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God created the New Testament church with a specific function and form. Relative to the fulfillment of His eternal plan, they were designed to provide the best possible outcome.
Form Follows Function Form provides shape and structure for created objects. It furnishes them with an identifiable appearance and facilitates the fulfillment of their divinely appointed function. Louis Sullivan is known for his architectural philosophy of form following function. He said, “It is the pervading law of all things organic, and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things super-human, of all true manifestations of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function. This is the law.”[] Regarding architecture, Sullivan believed that the function of a building should dictate its design (form). For example, a hospital building exists to facilitate medical care. It would be significantly less effective to attempt medical care in a building designed to serve in a banking capacity. Thus, Sullivan understood that it is prudent to design a form or structure according to its intended function. In contrast, if function was to follow form, buildings would not be designed to serve their function but merely for artistic value. As a result, they would be attractive but dysfunctional. Of course, Sullivan did not create the fundamental philosophy of form following function. He merely popularized a preexisting concept. God created the original heavens and earth and later renovated them according to the simple but profound truth; form follows function. |
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Perfect Function and Form
Congruent with eternal purpose, the divine renovation of the earth was accomplished according to a specific, predetermined order. There were no surprises. God designed every aspect of the renovated earth to function together cooperatively. Whether the moon and stars, the atmospheric heavens, the oceans, geological formation, plant, animal, insect, human, etc., every detail of His renovation had a predetermined function. It provided the impetus for the design of His unique forms (shape and structure). Concordant with His will, the forms chosen by God for His renovation of the heavens and the earth were “good.” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) Therefore, every created object possessed a form that perfectly served its chosen function. Thus, the heavens and earth were renovated in flawless form. Imperfect Function and Form Like God, man utilizes form to support a desired function. Unlike the perfect forms of God, however, the forms of man are imperfect. Corrupted by the Fall, they are incapable of adequately satisfying their function. Antithetical Function and Form The function and form derived from holy God and fallen man are antithetical. The perfect forms of God are utterly selfless, established for the highest good of His creation and flawlessly suited to serve their appointed function. In contrast, the imperfect, controlling forms of fallen man are innately selfish by nature. They are used to support function that is self-willed, self-fulfilling, self-protective and self-serving. Antithetical Churches In the last 2000 years, the church has been characterized by many different denominations, doctrines, and dispositions. Nevertheless, there have never been more than two types of churches on earth. The first type of church was created by God. Eternal by design, its purpose was to enjoy shared life fellowship with God in a world corrupted by sin and death. The second type of church originated from fallen mankind. Temporal by design, its purpose was to perform religious activity for God in a world corrupted by sin and death. Relative to their design and purpose, the eternal church and the temporal church are antithetical to one another. Consequently, they are not subject to integration. |
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Eternal Church
Created by God, the eternal church was finished in eternity before the foundation of the world. It was mirrored on earth in 33AD. (Acts 2; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:3) God originated the eternal church on earth with the capacity to accommodate eternal life (zoe). Consequently, it could be animated by His indwelling life (zoe). God provided the eternal church with a predetermined function and form. Its form was designed to follow and assist its function. The function of the eternal church was to facilitate shared life fellowship between God and man. The corresponding form of the eternal church was a spiritual body. The spiritual form of the eternal church allowed for the inclusion of many individual members. They were united to God and one another through shared life. The spiritual practice of the eternal church was willingly obligated to God by the gracious rule of His indwelling life (zoe). It is evidenced by by the fruit of the Spirit. |
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Temporal Church
In contrast to the eternal church, the temporal church was the product of human effort. It was formally established on earth during the fourth century, nearly 300 years after the founding of the eternal church. Rather than eternal life (zoe), the temporal church was ignorantly developed to accommodate human life (psuche) for God. Thus, it was animated by lower human life (psuche) apart from God. The function and form of the temporal church were a reflection of its human origination. Therefore, rather than form following function, the temporal church is generally characterized by function following form. The form adopted for the temporal church was a physical congregation. Patterned after legal and civic meetings held in the basilicas (meeting halls) of the Roman Empire, it was borrowed from the worldly realm of civic precedent and organizational management. Among other things, the institutional form of a physical congregation was effective for control by both civic and religious leadership. The temporal church form of a physical congregation became normalized after the Roman emperor Constantine commissioned the construction of church buildings (AD323-327). The corresponding function of the temporal church was to practice religious activity for God. Thus, the temporal church presented an example of function following form. Like the form of the eternal church, the physical congregation of the temporal church was comprised of many individual members. Rather than united to God and one another through shared life, however, its members merely congregate for Him according to shared interest and personal choice. The corresponding function of the temporal church was to practice religious activity for God. By default, religious performance is subject to the rule of law. It is typically manifested through organizational principle and precept. Concordant with its physical form and religious function, the temporal church deviated from the purity of biblical doctrine. While its doctrine did not exclude teaching from the Bible, it was merged with ideas from civic tradition and pagan belief. Consequently, the temporal church held to a form of godliness that denied the power of God. (2 Timothy 3:5) Eternal or Temporal Throughout most of church history, the eternal church and the temporal church have existed on earth. By their function and form alone, they are clearly different. In brief: |
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Recognized by its divinely originated function and form, the eternal church is the church of the New Testament. Accommodative of divine life (zoe) on earth, it constitutes the embodiment of Christ, unadulterated by the religious traditions and organizational strategies of fallen man.
© 2023 James Hiatt |
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