MANSFIELD — Regularly attending worship services at a church or a synagogue may actually be a blessing in disguise. This is according to a recent study done by Vanderbilt University this past summer.
Associate Professor of Medicine, Health, and Society, Mr. Marino Bruce of Vanderbilt University found in a study that attending religious meetings where groups of people gather to worship can improve health, especially for age groups between 40-65 years. This age group reduced their risk for mortality by fifty percent while those who did not attend a worship service were twice as likely to die prematurely.
The study included 5,000 persons of varying socio-economic status and concluded that spiritual health appears to matter in respect to biological outcomes. Two contributing factors evaluated in the study included: compassion for others and being a part of a purpose greater than one’s self.
The study’s findings struck a chord with several area pastors who were not surprised.
Reverend DeWayne Smith from Main Street Methodist commented, “If we leave our health care issues up to Washington DC, the problem will not be solved. I strongly believe we should focus on community inside the church as this study suggests. This study does not surprise me, what does surprise me is that to some, this is a new revelation.
“We have a big contingent of parishioners that are leading strong and active lives through their golden years due in part, I believe, to their committed involvement in a faith community.”
Reverend Larry Hulver of the New Liberty Baptist Church, located at 2705 Lexington Avenue put it pure and simple: “The Bible knows about healthy living, inside and out. Worshipping our Creator is not a mundane thing, it really is sacred, and science is coming full circle with what the Bible has already said.”
reverend dewayne smith, main street united methodist
“Sometimes I feel that government officials and health professionals err on the secular side by favoring policies that do not correspond with faith to avoid the appearance of partiality to religion. Sadly it seems they nurse a grudge and would rather have premature death as the status quo in spite of what the Bible says and what empirical data is now suggesting.”
Hulver added, “Our Heavenly Father never desires persons to live outside a community. As a faith community, our congregation gives encouragement and strength thru Christ. We bear one another’s burdens, and we find spiritual and emotional longevity through the comfort of others. Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe that there is a correlation between being involved in a local community of believers and physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Reverend Smith whose congregation holds worship services at 230 South Main Street pointed out, “Sometimes I feel that government officials and health professionals err on the secular side by favoring policies that do not correspond with faith to avoid the appearance of partiality to religion. Sadly it seems they nurse a grudge and would rather have premature death as the status quo in spite of what the Bible says and what empirical data is now suggesting.”
Last year, twenty-seven leading clergymen throughout Richland County sent a letter to local health care stakeholders on National Family Health History Day, which is recognized every Thanksgiving Day. The letter made mention of a 2016 Harvard study of seventy-five thousand nurses over a twenty year period showing a correlation between worship service attendance and disease prevention.
Both clergy agree something can be said about holistic health and holiness. Now according to research, when people attend worship services, they really do get a clean bill of health.
The Bottom Line:
The Bible says in Colossians Chapter Three, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to GOD.”
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