Ecumenical preaching is balanced preaching. It does not emphasize a particular church doctrine or theology. Rather, it allows the Holy Spirit to illuminate the Word of God in the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus said:
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)
The Church has been divided for far too long over insignificant doctrine and spiritual misunderstandings. There seem to be three streams in the Church: Evangelical, Pentecostal, and Liturgical. These streams were never meant to be separated. They should flow together in one unified river. Nevertheless, today’s preaching tends to emphasize one of them over the other two. God is not divided. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Neither should the Church be divided. The Protestant Reformation corrected certain heresies in the Church while, over time, introducing new ones. What is needed is a new reformation. (See Trinitarian Ecumenism.)
How does the preacher move away from denominational-ism? Not necessarily by becoming “non-denominational.” The so-called “non-denominational” church is often very doctrinal. It tends to define itself over against other denominations.
A broader view is needed, not a “lowest common denominator” view. God is truly ecumenical in the greatest sense of the word. Only He can lead us into all truth. Are we open to His truth? If so, we may have to discard some of our cherished doctrines and theologies.
When the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:13-15)
What about the one true church? Which one is it? Let us recall the words of Jesus to the woman at the well:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)
