Nominalism/Notionalism

Again I am pushed to think by McLaren in Generous Orthodoxy. In his chapter on Anabaptists/Anglicans he talks about the need not only to fight against being nominal ("existing or being something in name or form but usually not in reality" - dictionary.com) but also being notional ("conveying an idea of a thing or of an action" but again not existing as such in reality - dictionary.com). Nominalism is when we associate ourselves with Christ but don't make him the most important thing in our lives. Notionalism is when he is the most important thing in theory but not practice. We get really excited about stuff but don't do anything about our excitement. Both of these "isms" destroy influence. It seems that anything that doesn't result in action but simply stays in the realm of label destroys influence. Consider politicians that claim they "care" about specific people groups or social issues, but when we evaluate their platform and what they have done for the country, these agendas seem to be strangely absent.

This line of thinking inevitably forces me to evaluate myself. Am I nominal? Am I notional? I think because of my personality type nominal seems mostly out of the equation. However, notional becomes the trap. I can care a whole ton about something but not do anything about it. I can have big ideas but small accomplishments.

Would you consider yourself to be more tempted by notionalism or nominalism? What can we do to avoid these traps and make a difference in the world?