The gender-inclusive debate often alarms me. I have seen this debate from both sides. I believe the effort to fundamentally change the way we speak about God is fraught with some rather serious theological problems. Several great books addressed this problem fifteen or twenty years ago when it first broke on the scene in the mainline denominations rush to revision in God-language. I am not interested, in this post, in refuting these mistakes. A number of first-rate scholarly books and monographs have addressed these concerns, as I said. I believe there is sufficiently good reason for retaining the Bible’s language regarding God. (I freely grant that there are feminine images of God given to us in Scripture and these should not be easily overlooked!)

I am more concerned, at this moment, about the continued debate over the New International Version (NIV, 1984) and the subsequent TNIV (2002). For those who do not recall the details this debate came about because […]

While it is easy to cast stones at the Schuller family, especially when we are safely removed from the day-to-day decision making that goes into an international ministry like the Crystal Cathedral and the Hour of Power, there are some general lessons that are worth our consideration when we read a story like the one I told yesterday.

1. The governing structure of the Crystal Cathedral is not one that clearly resembles the standard polity of the Reformed Church. Instead of "shared" governance and real accountability to the classis, the Crystal Cathedral stands out as unique in so many ways. Some of this is understandable given the unusual nature, and remarkable size, of this church. But sharing the leadership with the elders and deacons, as well as with the classis and synod, would have gone a long way toward preventing the tragic division that took place in Garden Grove over the last ten months.

2. While it is […]

Dr. Robert H. Schuller is clearly one of the most visible ministers in the world, like him or not. Since Schuller began his drive-in church in Garden Grove, California, in the 1950s, his possibility-thinking has established not only a well known mega-church but a world-wide television ministry. Schuller, now 82, retired from day-to-day leadership in 2006. He was succeeded by his son, Robert A. Schuller. Now the entire Schuller ministry and legacy has undergone a profound upheaval. The story is very, very sad.

Robert Anthony Schuller, 54, succeeded his famous father in January 2006. The hope was that a younger audience would become loyal to the broadcast that has billed itself as “America’s Television Church.” But in July, 2008, the father reversed course and formed a three-person Office of the President which removed the younger Schuller from the leadership of The Hour of Power. Then in October of 2008 the father announced that the son would remain the senior pastor […]