Human Health & the Gifts of the Christian Life

Measures of mental health have dropped sharply in Western nations over the past decade, especially among youth. The size and speed of these changes are breathtaking – including dramatic increases in anxiety, depression, and suicide.

These trends carry immense impact in themselves. They also appear as surface indicators of a deeper unwellness – a widespread fracturing of human well-being.

As Dallas Willard explains, the soul is the deepest part of us. It integrates our whole being: body, intellect, emotions, relationships, and spiritual life. When these parts are all aligned and working toward unified ends, we thrive. When they aren’t, we wither.

The dis-integration of a soul is never an isolated matter. As an individual soul fractures, the effects ripple outward into further disintegrations – from friendships and families to institutions to the civic life of nations.

What factors drive this Great Dis-integration and how it might be reversed are among the most important questions of our day. No doubt many ingredients contribute and many solutions are needed. Still, we must not miss potential solutions simply because they appear commonplace or promise no pill-like cure.

Simple practices of the Christian faith, flowing from Scripture and engaged across 2,000 years, deserve special attention. As an array of empirical studies now show, these deceptively familiar habits carry significant, measurable benefits to mental health and many other aspects of well-being. These benefits come without financial cost or unwanted side effects and endure long after a pill would have worn off.

To be sure, Christians do not do these things merely for health. We do them because we believe God invites us to, and we enter His life more fully as we do. But in an era marked by dis-integration, these very ordinary Christian practices offer extraordinary gifts. As gravity pulls outward and apart, these simple actions pull inward and together – to the reintegration of the soul … and also ultimately of families, communities, institutions, and perhaps even nations.

Biblically-Rooted & Empirically-Confirmed Practices

Community

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” –Acts 2:42

Loneliness has risen dramatically in recent decades. This carries severe consequences for human health, from anxiety to aggression to physical disease. A 2015 study found the impact of regular loneliness equaled smoking 15 cigarettes each day. In contrast, relational connection with others benefits mental health and other measures of well-being at every stage of life, from neural development in infants to resilience in youth to life satisfaction and longevity in later years. People who regularly attend religious services have less stress and a 55% decrease in mortality and notably lower “deaths of despair,” including suicide.

Singing & Worship

“…With singing lips, my mouth will praise You.” –Psalm 63:5

Studies reveal that singing reduces stress hormones, elevates the immune system, increases endorphins and pain tolerance, stimulates feelings of well-being and connection to others, prevents depression, and boosts mood and other mental health outcomes. Likewise, worship of God – alongside its spiritual significance – is shown to carry great benefit to psychological, physical, and relational well-being also.

Prayer

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God…will guard your hearts…” –Philippians 4:6-7

Scripture presents prayer as an act pregnant with meaning and power. It aligns our will with God’s and invites His concrete action. Yet studies suggest that prayer – particularly to a God who is loving and good – carries other effects, too. These include increased optimism and less depression, greater emotional regulation, and decreases in anxiety, stress response, and anxiety-related disorders, including worry, fear, and social anxiety.

Receiving God's Gifts in Nature

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” –Psalm 19:1

Humans receive a vast array of gifts from time in nature, including reduced blood pressure and muscle tension… boosted cognition and creativity… reductions in anxiety and depression… decreased need for mental health medications… and much more. A 2020 meta-study found that as little as ten minutes in a natural setting can “significantly and positively” boost mental well-being. These effects endure, with children who spend significant time in nature having measurably more positive mental health as adults.

Giving Thanks

“Always give thanks to God the Father for everything…” –Ephesians 5:20

The simple act of expressing gratitude carries diverse and powerful benefits. These include reduced anxiety, and depression; greater happiness and emotional well-being; improved sleep; increased enthusiasm, energy,, and attentiveness; better physical health – both subjectively and objectively; stronger connections with others and a happier marriage; increased resilience and capacity to overcome trauma, and much more. Remarkably, practices of gratitude producing these outcomes are often simple daily or once-a-week practices. In one study, just writing a few sentences of thanks weekly boosted happiness and reduced physical pains and doctor visits.

Serving Others

“…Use whatever gift you have received to serve others…” –1 Peter 4:10

We serve a self-giving God, who calls us to do the same. Alongside the good this brings to others, great benefit comes to givers also. Studies confirm Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Even very small acts of service can reduce social anxiety, boost happiness, well-being, life satisfaction, and more.

Other Small Things that Make a Big Difference

Christian thought and practice affirm an array of other ways that God cares for His creatures. Though not “religious” activities, they flow naturally from Scripture’s view of humankind and the countless ways that all the parts of a human being intertwine and affect all the others. Research reveals that these remarkably undramatic choices can make an immense difference for mental health outcomes and much more besides.

Adequate Sleep

“In vain you rise early and stay up late…for He grants sleep to His beloved.” –Psalm 127

In addition to the impact of sleep on our physical bodies, studies suggest that there may be no single factor more consequential to long-term mental health than simply getting adequate time and quality of sleep

Exercise & Physical Activity

“...Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…” –1 Corinthians 6:19

Sitting daily for long, unbroken periods causes immense harm to health over time, including mental health. Yet adding modest exercise to one’s routine – even just more frequent get-out-of-your-chair activity –boosts both physical and mental well-being greatly.

Healthy Food

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” –Psalm 34:8

Diets heavy in highly processed foods, saturated fats, and refined sugar sharply increase a vast array of negative outcomes. This impact is not just physical, but also includes anxiety, depression, and mental illness. Meanwhile, eating more fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods markedly improves both physical and mental health, even reducing stress and depression.

Tech Boundaries

“‘I have the right to do anything’”—but I will not be mastered by anything.” –1 Corinthians 6:19

Studies increasingly confirm strong links between high smartphone use and myriad ills, from anxiety and depression to diminished relationships to poor sleep. This impact is most dramatic for children and youth but affects every age group. Yet there’s very good news, too: reducing phone use and/or social media even moderately can swiftly and significantly boost well-being, life satisfaction, happiness, and more.