Answers

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

My late father claimed to be a Christian, but he was a very prejudiced person. Wasn't it wrong of him to be like this?

I don't like to admit this, but my late father was a very prejudiced person. I suppose it was because of his background, but he was always making disparaging remarks about people of other races or ethnic backgrounds. He claimed to be a Christian, but wasn't it wrong for him to be like this?

What can you do if someone refuses to forgive you?

What can you do if someone refuses to forgive you? I know I've hurt my brother-in-law, and I feel bad about it, but he won't even speak to me now, let alone forgive me. Aren't we supposed to forgive others when they hurt us?

I work in our county's department of social services, and I see families all the time who've been torn apart because of a gambling addiction.

I work in our county's department of social services, and I wish you would say something about the dangers of getting addicted to gambling. I see families all the time who've been torn apart because of a gambling addiction, but no one likes to talk about this since gambling has become so accepted.

The laziest person in our office is also the one who talks the most about being a devout Christian. Isn't she wrong to be so lazy?

The laziest person in our office is also the one who talks the most about being a devout Christian. She's always showing up late and leaving early, and is a genius at getting others to do her work. Isn't she wrong to be so lazy? Frankly, I don't like hypocrites.

I hate myself for this, but I just can't stay away from the porn sites on the Internet. God must be very disappointed in me.

I hate myself for this, but I just can't stay away from the porn sites on the Internet. God must be very disappointed in me. I don't know why I'm writing you, but no one knows I have this problem and it feels good to share it with someone.

I thought moving to a big city would solve my problems, but I haven't made even one good friend. Have I made a mistake?

I thought moving to a big city and getting a job there would solve all my personal problems, so that's what I did. It was exciting at first, but I haven't made even one good friend here, and I'm so lonely I don't know what to do. Have I made a mistake?

Does doubt come from the devil, or do we have doubts because of something that's wrong in our hearts?

Where does doubt come from? Does it come from the devil, or do we have doubts because of something that's wrong in our hearts? I'd be interested in your answer because I've struggled with doubt most of my life, although I know I'm a Christian.

I've been unemployed for over a year, and I've given up even looking for a job. How can I get out of this pit?

I've been unemployed for over a year, and I've given up even looking for a job. My life seems so hopeless. All I do is sit around the house and watch television while my wife nags me to get a job. How can I get out of this pit?

Our 6-year-old son asked us this: "If God created everything, then who created God?"

Our 6-year-old son asked us a question we couldn't answer, and we'd like to know what you'd say. His question was this: If God created everything, then who created God? He sincerely wants to know.

How can we help our children see the real meaning of Christmas, without sounding like we're against all the things that excite them about the holidays?

Our two children are getting very excited about Christmas right now (which is understandable, of course). But how can we help them also see the real meaning of Christmas, without sounding like we're against all the things that excite them about the holidays?

I often get myself into trouble because I don't like people telling me what to do. Why am I like this?

I wish I understood myself better, because I'd like to work on my faults and become a better person. For instance, I often get myself into trouble because I don't like people telling me what to do, and when they do, I react and do the opposite (even if they're right). Why am I like this?

Every year about this time, we get lots of letters from charities. How can we know which ones we ought to support?

Every year about this time, we get lots of letters from charities and religious organizations asking for money. I'm sure most of them do good work, but how can we know which ones we ought to support? We aren't wealthy, but we do try to give as much as we can.