Christians Do Good Out of Fear of Punishment?

By Billy Graham, Christian Post Guest Columnist Saturday, December 10, 2011

Q: I think the only reason you Christians try to be good is because you're afraid God will punish you if you aren't good. Well, that doesn't wash with me since I'm an atheist. I try to do good just because it's the best thing to do, both for me and for society. What do you think of that? -- P. McD.

A: I'm thankful at least that you want to be a good person; not all atheists have been this way. For example, have you ever faced honestly the evils that were done in the name of atheism just in the last century (in Russia or China, for example)?

But I reject your claim that Christians do good because they're afraid God will punish them if they don't. This suggests to me that you've only studied Christianity from a distance -- that is, that you've never had any close friends who were Christians, or that you've never worked alongside any Christians in a homeless shelter or after-school tutoring program (to take two examples at random).

If you had, you couldn't help but conclude that they were acting out of love, not fear. The Bible says, "For Christ's love compels us. ... that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again" (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

The greatest truth anyone will ever know is that God not only exists, but that He loves us and wants to come into our lives and change us. And this can happen to you, as you face honestly who Jesus is and what He can do in your life. Don't go through life with a closed mind. Instead, I challenge you to ask God to show you not only if He exists, but also if Jesus is worthy of your commitment.

Affectionately known as the "World's Preacher" for more than 60 years, the Rev. Billy Graham is one of the most influential and respected spiritual leaders of the 20th century. He has been a friend and spiritual advisor to ten American presidents and has preached the Gospel to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history - nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories - through various meetings. Hundreds of millions more have been reached through television, video, film, and webcasts. Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: www.billygraham.org.