I don’t know why I punish myself this way, but I’ve been reading Brian McLaren‘s A Generous Orthodoxy. I think thoughtful Christians who are genuine and open-minded in evaluating their beliefs in a post-modern (emergent) environment will find themselves flinching often as they read McLaren. Or maybe it’s just me. I liken it to a swift punch in the gut. Here’s an idea of what often happens to me mentally as I’m reading:

Me: OK, I’m ready. Let me have it!

Brian (we’re on a first name basis now) McLaren: Are you sure? I’m not so sure you’re ready. Are you flexing your stomach muscles at all?

Me: Are you kidding?! Of course I’m ready. Go ahead! Fire away… (puffing my flabby gut out for a larger target.)

Brian: OK, but remember that you asked for it. (Rearing back he belts me one swift blow to the mid-section. THUDDD!!!)

Me: (Crumpled to the ground wheezing and trying to breathe.) ouch…I…had no…idea…it…would hurt… that…bad.

Brian: If it’s any consolation, you’ll thank me for it later.

So here’s today’s punch to the gut. Have we as Christians polarized ourselves into one of two camps, i.e. nominal vs. notional? Read how he contrasts these two fruitless groups to those within the Anabaptist tradition (i.e. Amish, Mennonite, etc.):

While so much of contemporary Christianity is nominal (affiliating with the name of Jesus Christ but demonstrating little fruit) or notional (holding–even passionately–to notions, doctrines, or propositions about Christ, but again, demonstrating little fruit), Anabaptists have long understood that what really counts is a fruitful way of life. This is one reason why Anabaptists have been underrepresented in the academy and have relatively few major theological voices there: they would rather express themselves in care for the poor, the land, and the community than in notional arguments.

Whoah! Notional arguments. I don’t consider myself much of a debater of spiritual matters, but I’ve definitely felt pretty strongly about my own "pet doctrines" on many occasions. More convicting though is this idea that we can have the right "notions" and "doctrine" without seeing any fruit in our lives or the lives of others! Am I concerned about the poor, our planet, and the welfare of my community?  Hmmmm…

Lord, please gimme some fruit!