In Today's News - Sin Brings Death

I was struck by this news story intro:

“WASHINGTON (Reuters) – AIDS, smoking and obesity are reversing progress made in helping people live longer around the world, with mortality rates worsening over the past 20 years in 37 countries, researchers reported on Thursday.”

You can, of course, draw your own conclusions here, but my first thought was, a little restraint of our fleshly desires would go a long way toward living longer … and in my humble opinion, better. I know it's old fashioned and out of vogue, but temperance as a virtue, even setting aside the moral implications, apparently also has tangible, temporal benefits too.

AIDS: Would not controlling sexual appetites, especially for same-sex sex, eliminate this? Instead of pretending the problem is lack of con-dumb education or distribution, call it what it is, a lack of self-control, over indulging our fleshly appetites.

Smoking: I mean, come on, it's been a long time since the advertisements touting the health benefits of cigarettes. Anyone at this point still chain smoking their way through a two packs a day habit (see also addiction, bondage) might be a candidate for the “Darwin Awards”. At least smoking, unlike the leading cause of AIDS, can still be called a vice without bringing down the wrath of the “PC” police.

Obesity: For God sake, turn off the computer, put down the biggie fries and 32oz drink, and go for a walk. I know that I am oversimplifying here. There are genetic considerations, but I really don't believe that 60% of our population, the percentage of obese Americans as stated in the article, is genetically predisposed to obesity.

It is such a shame, and yet such an opportunity, that all three leading causes of dying before your time are so preventable.

As long as I'm using old fashioned terms like temperance and morals any way, let me use another not often use word to describe a whole host of physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually destructive behaviors … you're not going to like this … I mean, you're really not going to like this … they are simply called sin. Thousands of years ago God Himself warned us of the sin/death connection:

“Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ”
1 James 1:15 (NIV)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Words from two thousand years ago confirmed in today's new paper. Forgo a few things like sex with people you are not married to, drunkenness, and gluttony (yes gluttony, don't pretend you haven't heard of that one), and show a little self-control, and you might live longer.