Watering down Baptisms?

Well after seeing in the news recently about what the CofE (Church of England) have said they will be testing out really, to me, is quiet shocking... So I have taken the time to think it over and write my view on it... 

I see that the CofE is trialling a change of wording in baptisms.. and to quote some taken from a Church News site.. One person has said..

He added: "You do not have to have the whole of Christian doctrine in every part of the service."

Another has been quoted to say:

there was a need for balance. We indeed today face a challenge of not wanting to lose the true meaning of baptism while at the same time wanting to attract more people to church. Our churches attract many non-churchgoers who wish to have their children baptised."

If you look at both of these comments you can see that they are taking the meaning out of Baptism just to attract people into the church which is totally the wrong way to go.. .If people want to bring their children to church to be baptised they should do it with the meaning and actions that are SCRIPTUAL .. not just a worldy symbolic thing to make them feel all warm and tingly and tick a box…

Watering down (pun not intended) of the Scripture on baptism, or any Scripture, is not something to be taken lightly… After all it is the Word of God..

Christianity faces so much pressure to change so that its adapting to the worldy way of things which is looking more and more to be taking it away from Gods way of things.. Yes there can be found a balance as long as we always keep one thing in mind.. The Word of God is never wrong and we should be fitting it NOT it fitting us…

Does this all come as a surprise.. to me.. no not really.. we do see it all in revelation especially as the description of the seven churches… and later on where it says even church leaders will change into following worldy things…

I do feel that alot of the "changes" the church is making over the last few years is moving things away from God just to be accepted or to keep the flack from the church.. Scripture says we will come up against struggles by this world to pressure us to change away from God and that we should be steadfast!!

Personally if a church I attended strayed away from Scripture I'd say something about it to the Leadership Team/pastor/vicar etc... and find out the reason behind it.. asking them to provide Scripture references to support this and pray over it... if i felt it will still against God I would do what I can to oppose it (in a Christian way) and if the church still decided to stick on their way then I'd leave...

So how do you tackle such a large institution such as the CofE on a matter like this? I cant go up and speak to those who made this decision... Having a discussion over email/social media is difficult... So I will will just pray and put my voice out there by my blog and twitter... 

I have searched my heart on this for about a week and still feel that "watering down" Scripture is not a way God would want us to go... 

Praying for the CofE....

Christianity in Interviews, Covering Letters and CV's

This is something I have been finding tough since becoming a Christian and trying to write a true reflection of myself and skills in a CV and Covering Letter (CL).

I got turned down for several positions because my CV and CL were not as strong as other people who had applied for the same positions. This made me think a lot about what I was feeling about how I "sell myself on paper" but remain true to my belief in humbleness and true to God, as I thought! Trust me it rook a huge amount of pain and hurdles to get over what I thought and felt was so right.. but now I do see it clearer!

Well I did speak to a member of management who has got a lot of experience and would be able to be brutally honest with me on how I felt and my beliefs on all of this.

I do not think this person is a Christian but I got the clearest answer that I could ever want on this subject...

It was so simple!! So I really changed my outlook on this all and also slapped me in the face on my focus on this... I still can't believe it!

Basically...
Write everything down that you have done, honestly and humbly and as long as I am true in all that I have written whilst not painting a picture that I am better than others or I am creating an ego monster I can be true to God and my beliefs and still stand a better chance of showing my real qualities...

God has blessed me with the "gifts" and given me the knowledge to achieve so if I am NOT showing them to their FULL extent am I really shining Gods Light as best as I can from me?
After all we keep going on about "Gods doing this, Gods doing that" so why do we have such a  problem saying "Gods blessed me with the ability to do this".. As long as its in humility and right for God!

If I was asked the question which you get in most interviews...
"Why should I choose you over the other applicants?" 
It's a question I have not yet to be asked as my CV and CL revamp which has only been over the last 2 months of writing this blog...

How would I answer it now? I feel the answer I'd give is something like this:
Well I can only tell you how much of a benefit I can be for your business with all the knowledge and experience I have gained during my working life. I can reassure you that I would aim to increase the business sustainability/profit etc.
Just be sure not to run anyone else down (just look at politics) but be true and show what you can do..

This is a difficult issue to really come to terms with and has to be an individual basis and with God.

After a twitter discussion with 2 of my fellow brothers in Christ I felt compelled to write this. I am not saying its a definitive answer but it has helped me!!

It may not get you the job/promotion but what is right.. To be honest and right for God or to go the worldy route and get the job by developing an ego issue and run others down?

All I can say is take your time.. be honest and pray/fast over it all..