FORM AND CONTENT

 

Form should follow the content - is one of the fundamental principles in architecture. The same goes for "architecture" of the church (not the building, of course). Unfortunately, the commonly held form of modern evangelical churches is a hall with chairs (or benches) and a pulpit in front of them. Pastor comes out and makes a one-way message to the audience. The audience is silent and listening (or not listening). Some pastors realize that something is wrong and from time to time make reproaches to the audience that it has become a consumer society, that there is no initiative that lacks brotherly love that there is no mutual assistance between brothers ... They may admit that it might be their fault, that they even tried to change things, but it did not work, for several reasons, including lack of response in the audience. In fact, they tried to put another, slightly different content in the existing, well- fossilized form. It's just like designing a building of a certain shape and try to stuff some contents inside. The result is strange and unnatural, unsized, unbalanced interiors somewhere walls are against the windows, at all , totally inoperable and not matching. 
As I read the New Testament, it is not clear to me where  this modern form of church "sprang into existence"  from. The fact -- home churches, the church in the city as a whole, consisting, apparently of home churches. Apostles who planted them are anxious to solve the problems in the churches.  Presbyters (elders) , who serve as bishops (overseers) to the younger in the faith, and the believers operate in all the gifts and ministries of the Holy Spirit. Meetings  are involving all the people some with psalms, some with a song, wih prophecies with a revelation ... When someone prophesies, the other prophets are silent and think, when one speaks in tongues, another interpretes , if there is no interpretation of the speaker, he speaks in tongues only to himsefl and to God. And everything is to build believers and the church.

"How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." 1 Corinthians 14:26So, what should be the form for this content? Best to ask the Architect and the Builder, who is also the owner. And the Investor will not invest nor will announce as His nor participate in the construction of the building of human hands.GOD BEGINS TO BUILD His church , designed by Him and collects stones that has been processed and still processing to fit perfectly to the space which He provided for them. God has laid the foundation already -- Jesus Christ.  Also He has  laid the cornerstone Jesus Christ and He has long ago supplied adhesive material -- love poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, given to us. The only thing lacking are the living stones that have not yet succumbed to God's processing ...

 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5 

Do not be fooled as the new wine will not be poured into old wineskins, so the new content will not be "stuffed " in the old form.The point is, WE, in which construction will participate -- in human's one, or in God's one? 
If this question seems rhetorical, here's a question of substance -- are we ready to be subjected to the treatment of God, in order to fit in His structure?