Let's remember that Christ fights his own battles and does so in perfect order—independent of our assistance.

Our own intentions matter as well. Is it for the sake of Christ we bristle, or are we more concerned with preserving tradition? For some, the increasing pressures to cancel Christian influences have created a hyper-awareness of controversy. I’m not suggesting we shouldn't notice contradictions in worldviews—it is imperative to be on alert for deception dressed as truth because: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV) But we should also take care to disengage from the issues that scripture does not recognize as central. If we are caught with our heads down, continuously looking for persecution behind every nuance, we won’t see the person in front of us—only a policy to scorn. The Church has been commissioned by God to be His hands and feet to a hurting world. Personal pride and defensiveness may be crippling our witness.

Whatever happened to turning the other cheek?

Don't Get Distracted

When I last read the book of John, I noticed a theme in Jesus’s interactions. He had conversations with a religious elite (Nicodemus) and a social outcast (the Samaritan woman at the well), and in both instances, he maneuvered the conversation to get to the heart of the individual (see John 3:1-21 and John 4:1-26). He moved around their minor problems to address their greatest problem—their need to be rescued from the bondage of sin. 

We can further see Jesus’s concern for the heart when we take a closer look at his sermon on the mount (see Matthew 5-7). Jesus took the bones of the law—the Ten Commandments—and both deepened and expanded them to apply to the inner self, teaching followers how to worship God in truth and spirit (John 4:23-24).  As an example, not only are those who commit murder judged according to God’s law, but those who nurture anger against another (Matthew 5:21-22). We are often guilty of sin before we’ve even moved a muscle. It is a wise practice to habitually check our hearts for harboring sin. Remember the heart at Christmas.

The controversies surrounding Christmas in the Western world are not the problem, but the shadow of a greater need. They are the outstretched hands of seekers who haven't yet met their Savior. Believers in Christ must be worthy witnesses to the grace that we have received. Peripheral issues can often distract us and dilute the message of Christ's love and redemption that should be evidenced in our lives. Let's be like Jesus and not focus on the symptoms but the diagnosis. 

Remember the Reason

Christmas is a miracle because the Almighty God came to live among us. In Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, we have been reconciled to a holy God. Without his plan of redemption, we would have no hope of a heavenly home. We can celebrate Jesus at Christmas regardless of what Starbucks puts on its cups. We shouldn’t look to culture for our cues anyway, but to Christ and His Word. Our children’s school concerts may not feature gospel-centered carols anymore, but our homes certainly can—and should. We can keep Christ in Christmas quite easily by worshipping Him in our homes, churches, and conduct by being a light in the darkness. Light on a dark night provides sight, safety, guidance, and relief. Is that what others feel when they're around us?

As Christ-followers, it’s fair to feel disappointed when culture attempts to minimize the impact of Immanuel, God with us—it is right for the Spirit to grieve—yet let’s show care in our responses. Stand for truth, but let grace guide the way. The X isn’t woke—it’s ancient. So with sincerity—not spite—you, too, can wish your neighbour a “Merry Xmas”.