What's the difference between a Baptism and a christening?When I was a child, I knew our noon meal was called "dinner" regardless of the menu. In fact I would snicker when a neighborhood mother summoned her children to "luncheon." It tickled me that some adults didn't seem to know the right word for the midday meal. The "right" word sometimes becomes an issue in the church family as well because various names for rites and doctrines coexist or displace one another in the community's life. For example, the question arises: What is the difference between a Baptism and a christening christening: see baptism. ? The short answer is that both designate the same sacrament; there is no essential difference. The word Baptism is adapted from the Greek word for the sacramental bath that connects us to Christ, introduces us to church membership, and provides us with a new name by which we are known in the church. This word is familiar to all believers. The word christening is widely used, perhaps more in Protestant circles than Catholic, but not as the official name for the sacrament. In fact its familiar reference to launching a ship or test-driving new equipment or naming just about anything may taint taint an unpleasant odor and flavor in a human foodstuff of animal origin. Caused by the ingestion of the substance, commonly a plant such as Hexham scent, or while in storage, e.g. milk stored with pineapples, or as a result of animal metabolism, e.g. boar taint. it in some believers' minds. So maybe we should consider putting Christ back into christening much as we speak of putting Christ back into Christmas. In his letter to the Galatians Paul says, "For all of you who were baptized bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. into Christ have clothed clothe tr.v. clothed or clad , cloth·ing, clothes 1. To put clothes on; dress. 2. To provide clothes for. 3. To cover as if with clothing. yourselves with Christ.... You are all one in Christ Jesus" (3:27-28). Paul proclaims that a central effect of Baptism is a profound new relationship to Christ. It is only a slight verbal extension to say that when we are baptized we are Christ-ened and the event itself is a Christ-ening. We have other familiar examples of accepting an effect of a sacrament as a descriptive name Written indication on maps and charts, used to specify the nature of a feature (natural or artificial) shown by a general symbol. for the sacrament itself. In recent times the sacrament of forgiveness has been called Reconciliation--from the sacrament's effect on the penitent. Similarly when we speak of "Holy Communion," we are taking a primary effect of receiving the Eucharist--the bond between the recipients and Jesus and between the recipients themselves--and using it as a popular name for the sacrament. Referring to a Baptism as a christening is comparably derived and equally appropriate. The terms christen chris·ten tr.v. chris·tened, chris·ten·ing, chris·tens 1. a. To baptize into a Christian church. b. To give a name to at baptism. 2. a. and christening (with various spellings) have a long history in the English language English language, member of the West Germanic group of the Germanic subfamily of the Indo-European family of languages (see Germanic languages). Spoken by about 470 million people throughout the world, English is the official language of about 45 nations. stretching back almost a thousand years, Their earliest meanings were "baptize bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. " and "Baptism," and both Shakespeare and Chaucer used them in that sense. We are reminded that our language of belief and prayer has always been enriched by unofficial expressions that complement the "right" words of approved theological formulations. If I could stand again today among my boyhood playmates, as noon approached I would enjoy hearing again those simultaneous calls to luncheon and dinner. And I would surely smile again, not at a neighbor's different way of speaking, but at the childish righteousness with which I assumed that only my word was appropriate. Got a question? gya@uscatholic.org JIM Jim Miss Watson’s runaway slave; Huck’s traveling companion. [Am. Lit.: Huckleberry Finn] See : Escape DINN, a freelance writer retired in Pennsylvania. 
Angeline Johnson (Member): 9/21/2009 9:03 PM
Might I comment, unless you are protestant and understand the difference between been catholic and protestant you can't say they are the same. In the catholic church there is baptism as the first step into catholicism. In Protestant church is Christening. Then once you are old enough to decide your faith and to fully dedicate yourself by choice to God then you chose to be baptized or not. Just like Jesus himself, he was of older age when he did.<br><br>Christening is when a parent or parents dedicate their child to Christ, they compromise themselves as the guides, and the family, friends and rest of the church as examples, to guide this child in Christianity and with the values and respect for God and his will. Then as I mentioned above as these children become young adults that understand their actions, they will choose to be baptised on their own when they feel ready.<br><br>They are different steps taken when you decide to commit to God in one or other denomination. Just like catholism has Confirmation once child is older and so on.<br><br>And forgiveness and reconciliation have two different meanings. Might I add if you look into the dictionary the word forgiveness comes from forgetting an action, acontesment. Reconciliation is to re-unite what was once lost. I can forgive the person that hurt me in some way, but for safety reasons, for example I have a right to keep away if they are dangerous. I can reconciliate to a spouse which means reunite. One of the steps of reconciliation is forgiveness which makes it clear they do not mean the same.<br><br>Thank you and God bless us all! |
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