Should "X" Replace "CHRIST" In Christmas?

This week I received an e-mail from Ligonier Ministries which shared the article "What Does the X in Xmas Mean?" written by the Reform theologian, R. C. Sproul, Calvinist author, pastor, and founder/chairman of Ligonier Ministries.  And, I must say this is not the first time I have disagreed with Dr. Sproul.  Normally I disagree with him on his Calvinist view of Predestination - even though that belief does not affect his standing with our Lord.

However, when he starts to justify replacing CHRIST with an "X" (regardless of his justification) in CHRISTmas - I take that personally.   Is there a precedence for using "X" to mean Christ in Christmas?   Well, some Liberal theology followers may think so and our secular friends will agree with them.  However, most anything which takes God or Christ out of our communities is acceptable to those in the secular society.

The following article is what I received from Dr. R.C. Sproul's Ligonier Ministry, with my notes inserted:

What Does the X in Xmas Mean?
From R.C. Sproul, Dec 19, 2016,  Ligonier Ministries
http://www.ligonier.org/blog/why-is-x-used-when-it-replaces-christ-in-christmas/

The "X" in Christmas is used like the R in R.C.  My given name at birth was Robert Charles, although before I was even taken home from the hospital my parents called me by my initials, R.C., and nobody seems to be too scandalized by that.

Bill Gray Note:  “Christ” comes from the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed one” - the equivalent of the Hebrew word Mashiach, or “Messiah.”  Jesus is the Lord’s human name given to Mary by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:31).  Christ is His title - signifying Jesus was sent from God to be our King and Deliverer (see Daniel 9:25; Isaiah 32:1).  So, unless Dr. Sproul's name means that he, R.C. Sproul, was sent from God to be our Deliverer - using his initials is NOT the same as mislabeling Christ as "X."

"X" can mean so many things.  For example, when we want to denote an unknown quantity, we use the symbol "X."  It can refer to an obscene level of films, something that is X-rated.  People seem to express chagrin about seeing Christ’s name dropped and replaced by this symbol for an unknown quantity "X."  Every year you see the signs and the bumper stickers saying, “Put Christ back into Christmas” as a response to this substitution of the letter "X" for the name of Christ.

First of all, you have to understand that it is not the letter "X" that is put into Christmas.  We see the English letter "X" there, but actually what it involves is the first letter of the Greek name for Christ.  Christos is the New Testament Greek for Christ.  The first letter of the Greek word Christos is transliterated into our alphabet as an "X."  That "X" has come through church history to be a shorthand symbol for the name of Christ.

Bill Gray Note:  The "X" abbreviation was first used in the mid 1500s.  "X" is the Greek letter “chi” - the initial letter in the word Χριστός.  And Χριστός in Greek does mean “Christ.”   The secular world and many Liberal Christians will tell us that "X" has been an acceptable representation of the word “Christ” for hundreds of years, known as a Christogram.   They also use that logic to dignify using "Xtian" in place of the word Christian. 

God's name - whether it be God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit - is holy and should be honored - not abbreviated, shortened, nor condensed.   Exodus 20:7, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain .  .  ."  Substituting anything for His name, i.e., changing His name in any way - could be viewed as taking His name in vain.  And, I, personally, would not want to take that gamble.

The Greek spelling for ichthus is - Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma.  The English translation is IXOYE.  The five Greek letters stand for the words meaning, "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."  The Greek rendering is, "Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter."   He is the Christ, not the "X."

There’s no "X" in Christmas:  We don’t see people protesting the use of the Greek letter theta, which is an O with a line across the middle (θ).  We use that as a shorthand abbreviation for God because it is the first letter of the word Theos, the Greek word for God.

Bill Gray Note:  While I have often seen folks trying to replace Christ with an "X" - I don't ever recall a single time seeing the Greek letter theta used to replace God.  Maybe in some theology class a student might use the shorthand theta in place of God - but how much more effort does it really take to write the word "God"?

The idea of "X" as an abbreviation for the name of Christ came into use in our culture with no intent to show any disrespect for Jesus.  The church has used the symbol of the fish historically because it is an acronym.  Fish in Greek (ichthus) involved the use of the first letters for the Greek phrase “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” 

So the early Christians would take the first letter of those words and put those letters together to spell the Greek word for fish.  That’s how the symbol of the fish became the universal symbol of Christendom.  There’s a long and sacred history of the use of "X" to symbolize the name of Christ, and from its origin, it has meant no disrespect.

Bill Gray Note:  During the reign of Emperor Nero (54 A.D.- 68 A.D.), and throughout the reign of subsequent evil emperors of the Roman Empire, Christians were commonly persecuted, tortured, and put to death because of their faith in Christ Jesus. 

In order to prevent this unnecessary capture and persecution, Christians would often draw an "ichthus" (fish symbol) in the dirt, mud, sand, or on the walls of caves to let another Christian know that he, too, was a fellow believer of Christ and that it was safe to talk about their faith without the fear of being turned in.

Yes, early Christians did use the Christian fish (ichthus) to identify themselves when meeting in public.   The "Ichthus" or "Ichthys" is a valid Christian symbol, just as is the cross.   However, if an "X" can replace Christ, then why didn't those early Christians merely draw an "X" in the sand or dirt to identify themselves? 

It would seem to me that drawing an "X" in the sand takes less effort that drawing a fish.   The "X" is only a pagan symbol used by those who would deny God and mock Him and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  It has no other purpose that is valid.

On December 26, 2010, in the Religion Forum of my hometown newspaper, the TimesDaily, a discussion was begun by Vic, a forum Friend who identified himself as a Roman Catholic. 

His post raised the question,  "Is Xmas A Bad Thing?"  In this dialogue, he attempted to justify the use of "X" to replace CHRIST in CHRISTmas.  And, typical of secular logic, he attempts a misdirection, i.e., to tie this slight against Christians and our Lord, to valid symbols recognized in the Christian faith.

He begins this discussion suggesting, "The X is also a symbol of Jesus in the fish, the Jesus Fish, on the back of so many cars.  But I haven't found a lot of info on that yet."

And, in a later post in that discussion he tells me, "Another example is the symbol of the fish, one of the earliest symbols of Christians that has been found scratched on the walls of the catacombs of Rome.  It likely originated from using the first letter of several titles of Jesus (Jesus Christ Son of God Savior).  When combined these initial letters together spelled the Greek word for fish (Ichthys, ichthus)."

I responded to him:

Vic, I am happy you bring this up - for the use of the Christian fish (ichthys or ichthus) has nothing whatsoever to do with the non-believer's insistence upon replacing CHRIST with an "X" in Christmas.

Let's take a look at that practice.  Actually, the writing of CHRISTmas is not that much more difficult than writing Xmas.  So, why do non-believers do this?  I would say it is only because they want to denigrate our Lord and insult Christians.  Mocking our Lord and Savior is a game to them; much like the kids who will taunt and tease animals.

But, let me clarify the issue.  If a person is so feeble and weak that the writing of four more letters would be detrimental to his health - then, I have no problem with that person writing Xmas instead of CHRISTmas.  But, to be very honest with you; I do not believe it has anything to do with the person being weak; at least, not physically weak.

As I said - that practice is in no way related to the early Christians use of the "fish" symbol.  Nor does it relate at all to Christians today using the "fish" as a symbol of our saving relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

So, my Friends, let me leave you with this Scripture passage:

Philippians 2:5-8, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:9-11, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

And, since God gave Him the name Jesus Christ - how can we attempt to change or abbreviate His Holy Name?

Let us all remember that it is Merry CHRISTmas, a name given by God Himself.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed Merry Christmas,

Bill