Answers

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

I'm facing cancer and I know my time on earth could be limited. What do I have to do to go to heaven?

What do I have to do to go to heaven? I've always tried to be a good person and help other people, but now I'm facing cancer and I know my time on earth could be limited. I'm not sure I'm ready to die.

I can't have faith in God or believe without proof. Can you prove the existence of God?

Can you prove the existence of God? I admire people who take their religion seriously (especially when they try to help others and live a good life). But I can't have their faith in God or believe in something I can't prove.

I always end up breaking my New Year's resolutions. What's wrong with me?

I didn't even bother to make any New Year's resolutions this year because I never can keep them. Every year, I'll make a long list of things I'd like to change about my life, but after a few weeks I usually break my resolutions. What's wrong with me? My friends don't seem to have this problem.

I've been diagnosed with cancer and only have about a 30 percent chance of survival. I've never bothered with God but is it too late?

I'm really in shock, because the doctor just told me I have cancer and now the surgery is scheduled for early next week. He says I only have about a 30 percent chance of survival. I've never bothered with God but is it too late? I know I shouldn't have ignored Him but I did.

Is the devil real? I suppose you'll say he is, but I've always been skeptical about the existence of the devil.

Is the devil real? I suppose you'll say he is, but I've always been skeptical about the existence of the devil. I think instead that evil is kind of a force, somewhat like gravity or magnetism. Sometimes I wonder if I'm right, however, when I see all the bad things in the world.

It's been a hard year financially for our family, and I don't see how we can afford to pledge anything towards our church's annual budget fund. Would this be wrong?

Every year about this time our church has a special drive to collect financial pledges for the coming year's budget. But it's been a hard year financially for our family, and I don't see how we can afford to pledge anything. Would this be wrong?

I totaled my car in a very bad accident, but I escaped with only a few bruises. Was God trying to get my attention or something?

I totaled my car in a very bad accident driving home from college at Christmas, but I escaped with only a few bruises. The highway patrolman said I was really lucky to be alive. Was God trying to get my attention or something?

Are cults still popular?

Are cults still popular? It seems like we used to hear about them a lot more than we do today. Are people more on guard against them than they used to be, or is there some other explanation?

My boyfriend says he'll stop drinking if we get married, but my parents don't believe him and are strongly opposed to our relationship.

My boyfriend says he'll stop drinking if we get married, but my parents don't believe him and are strongly opposed to our relationship. I love him very much, but I promised my folks I'd write you to see what you would say.

I don't think it's wrong to shade the truth a little bit when it isn't going to make any difference, as long as it doesn't do any harm.

What is your definition of a lie? Personally I don't think it's wrong to shade the truth a little bit when it isn't going to make any difference, as long as it doesn't do any harm, but I suppose you wouldn't agree.

Why should I believe something just because it's in the Bible?

I know you constantly tell people to believe the Bible, but why should I believe something just because it's in the Bible? You'll probably say I ought to believe it because it's God's Word, but I'm not sure I believe that.

One of my relatives said I have a God-given responsibility to vote. Is he right?

One of my relatives got very upset at me when I told him the other day that I didn't vote in the last election because I thought it was a waste of time. I admit I'm cynical about politics and politicians, but he said I have a God-given responsibility to vote. Is he right?