Spirituality and Longevity – Is There a Connection?

Greeting friends! A recent Mayo Clinic health letter suggested that one of the best ways to improve your chances to live longer is to recognize the value of spirituality in your life. Nurture your spirit no matter what you call your source of inspiration advised the Mayo Clinic health letter. Duke University studied 4,000 people for four years and found that those who attended church weekly had a 28% lower mortality rate overall when compared to those who didn’t belong to a church community. The researchers also considered income, education, chronic diseases, other illnesses, health habits, exercise, smoking, drinking, body fat, social participation and psychological status. None of these factors explained the results. Church attendance was still an independent predictor and the strongest predictor of longevity. Other research has shown people who are regularly involved in religious and spiritual activities statistically live longer than those who are not. Various theories have been put forth to explain this spiritual dimension to longevity. Physical explanations include people who are involved in religious groups benefit from the social networks they form. If they get sick, others look out for them. Religious beliefs may also lead to less risky behavior. In addition, a well-developed sense of spirituality may help people better cope with life’s tough psychological demands. In a later study done by Duke University of 1,700 older Americans, researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that those who attend religious services had stronger immune responses. About 60% of the men and women surveyed attended religious services at least once a week. Blood tests showed that regular attendees were less likely to have a high level of an immune system protein involved in age-related diseases. This study suggests a direct positive effect. Physical explanations do not account for these findings.

The Bible makes an interesting statement regarding physical longevity. The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” The scripture also says in the book of Proverbs 3:1, “My son do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands. For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.” God’s commandment, when fully understood, is not only directed to our youth, but also all of us as the children of God. God is our heavenly Father. He directs us to pray to Him as “our Father which art in heaven.”

If you would like to know more about this commandment and your relationship to God as your heavenly Father, write or ask for Dr. Meredith’s recently released booklet, The Ten Commandments.

This has been Lambert Greer with a commentary for the Living Church of God.