It is crucial to understand that the Church is not the building itself, but the people in the building who come together to share their faith, support one another, and foster spiritual growth.
In most modern churches, services are typically held once a week, with one or two services lasting an hour or two. Revivals are rare, occurring only once or twice a year at most. Some churches offer coffee and donuts, while others provide video games for children, among other activities.
The churches of the past held services on Sunday mornings and nights, often meeting at least twice a week, not counting Bible study and other activities. Services would typically last between three and four hours, and sometimes even longer.
They sang songs about God and to God, rather than songs about people in God. The congregation sang songs to God without anyone getting up to entertain them.
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 taught as topics.
Afterward, 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. Most of them carried their Bibles, which showed signs of wear and tear from frequent use, along with notes and highlighted scriptures.
Today, many people either don’t own a Bible or don’t bring one to church. Conversations used to focus on the Bible rather than gossip or sports scores.
Church pews were often full, with some congregations having only standing room available. The revival was held multiple times throughout the year, encouraging everyone to reach out to their neighbors, family, and friends to invite them.
During these revivals, members would pray on their knees for those who were lost, and many would go out to extend invitations to others.
People in churches used to feel a pull for the lost. Christians used to go door-to-door, and witnessing and passing out tracts were done at shopping centers and store parking lots.
Many churches remain closed throughout the week, only opening one day. The issue with churches is that believers often feel God’s absence.
The 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.
Read more at: Representing Jesus in a World That Rejects Him
Read more at: What Does It Really Mean to Be Holy?
Read more at: The Truth About the Narrow Gate Most Churches Won’t Preach
Read more at: Born Again by the Word of God (transformedbythetruth.com)
Read more at: Transformed by the Renewing of Your Mind (transformedbythetruth.com)
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