Q: Do you think the world is getting more hostile toward religion, particularly Christianity? I just read an article in a major magazine that was a subtle attack on Christians and the Bible, and it seems like this goes on much more often than it used to. - Mrs. M.L.

A: You may be right; it's not unusual today for religious people (especially Christians) to be mocked or scorned because of their faith. And even when they aren't openly attacked, their moral and spiritual values are rejected.

I often think in this connection of one of Jesus' parables. (You can read it in Matthew 13:24-30.) In it, He told about a farmer who sowed wheat seed in his field - only to have an enemy come along and secretly sow seed from weeds. Only when both seeds sprouted and grew was it clear what had happened - and the only solution was to let them grow together until harvest, when they could be separated and the weeds destroyed. This, Jesus said, is like the world we live in: Good and evil will both grow stronger, until God judges the world and all evil is destroyed.

Does this mean we should just sit back and not worry about those who oppose the Gospel or promote immorality? No, of course not. Jesus said we should be like salt and light to a decaying and dark world (see Matthew 5:13-16). The Bible also calls us to be "blameless and pure... without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (Philippians 2:15).

Pray for our nation, and pray for those who are seeking to uphold righteousness. Pray too that your life will be an example to others of Christ's love and transforming power.

Q: Which is more important in God's eyes - what we do (that is, our actions) or the reason why we're doing it (our motives)? My cousin and I are having a friendly argument about this, and I'd be interested to know what you think. - J.McK.

A: Sometimes I compare questions like this to the old question about which wing of an airplane is more important. The answer, of course, is that one wing is just as important as the other, because both are necessary for the plane to fly. The same is true about our actions and our motives.

Let me explain. What we do is very important in God's eyes; He is certainly concerned about the way we live. Much of the Bible, in fact, gives us instructions on how we ought to live. The reason is because God loves us and knows what is best for us - and He knows that when we disobey His commands, we'll only end up in sorrow and ruin. The Bible says, "Obey the Lord.... Then it will go well with you" (Jeremiah 38:20).

But God is equally concerned about our motives. If we do the right thing but do it for the wrong reason, then God is not pleased. It shows that our hearts aren't right, and that we're serving ourselves instead of God. Some in Jesus' day did many good deeds, but He said they were like impressive tombs - beautiful on the outside but corrupt within, because their motives weren't right (see Matthew 23:27).

The real question, however, is this: Who is in control of your life? Is it Christ - or are you still clinging to your old ways of living? Open your heart to Him, and let Him begin to change both your motives and your behavior.

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 www.billygraham.org.