Is church good for you? Yes it is

It was 15 years ago that we witnessed the evil that brought down the Twin Towers in New York City. For a brief moment in time, Americans stood united, stunned, and vigilant in the face of tragedy. Many attended church for the first time in years just after the events of 9/11. What were they looking for if not for answers to evil, to suffering, to find some solace in the midst of unspeakable pain or uncertainty?

Church alone is not the answer to evil. Nor is it the answer to our yearning for peace within. Rather, it is only genuine faith in the Prince of Peace that brings hope to the hopeless. In the midst of our chaotic lives, He promises to give us life and to give it more abundantly. Ironically, the very evil that we saw that day was not any different than what was perpetrated upon Christ on a Roman cross two millennia ago.

What do you look for in church? Perhaps you go once or twice a year. Maybe you went to church as a child and found yourself bored, unchallenged, or simply grew weary of all those people who pretended to have it all together.

Here’s my challenge to you; give church another try. Believe it or not, going to church is good for you. People who attend church live an average of seven years longer. What’s more, they are more content, less stressed, less depressed, more socially engaged, and divorce less often. Who knew that attending church could boost your immune system and decrease blood pressure, too?

If you feel burned by church, hated it as a kid, or simply found it too boring in the past, I want to encourage you to give it another try. What do you have to lose? There are many great churches in North Idaho to choose from.

In spite of its detractors, the church has done more good for the world than any other institution in human history. And for those who are afraid churches are full of hypocrites and imposters, maybe in some instances that’s true; church is made up of people, people with flaws, people with problems, people looking for answers to life’s most pressing questions.

Got church? We hope you will this coming week.

Eric Rust is the pastor of Cedar Hills Church. He can be reached at cedarhillschurch.com.