No, this is not going to be one of those passionate controversies that some Christians get into, trying either defend their practice of having a Christmas tree, or alternatively trying to play Holy Spirit to someone about how they have been deceived by some Druid demon because Christmas if based in paganism.

No, this one is about the word "Xmas"!

Someone recently pointed out to me, that there is always "Xmas", and how some (especially Christians) do not like that term, as it seems to take the Christ out of Christmas which is the reason for the holiday in the first place. I am going to offer a different spin, a different attitude about Xmas.

Now sure, there are those who like the pretty lights, feasting, presents and all of that, yet are not particularly interested in Christ. They can enjoy the holiday for their own reasons but don't let an X rob you of any of your enjoyment. Instead, see the X as an opportunity to evangelize, to put the Christ in Xmas, it is a conversation starter.

X is not X-ing out Christ, X STANDS for Christ, so should we.

Do you see what I did there? I used X in a shorthand or crossing out. CROSSing out, what does a cross bring to our minds? I'll give you a hint, I wear a cross hanging around my neck on a chain, a cross necklace, almost 24/7. I keep in on like a wedding ring, and why not, I am a member of the bride of Christ!

I'll show you another example:

Now, most everyone has seen this thing. When I first saw it on cars, I had no idea what it was. I could not figure out how to pronounce IXOYE, and I figured it was probably some brand of ecology minded laundry detergent or something - True story!

That goes to show you how effective that is as a witness of Jesus to unbelievers! In hindsight now, I realize it is more of a secret handshake sort of thing to show other believers that you are part of the club.

Later, after I became a Christian, I had one of those on my van. Eventually I took it off, because I realized that some people knew that meant I claimed to be a Christian. I removed it because I did not want to run the risk of accidently cutting someone off who was following in my blind spot, and give them cause to curse because of those blankity blank Christians. Anyway . . .

Those letters are not I X O Y and E. IXOYE are English alphabet letters. That fish had Greek letters, called Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma.

Now those letters form an acronym for Iesous Xristos Theou Yios Sotare, which means Jesus Christ Son (of) God Savior. It also spells the Greek word Ichthus - Fish! Since we are called to be fishers of men, it is sort of cleaver.

It is said (and I do not know if this is really true) that this stylized fish shape, was drawn in the dirt with the edge of a sandal, one person would draw one line, another would complete it with his sandal. Another "secret" handshake so that believers could identify themselves to each other in times of persecution.

Whether or not the sandals in the dirt story is true or not, this fish symbol was in use in the first century.

So, back to the X!

That X, or chi in Greek, is the equivalent of our letters "ch" in English, pronounced like the ch in Christ, not the ch in chicken.

So, the X in Xmas, is just the symbol for Christ, and CHRISTmas is safe, it is NOT EXmas!
If it is around that time of year when you read this, have a merry, Christ honoring one.