You may have seen the images posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media websites. You may have seen bumper stickers, posters and heard people declare that we must keep Christ in Christmas. As some people complain about the term Xmas, others began to feel the need to justify and speak proudly that Xmas is acceptable because “X” is the first letter of Greek for the name Christ (reference 1 / reference 2 – Snopes).

I understand the sentiment that in the United States, about how Christianity is beginning to lose some of its status and favor. How in the U.S., Christians are beginning to feel a very small bit of the persecution that is felt in other countries, but have we blown this out of proportion?

Let’s look at it from a new angle. God commands us:

We become offended when someone gets upset and says, “jesus christ” because they have not been respectful of the name of Jesus. If we are so adamant that Christ be kept in Christmas, yet we must focus on things not related to God, like singing Rudulph, Frosty, having the decor, then are we being respectful, honoring the One who restores our relationship to God? If we demand that a non-believer call the holiday Christmas, then are they using the name of the Lord in vain because they are not using the name Christ to honor the One True God? If so, aren’t we then causing that person to stumble and to disobey God, to sin by using His name in vain?

Christmas is a cultural and a Christian holiday in the U.S. and Christians have supported that for years, and still do. Which is better, to boldly proclaim that we must keep Christ in Christmas while we sing Rudulph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, or to be “silent” about it and show God’s love, the Hope that the baby Jesus brings, to others who need to know Him. Would you rather them simply say Merry Christmas, or know the One for Whom you remember?