It is as if "structure" in church life isin some way restrictive and bad even to the point of being evil...all possibly true. Some say, "Because it is bad, let's just do away with it." But we can't. This world exists on structure and it is part of God's design. Everything has structure without it there isnothing. Animals, insects, buildings, bridges,planes, cars, mountains,the universe, in fact everything has some structure.

While I think understand the heart from which these "NO STRUCTURE"words are spoken, the problem with structure in Church life comes when the people end up serving the structures rather than the structures serving the people. And this is due to those who want to perpetuate the unhealthy structure rather than the structure itself.

When something is no longer serving it's purpose it needs to be changed, rearranged or torn down and rebuilt. It takes people who are secure in their own identity to regularly evaluate the structures that surround the church community and when they are not working, to change them.

But there is usually more safety in what is known than what is not known, sostructures are usually just tweaked at the edges and ultimately the people almost always serve the structure.

History proves that every movement that has breathed life into churchs tructures has ended up being a monument to what once was,always looking back to the glory days. Will I be any different... Will I want to perpetuate structures that are restrictive and bad? I would like to think I will be different,but, history is shouting out YOU WON'T.

Does that stop me from trying? No. I desire to see church communities thrive and grow with healthy structures.

That said... to history I shout back... YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT!