The first thing you need to understand is the people in the building are the Church, not the building.
In most modern churches, services are held once a week, one or two services for an hour or two. There are no revivals; if there are, it’s once or twice a year. Coffee and donuts in some, video games for children, etc.
The churches of yesterday were held on Sunday morning and Sunday night. Most held Church at least two more times a week, not including days for Bible study and other activities. Service would last 3 to 4 hours and sometimes longer.
They sang songs about God and to God instead of songs about people in God. The congregation sang songs to God, not having people get up in the front and sing to entertain the congregation.
They preached on sin and hell, and in most churches, those two words are not spoken because they might offend someone. Holiness and spreading the Gospel were topics that were taught.
After, they would pray on their knees or in their seats for hours.
People came to Church to uplift their brothers and sisters and worship Jesus. Almost everyone carried their Bible to Church; you could tell it was being studied for all the wear and tear on it and the notes and scriptures.
Today, most people don’t have a Bible, or they don’t bring it to church. Conversations were about the Bible, not gossip or a score on a certain sports game. Seats were full, and in some churches, there was only standing room.
The revival was held many times throughout the year, and everyone was taught to call their neighbors, family, and friends and invite them. When a revival was held, the members prayed on their knees for the lost, and many went out to invite people.
People in churches used to feel a pull for the lost. Christians used to go door to door, and witnessing and passing out tracts was done at shopping centers and store parking lots.
Most churches stay closed all week and open one day a week. The problem with churches is that God is not there, so why would he be?
Thessalonians say that the church must fall away from the truth before Jesus returns. And as we can see, that has already happened. It also teaches that there will be false teachers in the pulpits.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
That is what the preachers in many churches and on TV are doing, taking the truth and twisting it and speaking evil of it.
Revelation 3:16 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Matthew 5:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Jude 1:3 That ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
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