Chuck Colson’s 50-year Legacy

How the political hatchet man and Watergate felon became a leader in bringing the gospel to prisoners and to others

If, in 1970, you were looking for the best candidate to launch a worldwide prison ministry, the very last
person you would have chosen was the political hatchet man then serving in the Nixon White House as special counsel to the President of the United States, Richard Nixon. Chuck Colson was a bare-knuckled political operative who once bragged that he’d “walk over his grandmother” if it meant winning an election.

Yet one night in 1972, Chuck Colson found himself in his car in the driveway of Tom Phillips, president of the Raytheon corporation. Phillips, a committed Christian, had just been reading C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity to Colson. These words were used by the Holy Spirit to penetrate Colson’s once hardened heart:

There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. … There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. … The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility.

Colson saw those words and felt as if Lewis were talking directly to him. In his car, he bowed his head and put his faith in Christ alone for salvation. Two years later, Colson was convicted of crimes and sent to prison for his role in the Watergate scandal. He served seven months in a federal prison camp in Alabama. Before he was released, a fellow inmate challenged him to remember those left behind bars and Chuck made a promise that he would. He spent the rest of his life fulfilling that promise.

In 1975, Colson began a small Bible study program in Washington, D.C. In August of 1976, he filed papers to launch Prison Fellowship, a non-profit ministry serving incarcerated men and women. That same year his book Born Again was released. Little did Colson know that God would use this disgraced political operative to launch the largest faith-based prison ministry in the world.

Chuck Colson believed in the power of the gospel to change lives because he experienced it in his own life.

Chuck Colson believed in the power of the gospel to change lives because he experienced it in his own life. Since 1976, Prison Fellowship has mobilized thousands of Christians to take the love and compassion of Christ behind bars, and it has had a significant impact in communities around the world. One Texas prison reported a 58% recidivism reduction after working with Prison Fellowship to install Prison Fellowship Academy. Joshua Smith, deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, recently said, “I’ve seen firsthand the impact that ministries like Prison Fellowship have on the inmate population.”

Chuck Colson could not have envisioned the impact his life would have after he was put in prison for Watergate. A few years before he died, he reflected: “It’s been a long time since the dark days of Watergate. I’m still astounded that God would take someone who was infamous in the Watergate scandal, soon to be a convicted felon, and take him into His family and then order his steps in the way He has with me.”

Colson lived a full life, before and after Watergate. He became an advisor to presidents and even received The Presidential Citizens Medal. Colson’s books sold in the millions and his voice was heard by Christians across the country, including the author of this column, who was inspired by his approach to Christianity and culture. But his greatest legacy is seen in the lives of men and women around the world, once shackled by sin and without hope, who know their Savior. Today, many ordinary Christians around the world now deliver gospel hope to inmates in jails and prisons.

Chuck Colson remained committed to work for those in prison, but he also became a major voice in the great cultural crisis of our times. He saw no conflict between the varied aspects of his ministry and mission. He had seen politics at its worst, yet he didn’t retreat from the public square. Today the need for Christian engagement and Christian ministry is even more urgent. Chuck Colson saw that need before many others—and left a legacy that continues.

 

Daniel Darling is the director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of several books, including The Dignity Revolution, Agents of Grace, and his forthcoming book, In Defense of Christian Patriotism. Dan is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Angela, have four children.

Wes Huff: Dealing with Misspeak, Overspeak, Failure and Just Getting It Wrong

"Sometimes I think of the things I’ve said publicly where I misspeak, overspeak, and just plain get it wrong, and I really struggle with those moments replaying in my head. James 3:2 reminds me that everyone stumbles repeatedly, and this universal experience isn’t hidden or shameful, it’s acknowledged as part of our humanity. This isn’t an excuse for those times, but reassurance not to dwell in them. 

