Traditional or...?

Here's an interesting article from the Times that juxtaposes the Crystal Cathedral and Robert Schuller and The Gathering (can you get any more cliche?) pastored by Schuller's grandson. The article presents the situation as a generational split with the older generation looking for traditional spectacle and the younger one longing for intimacy and informality. Okay.

I think this is all wrong and in an ironic way, The Gathering is merely replicating the mistakes of the Crystal Cathedral. The most important aspect should be Word and Sacrament. Next, neither church is traditional in any substantial sense of the word. In fact, they are both organizations chasing after cultural trends. The church should be a bulwark against this sort of mentality. Tradition is the meaningful (and biblically informed) appropriation of the heritage left to us by The Church through the ages.

Comments

[Eric]

Amen.