The biblical pattern for churches seems to be that the church as a spiritual building should constantly grow out of the church as spiritual body. In other words, relationship should be the point of reference out of which structure flows. To begin church-planting with a structured church risks putting the church already on the downward slope of the organizational cycle. Structure can affect attitude toward people. In highly structured churches, people become necessary for programs, or even for the continued existence of the institution.
Institutional churches find it hard to remain culturally relevant.
The traditional church died in England, the most Christian country in the world at one time. The United States faces the same problem, but with a different twist. In the United States a large number of traditional churches are closing each year, while at the same time new, less structured churches are springing up. Those who predict the demise of the church sometimes fail to notice the proliferation of storefront and house churches in our country. We can only assume that the people in these groups are seeking relationship rather than structure.