Form follows Function

We have been studying this fact for the last few weeks at my church.  It is imperative that we never lose focus of the "why" we do things vs. the ritual, the action, the tradition.  If there is a traditional thing that you are doing and you never stopped to ask yourself "Why am I doing this?"  Then it may be time for some self examination.

Eld. Robert Martin Jr. of Zion Temple Church in Denver used to say this all the time "Know what you know what you know!"  If you are doing and have no knowledge of why, you may be setting yourself up for a "Values Battle", where what you believe comes into direct conflict with what you are doing.  I have had several internal knock down drag outs as I tried to make a shaky foundation look solid.  God help me I am trying to be consistent, which is difficult in an inconsistent world.  I find that most people expect a measure of hypocrisy in their fellow man now a days.  That grieves my soul...especially when I am the one failing to live up to my own standards.

Form follows Function...the great thing about this attitude is that it allows a much more flexible attitude in personal interactions than when we have reversed the two.  I am one of those people who feel equally at ease with white people as well as black.  I can talk with and like either group when I am with them and I do it, not as imitation, but because that is how I was raised.  My extended family flowed in an interracial community though we lived in the poor side of town.  We adapted naturally to changing environments and to those in them.  It is a gift, and there is nothing phony about it, it is just what we do...how we were raised...adaptability in our form to get across our function. 

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
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7 Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible.
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To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win over those under the law.
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To those outside the law I became like one outside the law--though I am not outside God's law but within the law of Christ--to win over those outside the law.
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To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
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All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

Here we see the perfect example of changing his form to follow his function.  Beloved, never let what you do supersede why you are doing it.  Great men and women let their work show what was in their heart...Go and do likewise :)