At a women’s retreat I attended recently I heard this quote from a book called "A Heavenly Man: The remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun" The quote is from page 296 to 298. I found it very interesting. I look forward to reading the whole book! It’s Brother Yun’s thoughts on American churches. (Not all are this way, but sadly most)

Here is the quote:
When I’m in the West I see all the mighty church buildings and all the expensive equipment, plush carpets and state-of-the-art sound systems. I can assure the Western church with absolute certainty that you don’t need any more church buildings. Church buildings will never bring the revival you seek. The pursuit of more possessions will never bring revival. Jesus truly stated, "A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Luke 12:15

The first thing needed for revival to return to your churches in the Word of the Lord. God’s Word is missing. Sure, there are many preachers and thousands of tapes and videos of Bible teaching, but so little contains the sharp truth of God’s Word. It’s the truth that will set you free.

Not only is knowledge of God’s Word missing, but obedience to that Word. There’s not much action taking place.

When revival came to believers in China, the result was thousands of evangelists being sent out to all corners of the nations, carrying fire from the alter of God with them. When God moves in the West, it seems you want to stop and enjoy His presence and blessings to long, and build an alter to your experiences.

You can never really know the Scriptures until you are willing to be changed by them.

All genuine revivals of the Lord result in believers responding with action and soul winning. When God truly moves in your heart you cannot remain silent. There will be a fire in your bones, like Jeremiah, who said, "His Word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Jeremiah 20:9

Furthermore, it’s only when we step out in obedience and share the gospel with people that we come to know God’s blessing in every area of our lives. That is why the Apostle Paul wrote to his co-worker Philemon, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." Philemon vs. 6

I’ve seen people in the Western churches worshipping as if they’re already in heaven. Then someone invariably brings a comfortable message like, "My children, I love you. Don’t be afraid, I’m with you." I’m not opposed to such words, but why is it that nobody seems to hear a Word from the Lord like, "My child, I want to send you to the slums of Asia or the darkness of Africa to be my messenger to the people dying in their sin"?

Multitudes of church members in the West are satisfied with giving their minimum to God, not their maximum. I’ve watched men and women during offering time in church. They open their fat wallets and search for the smallest amount they can give. This type of attitude will never do! Jesus gave His while life for us, and we give as little of our lives, time, and money as we can back to God. What a disgrace! Repent!

Just because you have a church building doesn’t necessarily mean Jesus is with you. He is not welcome in many churches today. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me."

Often this verse is used as an invitation for salvation, but actually the context Jesus was speaking in was very different. He was standing outside the door of the church in Laodicea, knocking to get in!