Because I see the coming Ecumenical paradigm as a people's movement rather than an ecclesiastical one I would like to turn our attention away from the organization towards the individual and ask 'what is the fundamental need of everyone engaged in God's work?' Watchman Nee answers this question as "to know the Cross experimentally." He continues in the context of being a good listener, but the question and answer apply to all aspects of doing our Father's will. "To be effective workers we need spiritual clarity; we need discernment concerning the condition of all who seek us out; we need quietness of mind to hear them state their cases... We ourselves must abide in a clear relationship with the Lord."[13]
There are a lot of ideas presented to us in these words. What does it mean for laity to know the Cross experimentally? Exactly what does the Cross represent? The Cross factually represents our death in this world; if we are Christian we need to recognize that we have given up our lives to Christ. We need to put our past behind us and take up a new life - a life that is represented by Christ's resurrection. This is pure New Testament teaching. And, this is not spiritualized teaching - it refers to what we are to do from the point of this recognition onwards. To know the Cross experimentally is to live in faith listening to God as He speaks to you through people, through your experiences and through your devotion to Him, rather than listening to your past knowledge. This process is painfully awkward[14] but it is necessary for us to be effective in God's service. In this context, each individual is the Church.
What is spiritual clarity? It is knowing God's boundaries for us within His Kingdom. How are we to know this? We learn only by prayerfully stepping out in faith that God will do a work through us, and by reviewing our lessons in the light of God's word. An odd thing happens as we depend upon God, God opens our point of contact with others as our trust in Him translates into our trustworthiness to others. However, in all of this, we must abide in a clear relationship with God.
"Ministry does not occur in isolation. It happens when we, as members of the Body of Christ.. join our brothers and sisters in a mission into the world. We do not minister as individuals; we minister as members of something much greater than ourselves - the eternal Church of Jesus, the living Lord."[15]
These are salient words that bring our focus back again to the greater whole - created and ordained by God. Sadly, before an understanding of the Ecumenical paradigm is grasped, few would interpret these words in light of God's Kingdom. Rather, the tendency would be to substitute one's denomination for that of the eternal church. Yet, be we 'this, that or the other thing' we are all the Church. The full weight of this implication might only hit us when we find that one we have led to the Lord can only attend churches outside of our own denominational ties. And, if the believer gains purpose in Christ outside of our own folds is he or she any less saved?
On the other hand, as members of the Body of Christ are we only ministered to by members of our own denomination? It is God who ministers to us and His people are our people. In His eyes there exist no divisions. Today as we seek to serve Him this is becoming plainer to more and more of us. Note how Paul was converted on the road, sent by the church in Antioch, yet worked with the church in Jerusalem. This is not an ecclesiastical issue, it is a Kingdom issue.
