Is 'Xmas' an acceptable abbreviation for 'Christmas'?

TL;DR:

The “X” in “Xmas” comes from the Greek letter Chi (Χ), the first letter of Χριστός (Christos), meaning Christ. This shows that “Xmas” originated as a Christian shorthand and is not inherently disrespectful when used with understanding.

what does the bible say?

The abbreviation “Xmas” comes from the Greek letter Chi (Χ), the first letter of Χριστός (Christos), meaning Christ, so it is not inherently disrespectful. We are called to honor God’s name with reverence in both word and action, which suggests Christians should use respectful language about Christ. Historically, “Xmas” has been used as a Christian shorthand since at least the 15th century and was not intended to remove Christ from Christmas. While some may see “Xmas” as secularizing the holiday, Christians are encouraged to respond with love and keep the true meaning of Christmas alive by understanding its origins.

from the old testament

Exodus 20:7 warns us about the importance of honoring God’s name with reverence, implying that how we refer to Christ and His name should be respectful.
Leviticus 19:12 says, “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.” This stresses treating God’s name and associated symbols with holiness, suggesting language connected to worship should reflect that respect.

from the new testament

Paul urges believers to avoid causing others to stumble by their actions or words (Romans 14:13-23). This encourages sensitivity about how using terms like “Xmas” might affect others’ faith or perceptions.
1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds believers to ensure even small things like abbreviations or language choices glorify God.
Colossians 3:17 teaches that Christians should honor Christ in all actions and words, including how we speak about or refer to Him.

implications for today

There are many who are very sensitive to attempts to disassociate Jesus Christ from the celebration of Christmas—sometimes referred to as the "War on Christmas." Spelling Christmas as Xmas, some would say, is just one more attempt at this. While this could certainly be some people's intention, the use of the word Xmas did not begin as an attempt to take Christ out of Christmas.

Xmas is simply an abbreviation of Christmas. The Greek word for "Christ" is Χριστός (pronounced kris-tos) and begins with the Greek letter, "chi," which is where we get our English letter "X" from. Abbreviating Christmas is nothing new, either. As far back as the 15th century with the invention of the printing press, the church began to use abbreviations like Xmas, Xianity, and even just X for Christ to save on printing costs. Since then it has become an accepted practice to abbreviate Christmas as Xmas.

That being said, there is no denying there are legitimate attempts in our society to take Christ out of Christmas, so to speak. In pursuit of tolerance, inclusiveness, and political correctness, some are attempting to obscure the Christian origins of Christmas. Though that is not the intention of everyone who uses the abbreviation Xmas, we know that there will always be those around us attempting to secularize the holiday in whatever ways they can.

As Christians, instead of getting angry or offended over the use of Xmas, our response should be one that shows the love of God. The Bible warns us that not everyone will agree with us so we shouldn't be surprised when we come across people who think differently than us on this issue (see Luke 6:22 and 1 John 3:13). We can look at it as our opportunity to keep the real meaning of Christmas alive in our families and those around us by understanding where "Xmas" originated and what it really stands for. We can even use the abbreviation as a teaching tool by explaining the real meaning of the letter X as referring to Christ. That's just one simple way to help keep Christ in Christmas.

understand

“Xmas” comes from the Greek letter Chi (Χ), the first letter of Christ, making it a historic Christian abbreviation.
The Bible urges honoring God’s name respectfully and being sensitive to others’ faith regarding language.
Though some see “Xmas” as secular, it originated in the church and Christians should respond with love while keeping Christ central.

reflect

How do you personally respond when you see the term “Xmas” used—do you feel offended, indifferent, or curious about its meaning?
How do you honor God’s name in your daily speech and actions, especially around holidays like Christmas?
How can you show love and understanding to others who may have different views about the use of “Xmas” or other religious terms?

engage

What does knowing the Greek origin of “Xmas” change about our perspective on this abbreviation?
How can we balance honoring God’s name with being sensitive to others’ feelings and perceptions in our conversations?
In what practical ways can we keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in a culture that often secularizes it?