For those of you who haven't heard already, Chuck Colson died over the weekend. Chuck was Special Counsel to President Nixon and did hard-time for his involvement in the the Watergate scandal. Just prior to doing time, Chuck had a "Road to Damascus" conversion and began following Christ. After his prison stay he started Prison Fellowship and became a highly successful author of Christian books. Chuck's writings played a huge role in my initial conversion and continue to this day. I would like to share a couple snippets from two of Chuck's books where he talks about something he and all true followers of Christ know better than anything else--sin.
I spoke to between three and four hundred excited inmates jammed in the chapel that morning, many apparently serious believers. Five minutes into my talk I asked them the question that had struck me that morning, "Okay, now, you fellows that are in here, you are the experts. Why is it that we as a nation are filling so many prisons?"
Dozens among the guys sitting there in their blue denim uniforms began shouting out, "Sin!" The word became a ringing chorus. "Sin!" I was stunned. I can't imagine any other audience where, if I asked that question, I would get that answer. These men had lived it though. They know the truth. (p. 75, The Faith)
That's an amazing share from Colson. BTW: If you read anything from the MSM regarding the life of Chuck Colson, just remember, they can only write about that which they know something about--and they know nothing about true Christian conversion; therefore, you will read about how he "turned to religion" instead of how he was "called by Jesus Christ."
One of Colson's gifts was the ability to reveal Gospel truths when faith intersected with politics and culture. In How Now Shall We Live? (the devotional), Chuck tackles the issue that secular-minded folks have with sin:
Utopianism is one of the most pervasive myths of our age. It lies at the heart of the great "isms" of the twentieth century, from National Socialism to Marxism. Utopianism denies the biblical doctrine of sin by defining the human dilemma not as moral rebellion against God but as ignorance, poverty, or oppression. The answer, then, is simply better education, income redistribution, or political reforms.
The promise is that if we reform unjust social structures, natural human goodness will flourish. (p. 335)
Thank you God for glorifying your Son by shining your light through Chuck. You have blessed me and will (God willing) bless those who read Brother Colson's works.
It is common to use the "RIP" abbreviation for the deceased, but Biblically-literate Christians [There is no other kind of Christian.] know that there will be no rest for those who are saved, for there will be nothing but work serving and worshipping Christ (Revelation 22:3). Our lives are supposed to be a reflection of that service. Chuck Colson provided a glimpse--and an example (1 Corinthians 11:1) of how now we as Christians shall live...and in the ever after.
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