Answers

Read thoughtful responses to a wide assortment of questions from Billy Graham’s My Answer column and other resources.

How do you know whether or not a person really believes in God?

How do you know whether or not a person really believes in God? My friend says he met God a few months ago, but it hasn't made any difference in his life that I can tell. When I said something to him about it he just got upset and told me to mind my own business.

I wish I could go back and make things right with my mother, but I can't because she died.

My mother and I always had a very rocky relationship. But now that she's gone I feel very guilty, because I discovered after she died that she'd been severely abused as a child, and this was probably why she had so many problems. I wish I could go back and make things right, but I can't. Maybe if you print my letter it'll help someone else.

Why should I bother with church? I don't need to go to church to be a good Christian, do I?

I know I am a Christian, but I just don't feel at home in most of the churches I've been to. Getting dressed up and smiling at people I don't know and everything like that seems so phony to me. Why should I bother with church? I don't need to go to church to be a good Christian, do I?

Why don't churches try to get some of their members to visit lonely people in nursing homes?

Every time I visit my grandmother in her nursing home I come away saddened because so many of the people there are lonely and never have anyone visit them. Why don't churches try to get some of their members to do this? I know they'd be appreciated.

How can someone who's very nice one minute explode in anger the next?

How can someone who's very nice one minute explode in anger the next? I have a cousin like this. He's very active in his church and I have no reason to doubt his faith, but it's like walking on thin ice to be around him because you never know what will set him off.

Would it be wrong for me to suggest that my son and his family of four move out of my house?

My son and his family moved in with me when he lost his job. But now that he has a good job they don't show any signs of moving, and I'm afraid he's just taking advantage of me. I'm a widow and not in the best of health, and with their three young children and two dogs packed into the house, it's hard on me. Would it be wrong for me to suggest they move?

Since committing my life to Christ, I no longer like to do the things my husband does (like spend time in bars and casinos), and we're just drifting apart. Should I leave him?

I committed my life to Jesus a couple of years ago through a Bible study some friends invited me to, and He has really changed my life. But my husband has no interest in God, and since I no longer like to do the things he does (like spend time in bars and casinos), we're just drifting apart. Should I leave him? We just don't have anything in common.

I haven't lived up to what I know Jesus expects of me, and now I'm afraid I've lost my salvation. How can I get it back?

I asked Jesus to come into my life at a church camp this past summer, but I'm not sure if He's still there. I haven't lived up to what I know He expects of me, and now I'm afraid I've lost my salvation. How can I get it back?

I know the Bible says we ought to help the poor, and I guess I agree with that, but can't governments do this better than churches?

I know the Bible says we ought to help the poor, and I guess I agree with that, but can't governments do this better than churches? It'll take a lot of money to fight poverty in places like Africa, for example, and churches simply don't have that kind of money.

How can I break through my husband's shell and make him see he needs to give his life to Jesus?

My husband admits he isn't a Christian, and he doesn't seem to care. I try to talk to him about his need for Jesus just about every day, but all I usually get are a few grunts. How can I break through his shell and make him see he needs to give his life to Jesus?

A friend of mine just laughs when I tell him he needs to give his life to Christ or he won't go to heaven.

A friend of mine just laughs when I tell him he needs to give his life to Christ or he won't go to heaven. He says he'll just take his chances, and in the meantime, he says he's going to have a lot more fun in life than I will. How can I answer him?

The fact that I'll never see my husband again hit me so hard that I can't get over it. I didn't think Christians were supposed to react this way.

My husband died about four months ago, and I thought I was handling it very well until the holidays came. The fact that I'll never see him again hit me so hard that I can't get over it. I didn't think Christians were supposed to react this way, since we know our loved one is in heaven.