a Generous Orthodoxy by Brian D. McLaren

Non-Fiction. Hardback from Zondervan. Published in 2004. Purchased at Kregel Bookstores.

a Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN is the full title of this book. Blogger thinks that is a few to many words for a title, so you get the whole thing here.

a Generous Orthodoxy has been over in the sidebar there for quite a while as my "Current Read". It took me a spell to get it read. This in no way reflects on the quality of the book. It was a very interesting read - the type of book that I go after with a highlighter. As McLaren goes through the different labels for Christians in each chapter, he talks about the good that can be gleaned from each approach to Christianity (and some of the pitfalls of each to avoid). He strays a bit from what is typically considered a Christian label in the chapter on being "Green", but makes a good case for why it should be a Christian characteristic.

Coming from a church heritage that has often acted as if they are the only ones who have it correct, it was refreshing to me to hear about what other denominations do right. His chapter on being an unfinished Christian is a good summary of why we should never feel like we have it all worked out perfectly.

Publisher's summary:
A confession and manifesto from a senior leader in the emerging church movement—a Generous Orthodoxy calls for a radical, Christ-centered orthodoxy of faith and practice in a missional, generous spirit. Brian McLaren argues for a post-liberal, post-conservative, post-protestant convergence, which will stimulate lively interest and global conversation among thoughtful Christians from all traditions.

In a sweeping exploration of belief, author Brian McLaren takes us across the landscape of faith, envisioning an orthodoxy that aims for Jesus, is driven by love, and is defined by missional intent. a Generous Orthodoxy rediscovers the mysterious and compelling ways that Jesus can be embraced across the entire Christian horizon. Rather than establishing what is and is not "orthodox," McLaren walks through the many traditions of faith, bringing to the center a way of life that draws us closer to Christ and to each other.

Whether you find yourself inside, outside, or somewhere on the fringe of Christianity, a Generous Orthodoxy draws you toward a way of living that looks beyond the "us/them" paradigm to the blessed and ancient paradox of "we."

To buy from amazon.co.uk, click here: a Generous Orthodoxy
from amazon.com, click here:a Generous Orthodoxy