Bishop OBED BETT CHELOGOI, MA, Th M, DD.
Since the 1950s, this debate has been the subject of discussion from the perspectives of diverse schools of thought, by both proponents of Christianity and its enemies.
The question whether the Christian holyday in commemoration of the birth of the Founder of Christianity should be spelled Christmas or X-mas has sparked up debates and created divergence in opinons which depict Christianity as a divided religion on this subject. Some Christian Bible scholars and apologists describe it as an external affront against Christ. Others think the prefix X was a deliberate attempt against the person of Christ.
For purposes of better understanding I will explain it as follows:
The word Christmas has the prefix Christ and suffix mas. The name Christ is an English translation of the Greek word Christos and Latin Christus. That is clear! The word mas is an old English version of Mass (Latin Misa ) which simply means a gathering or Eucharist. So Christmas is the Mass of Christ or the gathering of Christ.
What about Xmas? The prefix X (Uppercase) is the first Greek letter chi which literally means Christ. This shorthand was common and did not corrupt the original meaning. Early Christians used the letter X as their secret code of identification against the brutal Roman regime. These letter signs are called Christograms.
Eventually, commercialization of Christmas day preferred the Xmas to Christmas in advertisements, such as in cards and decors which leave Christians with no option than to think they are sacrilegious.
Frantic efforts to correct this “error” led to spiritual somersaults, heresies, misconceptions and more confusion. For instance, some believe that X stand for the unknown. The letter X in algebra stands for a variable or an unknown value. But there is a difference in meaning between an algebraic variable x and the Greek Christogram X as explained above.
Others blame the X on Antichrists. They say because Christmas became famous, Atheists and Satanists removed Christ and put an x which means no gathering for Christ. This argument, however, lacks persuasive content, and I see it as an attempt to promote Christianity’s nemeses to look like they can manipulate and trip us on such an open self-explanatory subject.
We, therefore, cannot continue being bombarded with these suppositions in attempts to seeking to defend truth. Both Christmas and Xmas mean the same thing. When you come across these names on cards, decors, clothes and both print and social media understand that they mean the same thing.
Christmas Is Not 25th December
While Christmas is biblical, Christians need to know that the 25th of December is not the biblical date for Jesus’ birth, therefore, the need to avoid unnecessary arguments. I spent many years in seminary harmonizing data to try to understand this question but every attempt led to another, inconclusively.
But led by the Holy Spirit and ecclesiastical ingenuity, the early church fathers chose December 25th every year as Jesus’ birthday and a special Thanksgiving Day. My logical conclusion is that if Jesus was born, His birthday must be celebrated just like all of us do. Suffice it to say, most people celebrate their birthdays in the modern world while they are not sure of the exact dates of birth. The occasion supersedes the date!
What We Should Not Do During Christmas
The great historian Tacitus said, “Reckless adventure is the fool’s hazard.” Christmas day should not be misconstrued to mean a freewill life. Common bad life choices and wrong assumptions people engage in during this season are:
Fights– There is a lot of time for people to sit and talk big empty words. Arguments culminate in fistfights and fatal injuries.
Stealing– “It is time to make a kill” is a common diabolic slogan that is reminiscent of the season.
Melancholy. Due to pressures that come with the season, families quarrel over small issues like food and clothes culminating in a dark cloud hanging over the head throughout the season.
Showing off riches. Most people travel to ancestral homes to show off who they are and what they are made of or have acquired through the year, which end up hurting those who do not have much, widening the rift between the “haves” and “have nots.”
• Killing. With the assumption that money is floating everywhere, there is a tendency in a few evil minds to waylay innocent people to rob and kill them
Drinking spree. Many people think Christmas is a season to drink or do drugs as a way of celebrating.
Sexual Immorality. Families break up during this season due to infidelity, and infections related to sex are rampant during Christmas season.
Close the door. cocooned in riches, miserliness associated with the “haves” is a factor that give the impetus to mocking and looking down on the less fortunate and treating them as beggars who do not deserve a better living.
What We Should Do During Christmas
The angel of the Lord gave an all-time invitation for Christmas and his introductory statement remains unmatched, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:16.
The good news to the world is that a Savior, Christ (messiah-The Anointed One), and Lord (both God and man) has been born. Whether he was born yesterday or today in the morning, the fact is, he is born. That is the good news and joy! People who love God and are thankful for what has happened will do the following:
Go to a church gathering. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:15.
Engage in worship. “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him”. Matthew 2:11
Sing and praise– “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven… the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told”. Luke 2:13-14,20.
Give a love offering. “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh”. Matthew 2:11b.
Feeding indigents (very poor people) and gifting them go a long way in giving a love offering.
Going out and tell others about Jesus- “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.” Luke 2:17
Share with the less fortunate as a gesture of Christ love. Traditions bear me witness that many people share gifts with only close friends which they call surprises! This is not what Jesus taught! Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus showed acts of love to both the haves and have nots.
We see him feeding the five thousand hungry crowd. He responded to an emergency need in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11). Jesus gave us a lesson of the earthly life of Lazarus and the rich man and how we must treat each other regardless of status (Luke 16:19-31).
The good news about Christ’s birth was first given to the shepherds in the field (Luke 2:8-20). They were lowly and did not give the child any gift but became instrumental in spreading the good news.
The Magi were also notified (Matthew 2:7-12). They were distinguished people. Jesus summed up His earthly ministry in a four letter word, LOVE. Feeding indigents and gifting them is a biblical way of showing love.
RECAPITULATION:
Christmas is the most celebrated of all festive seasons across the world. With pomp and color, homes and social joints are decorated with balloons and Christmas trees. Santa Claus is busy giving out goodies in the streets. Families crisscross countries and towns in exchange for comfort and joy. Christmas melodies are heard from a distance and the sweet smell of delicious foods crown it all.
Christmas or Xmas is a day of Jubilation and jingle bell lyrics, the essence of it should not be compromised. I call upon each one of us to set apart Christmas day for thanksgiving and adoration for the living God.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.
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