The Best Prescription

What if I told you that there was a prescription available that, if taken on a weekly basis, could elongate your life expectancy by seven years, significantly increase your chances of happiness, and substantially reduce the likelihood that you will suffer from depression? What if I further told you that the known side effects of this prescription are: A greater sense of meaning, greater likelihood of volunteering and being an asset to your community, and a higher probability that you will be more generous toward those in need?  Would you be interest in such a prescription? It will not come to you in a pill or capsule form. The prescription: Attending church once a week or more.

Before I share with you some interesting data, please understand that those of us who attend church on a weekly basis do not need this extra impetus. Acts 2:42 says of the newly-baptized followers of Jesus in the New Testament, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”  The author of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:24-25 writes, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  That’s more than enough to put me in my place each Lord’s Day.

Here is what is interesting. I recently read a book by Rebecca McLaughlin entitled, How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life.  Rebecca is a Duke University and Oxford educated scholar and a prolific author. In this book, she leans heavily on the research of Tyler VanderWeele, Professor of Epidemiology in the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. VanderWeele is a world class epidemiologist with additional degrees in mathematics and philosophy from Harvard and Oxford. To say that this book is drenched in data would be an understatement. As Dr. VanderWeele says, “Christianity is not simply a matter of weak-minded individuals gullibly believing a series of nonsensical stories. There is serious evidence that lends substantial credibility to the Christian faith.” Likewise, there is serious evidence that supports the value of church attendance.

Simply put, study after study (the book, published by the Gospel Coalition through Crossway, with all accompanying documentation is available on amazon.com) has shown that people who attend religious services once a week or more are happier, healthier, and longer-lived that those who do not. This book outlines the fact that consistent church attendance has substantiated physical, mental, moral, and spiritual health benefits. So many people are hurting today, and in many cases it is because of a lack of connection, community, and purpose. Being part of a church can be helpful in all of those areas.

It was enlightening to look at some of this evidence. This evidence is compelling enough that Dr. VanderWeele says that “any educated person should at some point, have critically examined the claims for Christianity and should be able to explain why he or she does, or does not, believe them.”  These physical, mental, moral, and spiritual health benefits are all tied to the atoning death of Jesus on the cross for our sins. Understanding our complete forgiveness because of the sacrifice of Christ cures our moral illness and lost condition.

Superficial fixes only get us so far.  We come to church and we are exposed to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. We come to church and have teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Those things, designed by our Creator, speak to the deepest issues of our lives and bring transformation through Jesus.

This one has an easy action step. Will you accept the prescription?  We meet at 9:00 and 10:30 each Sunday. There is no substitute for it.  See you Sunday!