A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)

Having read this once I have become aware that there are nuances I may well need to revisit. a masterly summing up of the nature of denominational church, its strengths and weaknesses too, by one not merely out to throw rocks, as is too often the case, but really passionate about what church should be and longing for more than partisan, political faith.

contrary to some reviews I do not believe he is Universalist...I realise the part he discusses this is complex, but the spirit of it can be grasped. However, the whole attitude about who is 'in or out' and how that causes some to regard others, is the important point he makes i.m.o.

I enjoyed parts of this book. It made me want to learn more about the Anabaptist movement. I do believe that the modern church has lost its way and that McLaren is definitely pointing in a different direction, but I am not yet convinced that it is THE direction. Any belief system centered around humanity is doomed to fail. Missional living cannot be grounded in "loving thy neighbor...more

I enjoyed parts of this book. It made me want to learn more about the Anabaptist movement. I do believe that the modern church has lost its way and that McLaren is definitely pointing in a different direction, but I am not yet convinced that it is THE direction. Any belief system centered around humanity is doomed to fail. Missional living cannot be grounded in "loving thy neighbor because he is your neighbor." It has to be grounded in something bigger..."loving thy neighbor for the glory of God," now that has a chance.... That being said, I do believe that God is on Mission and either we can get onboard with what He is doing or we can simply watch Him pass by.... Thank goodness Jesus is constantly passing by!!!!   hide

This book is what many regard as one of the foundational texts for the "emergent church" movement in America. If you do not know what the emergent church is, it is essentially the mixing of Christianity and post-modernism which produces a relativistic, pluralistic, anything goes type Christianity. In the introduction Brian McLaren makes it clear that he is purposefully stating...more

This book is what many regard as one of the foundational texts for the "emergent church" movement in America. If you do not know what the emergent church is, it is essentially the mixing of Christianity and post-modernism which produces a relativistic, pluralistic, anything goes type Christianity. In the introduction Brian McLaren makes it clear that he is purposefully stating things vaguely to provoke discussion, and obviously that is what he has accomplished. One only needs to do a google search to see the plethora of scathing or raving reviews of this book. But this vagueness is the reason I did not like this book. It is impossible to pin down McLaren on any issue. One minute he is affirming the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed (pg 28-32?) but then seems to discredit the creeds by statements like, "orthodoxy might seem to follow those who fight the hardest and perhaps the dirtiest. Not a pleasant thought." Deconstructionism at its best. On pg 38 he writes, "Speaking of smoke, this book suggests that relativists are right in their denunciation of absolutism. It also affirms that absolutists are right in their denunciation of relativism. And then it suggests that they are both wrong because the answer lies beyond both absolutism and relativism." That passage left me wondering what on earth is he trying to say!?   hide