FORM AND FUNCTION

There is a principle in architecture that says form follows function. The shape of any building should flow from the purpose for that which it is to be used. There does, of course, need to be a proper balance. I’ve been in some churches that were all form: beautiful to behold; but the acoustics were terrible and you couldn’t see around all the pillars. And I’ve been in some churches that were very, very functional but also very, very cold.

Form and function are also important for us as Christians. However, it is the opposite of architecture. For us function follows form. We are followers of Jesus. That is our form given to us in baptism. Now we have to fill out that form by following Jesus, by doing what our faith in him would have us do: functioning as a real disciple, living out what we believe, con-form-ing ourselves to Jesus.

What that means is that we must always be aware that what we do says a lot about who we are and that as Christians we have to understand what we have been called to do, what our function is, because of what we are – our form. Just because a building was designed as a church does not mean that it will always be used as a church.

Just because you and I have been formed, created, as children of God, in the image and likeness of God, does not mean that we will automatically function as God’s children. Function follows form but not always and not automatically. There has to be understanding and intention involved as well. We have to know what we are supposed to do and then do it.

We may accept our baptismal call to be disciples and do our best to live out the promises made for us and that we reaffirm every Easter. But that does not mean that we will. If we work at it, if we give our attention to the task, we will. If we don’t, we won’t. We can build a church and use it as a church; but if we do not care for the building, it will fall down and no longer be used as a church. We can even abandon the building. What we do with it, how we care for it, is up to us.

In life as in architecture, what we give our attention to will shape us. If as Christians our attention is riveted on our job or on television, for instance, rather than on scripture and what the church teaches, our faith will be shaped by that job or what we watch. If we watch enough violence on the tube, it is much easier to accept it and maybe even resort to it. It will shape us ever so subtly, turning the other cheek notwithstanding.

It is vital for us as Christians to understand our form and our function. That means study, worship, prayer. It means knowing what we are called to do and doing it, letting our faith shape us rather than being shaped by something or someone outside our faith. What it all boils down to is that living out our faith is a constant challenge. May we be up to it.