I’ve heard people say that worship and prayer is a waste of time. Better to use the time for ‘something more constructive or useful’. But are these skeptics right? I don’t think so for a number of reasons. But here’s a new one that I have just come across.
I was listening to an interview with Professor Harold Koenig who is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Associate Professor of Medicine on the faculty at Duke University in the United States. He was talking about the effects of religious belief on people’s physical and mental health.
He stated that the latest scientific research shows that people who are actively involved in a faith community and who are attending church at least one or more times a week live longer than people who are not involved in religious activities of that nature.
One study indicates that people who are involved in such activities weekly, or more frequently, have an increased life expectancy of seven years compared to those who do not attend religious services.
Professor Koenig said that it is pretty impressive when you consider some of the findings about longevity. One of the largest studies that has been done indicates that men who attend religious services weekly or more often, who don’t smoke, who are married, and have 12 years of education, have an average lifespan of 84 years, which is 10 years longer than the average lifespan for men in the United States; and for women it works out at 86 years which is also longer than the average lifespan for women in United States.
Working with rough figures; if you spend about two hours a week worshipping God (I’m thinking Orthodox!), this equates to about 100 hours a year. So if you live to 84, that equates to 8,400 hours in your whole lifetime, assuming you attend church every week. There are 8,760 hours in a year. So for an investment of one year’s worth of time in worshipping God, it seems that we get 7 to 10 years back!!! That sounds like a good investment to me!!
Of course, what Professor Koenig and others are learning now, confirms what has been known since ancient times. Read Proverbs 10:28 in the Orthodox Study Bible (which is based on the Septuagint); “The fear of the Lord increases days, but the years of the ungodly will be shortened”. (If you are using a Bible based on the Masoretic text you will need to look at Proverbs 10:27).
Also; ”The fear of the Lord will cheer the heart and will give gladness, joy, and long life.” Wisdom of Sirach 1:10 Orthodox Study Bible
And; “The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and soundeness of health to flourish”. Wisdom of Sirach 1:16 Orthodox Study Bible
And I haven’t even talked about the eternal benefits and consequences of being connected to God!
If you want to hear more about this go to; http://www.publicchristianity.org/news.html
Then go to; CPX Podcast iTunes or Non iTunes (on the left hand side) and listen to the whole interview
