Does Church Attendance Have Value?

Suicide and overdoses continue to increase, and we often wonder what we, as believers in Jesus, can do about it. Amazingly, we CAN do something effective. I won’t keep you in suspense; it’s going to church once a week!

I recently read “Does Religion Prevent Despair?” in THE EPOCH TIMES, and I’d like to share some of the results of studies done to answer that question. As it turns out, many scientists have explored that very subject.

When I was a child and then a young married, we knew that we had to get groceries and gas on Saturday because no stores or service stations would be open on Sunday. It was just a fact of life, such as department stores now not being open from 10 at night till 10 in the morning. The laws covering those restrictions were called “blue laws.” They no longer exist, except for a few places that limit alcohol sales on Sunday mornings.

The author, Zrinka Peters, points out the increases in suicide and overdoses since those laws were repealed. Perhaps many people went to church because there was nothing else to do on Sundays! But whatever the reason, depression, suicide, alcoholism, and drug overdoses continue to increase.

A 2022 study done by economists from Wellesley College, University of Notre Dame, and Ohio State University (which are not, you will notice, necessarily religious institutions) concluded that there was a direct correlation to the repeal of “blue laws” and the increase in “deaths of despair.”

Also drawing from a 2018 Harvard study, Peters concludes that “attending a religious service at least once a week is associated with greater life satisfaction, more frequent volunteering, a higher sense of mission, a greater tendency to forgive others,” and more.

Obviously we don’t want to attend worship services just to be mentally healthy, but that is a great side effect! We can encourage friends and relatives to join us on Sundays to learn more about Jesus and to meet other believers. Both the socialization and spiritual activities will contribute to better mental health as we draw closer to God and each other.

That fits with Central’s 2023 theme of “All in!” Attending on Sunday mornings shows that we are all in for Christ, our church, and our community. And we reap health benefits as well!