"I need to be continually reminded that my identity in light of my inadequacy rests on God’s response to my failures. God compassionates those who fear him, knowing our fragile nature and that we are dust (Ps 103:10–14). Rather than withdrawing, God demonstrates his love by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8). This means acceptance precedes our improvement. God knows how truly inadequate and incompetent I am, and yet still accepts me. Not because of my successes and failures but in spite of them. 

"We should strive to get things right, do things well, and show competence. But rather than demanding perfection, Christ understands our struggles and invites us to approach God’s throne confidently to receive mercy and grace in our time of need when we inevitably fall short (Heb 4:15–16).

"Recovery from failure receives particular emphasis. The righteous fall repeatedly but rise again (Prov 24:16), and though the righteous fall, they won’t be destroyed because God holds them by the hand (Ps 37:23–24). God’s mercies are new each morning, and his faithfulness is great (Lam 3:22–23); suggesting that each day offers fresh opportunity regardless of yesterday’s failures.

"I need the constant encouragement to forget what lies behind and press forward toward the goal (Phil 3:13–14), indicating that dwelling on past mistakes contradicts the gospel’s forward momentum. I have made many mistakes. Some more public than others. I will continue to do so, but my prayer is that God and those around me give me grace in such instances. Look towards Jesus — the only one who got and gets it right every time."

 

 

by Wesley "Wes" Huff (born 1991) who is a Canadian Christian apologist, theologian, and historian specializing in ancient biblical manuscripts. He serves as the Central Canada Director for Apologetics Canada, and is widely recognized for his participation in public dialogues, debates, and events dealing with faith and cultural engagement.

Mere Complementarianism: A Must Read for a Such a Time as This

We highly recommend our ministry partner Denny Burk's new book, Mere Complementarianism: Male and Female in the
Image of God, It's a comprehensive guide to understanding the biblical doctrine of gender roles. It emphasizes the distinct yet complementary roles of men and women, aiming to clarify misconceptions surrounding complementarianism.

Denny opens his book with an excellent definition of complementarianism and what’s at stake in the debate that has surrounded it in recent decades:

“Complementarianism is a biblical doctrine defining the reality of, and relationship between, man and woman. It presupposes that a man is an image-bearer whose body is organized for reproducing as a father, and that a woman is an image-bearer whose body is organized for reproducing as a mother. A man has a body designed for siring. A woman has a body designed for bearing. They are the same in terms of their image-bearing, but they are different in terms of their reproductive design. Their sameness and their difference have necessary consequences for how they fulfill the respective callings that God puts upon their lives—necessary consequences for how they should relate to one another in marriage, in the church, and in the wider world. God calls the husband to be the head of his wife—a calling that requires leadership, protection, and provision. He calls the wife to be a helper who submits to the authority of her husband and who comes alongside him to assist in their mutual calling of ruling and subduing creation. While men and women are both gifted for ministry, God calls qualified men to be leaders in the church. These different callings do not make male and female contrary to one another. Rather, God designed our differences to make us complementary to one another. Our job as disciples of Christ requires us to understand these realities, to celebrate and affirm them, and to order our lives according to what God has revealed. 

The counterpoint to this view is egalitarianism, and while egalitarians affirm that both men and women are created in God’s image and have equal dignity and worth, they deny that a husband is called to lead his wife and that the church is to be led solely by qualified men. 

Burk’s goal in the book is to present a “mere” complementarianism, which is to say, “to explain and commend … what has been common to all complementarians at all times.” He also develops what he understands as the essential entailments of mere complementarianism while distinguishing them from what is merely optional or interpretive. Why? “There is a need for this today because critics of the teaching often confuse the essence with the accidents and, as a consequence, cause a good deal of confusion among those who are new to this teaching. If we could distinguish the essence of the teaching from that which is only incidental to it, we would be in a much better place to examine the teaching in light of the criticism that is sometimes leveled against it.”

He goes about his task in five chapters. In the first, he makes the case for complementarianism from Natural Law, showing that we can discover it through simply observing what God has created. 

In the second, he looks to Scripture to make the argument from Genesis’ account of God’s creative work. 

