Distinct Function and Form of the New Testament Church
|
Vertical Divider
|
Form provides shape and structure to created objects. It furnishes them with an identifiable appearance and facilitates the fulfillment of their divinely appointed function.
Form Follows 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."1 In regard to 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. Sullivan understood that it is prudent to design a form or structure according to its intended function. In contrast, if function followed form, buildings would be designed not to serve their function, but merely for artistic value. Consequently, they would be attractive, but dysfunctional. Of course, Sullivan didn’t create the fundamental philosophy of form following function. He simply 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. |
|
Vertical Divider
|
Perfect Function and Form
The divine renovation of the earth was predetermined according to specific plan. There were no surprises. God designed every aspect of the renovated earth to function together cooperatively for the fulfillment of His eternal plan. Whether the moon and stars, the atmospheric heavens, the oceans, geological formation, plant, animal, insect, human, etc., every detail of His renovation of the earth 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). In other words, every created object possessed a form that perfectly served its chosen function. Consequently, 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 his fallen nature. Therefore, no matter how beneficent they may appear, 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 Regardless of differing denominations, doctrines and dispositions, there have never been more than two types of churches on earth. The first church was originated by God to minister eternal life (zoe) to a world corrupted by sin and death. Therefore, it was eternal in nature. In contrast, the second church was originated by fallen man to facilitate the practice of religious activity on a world corrupted by sin and death. As a consequence, it was temporal in nature. The eternal church and the temporal church are antithetical to one another in both function and form. Consequently, they are not subject to integration. |
|
Vertical Divider
|
Eternal Church The eternal church was created by God. It was finished in eternity before the foundation of the world and mirrored on earth in 33AD (Acts 2; Ephesians 1:4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Hebrews 4:3). The eternal church was created with the capacity to accommodate eternal life (zoe) on earth. It was designed to be animated by the indwelling life (zoe) of God. The eternal church was characterized by a divinely originated function and form. In support of its predetermined function, its form was established before the foundation of the world. It was designed to follow and facilitate its function. The function of the eternal church was created to facilitate shared-life fellowship between God and man. It served to vindicate the nature of God from angelic accusation and repopulate the kingdom of God with willing citizens. The eternal church was created in the form of a spiritual body. It served to accommodate many individual members united with God and one another by means of His shared, indwelling life (zoe). The eternal church provided a perfect example of form following function. Its spiritual form was accommodative of shared-life fellowship between God and man. |
|
Vertical Divider
|
Temporal Church
The temporal church was produced by human effort. It was originated on earth nearly 300 years after the founding of the eternal church. The temporal church was created with the capacity to accommodate temporal life (psuche) on earth. It was designed to be animated by lower, human life (psuche) through organizational principle and precept. The temporal church was characterized by a humanly originated function and form. Originated from civic and religious principles and precepts, it utilized a preexisting form. The ever evolving function of the temporal church followed the creation of its form. The temporal church utilized the preexisting form of a physical congregation. Like the form of the eternal church, it was comprised of many individual members. Rather than united to God and one another by means of shared-life, however, its individual members congregated for Him according to shared-interest and personal choice. The preexisting form of the temporal church was adopted not only for reasons of practicality and civic precedent, but the ease by which it could be controlled by civic and religious leadership. The physical congregation of the temporal church was established in the early fourth century. It was initially patterned after legal and civic meetings commonly held in the meeting halls or basilicas of the Roman Empire. Shortly thereafter, the form of the physical congregation was secured in history by action of the Roman emperor Constantine. Between AD323-327 he commissioned the construction of church buildings. They were specifically designed to accommodate the form of a physical congregation. The function of the temporal church was developed with the intent to organize religious activity for God. It was revealed through its doctrine and plainly demonstrated by its corresponding practice. Concordant with the contribution of the civic and religious authorities, the ever evolving doctrine of the temporal church was derived from an amalgam of civic tradition, pagan belief and Christian teaching. Its ritualistic practice was a clear reflection of its unbiblical doctrine. Rather than form following function, the temporal church provided an example of function following form. For reasons of practicality, civic precedent and ease of management, it adopted the preexisting form of a physical congregation. Prescribing the specific manner in which the congregation performed religious activity for God, the doctrine of the temporal church continued to evolve after the adoption of its preexisting form. Throughout history, the eternal church and the temporal church have been plainly distinguished by their function and form. Concordant with its shared-life function of fellowship with God, the eternal church was originated in the form of an eternal, spiritual body. In contrast, the temporal church was originated in the form of a physical congregation to facilitate its function of religious activity for God. |
|
Vertical Divider
|
|
|
Vertical Divider
|
In accordance with its divinely originated function and form, the eternal church is the distinct 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.
Endnotes 1Louis Sullivan, The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered, (March, 1896), (http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/tallofficebuilding.html). © 2018 James Hiatt |
