Chuck Colson (1931-2012): A Life Well-Lived

 

Colson’s advocacy for prisoners’ religious rights took an additional form in the late 1990s when he and Justice Fellowship were at the forefront, lobbying legislators to support the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), both nationally and state by state. Colson’s and Justice Fellowship’s work to bring an end to the national scourge and shame of prison rape culminated with the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act in 2003.

 

His 1987 book, Kingdoms in Conflict, was a best-selling directive to the Christian community on the proper relationships of church and state, and it positioned Colson as centrist evangelical voice for balanced Christian political activism. Although not as visible as others in the frontline battles, Colson provided counsel to many of the most-evident activists and had a strong influence on Christian politicians who went to Washington in the 80s, 90s and into the new millennium.

 

Recipient of the Templeton Prize

In recognition of his work among prisoners, Colson received the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1993, donating the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship. In perhaps his most-eloquent and well-known speech, The Enduring Revolution, given at acceptance ceremonies at the University of Chicago, Colson encouraged the Church in the face of troubling times:

“For history’s cadence is called with a confident voice. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob reigns. His plan and purpose rob the future of its fears. By the cross He offers hope, by the resurrection He assures His triumph. This cannot be resisted or delayed. Mankind’s only choice is to recognize Him now or in the moment of ultimate judgment. Our only decision is to welcome His rule or to fear it.”

 

Colson’s other awards included the Presidential Citizens Medal (2008, the second-highest U.S. civilian honor), Humanitarian Award from Domino’s Pizza Corporation (1991), The Others Award from the Salvation Army (1990), several honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities (1982-1995), and Outstanding Young Man of Boston from the Chamber of Commerce (1960).

 

Recognized as a champion for historic orthodoxy, Colson ignited a controversy in the Protestant world in the mid-1990s with his initiative to declare common ground with conservative Roman Catholics in two documents called Evangelicals and Catholics Together.

 

Provided Intellectual Support to Modern Evangelicalism

The evangelical-Catholic issue was just one in which Colson brought intellectual vitality to popular Evangelicalism in the last three decades. Many considered him a prophetic voice for the evangelical community, and, perhaps, an intellectual successor to theologian/sociologist Francis Schaeffer. Perhaps in open recognition of that legacy, his magnum opus was titled How Now Shall We Live? after Schaeffer’s How Then Shall We Live?

 

In all, Colson wrote more than 30 books, which have sold more than five million copies. His autobiographical book, Born Again, was one of the nation’s best-selling books of all kinds in 1976 and was made into a feature-length film. His last book, The Faith, is a powerful appeal to the Church to re-embrace the foundational truths of Christianity.

 

Colson was one of the Christian community’s most sought-after speakers, but he resolutely refused to establish a speaker’s fee. Colson donated all speaking honoraria and book royalties to the ministry and accepted the salary of a mid-range ministry executive.

 

In 1991 Colson launched BreakPoint, a unique radio commentary that provides a Christian perspective on today’s news and trends. BreakPoint was aired weekdays on some 1,400 outlets nationwide with an audience of 8 million listeners. But his heart was ever with the prisoner. He clearly never forgot the promise he’d made to his fellow inmates during his brief stay in prison that he would never forget those behind bars.

 

In his later years, Colson focused full time on developing other Christian leaders who could influence the culture and their communities through their faith. The capstone of this effort was The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, a research and training center launched in 2009 for the promotion of Christian worldview teaching. In addition to a vast library of worldview materials, the Colson Center provides online courses and serves as a catalyst for a growing movement of Christian organizations dedicated to impacting the culture.

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