Youve probably heard the following statistics:
Avoid riding in automobiles …because theyre responsible for …20 percent of all fatal accidents.
Dont stay home because …17 percent of all fatal …accidents occur in the home.
Avoid walking on streets …or sidewalks because 14 …percent of all accidents …occur to pedestrians.
And most of all stay out of …hospitals they account for …32 percent of all deaths!
Youll be pleased to learn that only .001% of all deaths occur in worship services, and these are usually related to previous physical disorders. Therefore, logic tells us that the safest place for you to be at any given point in time is at church!
I say this tongue in cheek, because logic also tells you that you have to walk, drive, or take public transportation to and from church, so this adds a dimension of danger. However, many studies have validated that people dedicated to regular church attendance increase the odds on living a longer and healthier life than those who never attend church. I would suggest there are a number of reasons for this.
Attending church regularly reminds us that we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. We take some time to forget about our personal problems and enjoy our relationship with God, receiving his Word and Spirit in our worship. We are renewed in our faith, hope and love for God and for each other.
We, collectively, are the body of Christ, dedicated to sharing His love and His life with others. And finally, were reminded that we have a purpose to love others and to make disciples.
I believe the author of the book of Hebrews understood this when he wrote:
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 anotherand all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Ive always heard that regular exercise, healthy eating habits and proper amount of sleep were the top three life-sustaining activities. To that, I can now add attending church.