A few days ago I wrote a post about the absurdity of Christmas without Christ. Few posts have ever stirred up so much reaction. If you missed it, you can get up to speed here. It was entitled, “No more Xmas!†Perhaps people read it just to see who this pastor was who seemed to be against Christmas and they soon discovered the post was about the opposite.
I suppose some might call it nit-picky, but I just feel like, if your Carpal Tunnel syndrome is bothering you that much, skimping with an X instead of the name of Christ isn’t gonna get you out of wrist surgery. I also understand that it may have started as a Christian symbol, but it certainly doesn’t get used that way today. In fact, very few people I run across these days are even aware of the good intentions and origins of using the “X” symbol. It’s purpose today is more or less to X things out. In this case it’s Jesus that’s getting Xed out.
And it’s His birthday!!!
I’m just saying it doesn’t seem worth the .0003 nanoseconds you’ll save by not writing the extra 6 letters. I also find it odd that Christians always seem to be the ones who end up coming up with these embarrassing expressions.
Seriously, can’t you just see the rest of the world laughing at us?
I mean, they don’t even consider this silly stuff.
Really, who else does this? Could you imagine if they did?
Kwanzaa would be Xzaa
Hanukkah would Xkah
Ramadan would be Xdan (I’ll probably be given 100 lashes for that one)
Tanabata would be Xbata
Hey, they all rhyme…
I feel a rap coming on.
I’ll spare you. But haven’t you ever wondered about this? Anything Christian seems like fair game both at home and abroad while other religious groups will skin you alive, remove your still beating heart and eat it while you watch if you even name a Teddy bear improperly (thought I was kidding about that one, didn’t you?)!
We don’t even do this junk at home with any other holiday. No one says Happy Xtine Day on February 14th. I’ve never heard, Hey, what are your plans for XLuther XJr. Day?
Even some of the silly ones like, Mardi Gras are never referred to as, XGras!
Why not?
To me it’s more confirmation of the truth of the gospel. The Bible tells us that the,
The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written,
I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots.So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. I Corinthians 1:17-19 (The Message)
Read the whole context here.
So, that’s why I’m on a mission to center our focus on Christ. Without Him the world would be utterly devoid of hope. That’s why it’s amazing that believers sit idly by while anything good is slowly removed from culture. I probably shouldn’t be though.
Jesus said this would happen. He said this attitude would be prevalent.
I’m just sad to see it so prevalent among His own followers.
I wonder if He is too.
Anyway, it’s late. I’ll have more to say on this in part 3.
Xnight!
P.S. Check this out for a funny reminder about Christmas being about Christ.