In the third chapter, he turns to the New Testament and the various texts there related to men’s and women’s distinct and complementary roles within marriage, 

In the fourth he does the same with the church. 

In the fifth and final chapter, he draws out some practical applications of the doctrine and answers questions like these: 

Who can preach on Sunday morning? Who can teach Sunday school? Can women be deacons? Who can teach at seminary? Does complementarianism foster abuse? He answers each of these contemporary questions thoroughly, but not exhaustively.

Burk does many things very well in this book, but two stand out. 

 First, he explains and defends the complementarian position from both Natural Law and Scripture. If you are new to the discussion or want to better understand the different positions, this will be a helpful resource. 

Second, he brings the discussion up to date by addressing some of the most recent challenges, such as whether a woman can speak from the pulpit on Mother’s Day or whether women can have the title of “pastor” even if they do not have authority over men. He remains firm in his positions, but charitable toward those who disagree with him, presenting their viewpoints with the accuracy they deserve. He insists rightly that this is a discussion between believers and not one that divides Christians from non-Christians.

Mere Complementarianism is a solid defense of a very defensible position. But more than that, it lays out a positive vision for complementarianism that will help Christians navigate issues in the home, the church, and far beyond.

THX to Tim Challies

Don't Hang in There

Have you ever been in the middle of a difficult season and someone says to you, "Hang in there!" Maybe you've said it to a friend just recently yourself.

I think we mean well with phrases like this, and our aim is to encourage our friends or loved ones, but let's be honest: "hang in there" doesn't actually do much to lift our spirits or strengthen our resolve.

If I can be even more honest, sometimes I think we say "hang in there" because we're not prepared to minister to people who share their suffering with us. So what should we say the next time someone opens up to us?

There are many things we can say, and we need to equip ourselves to comfort those in trouble (see 2 Corinthians 1:4). But, for the sake of today's devotional, I want to examine a phrase that has given me much comfort: "I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope." (Psalm 130:5)

"Hang in there" and "Wait for the Lord" are similar because they both encourage us to endure difficulty. However, there's a life-changing difference between the two: "Hang in there" hopes in the individual's resolve while "Wait on the Lord" hopes in God.

Why should you tell others to wait on the Lord? Here are four reasons (and I know you can find more in Scripture):

1. Love

The Lord is not simply a loving God; no, he is the definition, the essence, and the source of love (1 John 4:8,16). We can "hang in there" when life gets hard because our destinies are held in the hands of the One who is love. Everything we experience, no matter how hard, is a result of God's love in our life

2. Wisdom

Most people look for answers to life in experiences or research or data, but for the Christian, we find our wisdom for life in a relationship. The Lord is wisdom, just like he is love. That's why Paul tells our hearts to be encouraged in Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2:3)

3. Power

It may not seem like it during times of difficulty, but our God is a God of unchallenged rule. We're reminded of this so powerfully in Daniel 4:34-35 (print these verses out and post them in your house). We can "hang in there" when life gets hard because our stories are written by the One who is in absolute control of every element.

4. Grace

Grace, in this context, means God has given us everything we need to be what he wants us to be and to do what he calls us to do in the situation where he has placed us (2 Peter 1:3). We have a new identity and new potential, so we can face the difficulty realities of life without crumbling in fear

So, the next time a friend or loved one shares their suffering with you, don't advance the conversation with "hang in there." No, encourage them to wait on the Lord of love, wisdom, power and grace. Rather than being weakened by difficult circumstances, we can actually grow stronger as we wait!

Now that's a reason to hang in there!

by Dr. Paul David Tripp -- a pastor, international event speaker, and a best-selling and award-winning author. With more than 30 books and video series on Christian living, Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. https://www.paultripp.com/

Jesus: The Death Defeater

“It was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” – Acts 2:24

Death reigned as an undefeated champion over human history. He cast his dark and inevitable shadow over every passing day of every human life. 

Death was a champion that had no need to rush; he was more than willing to wait his time. When people became powerful or wealthy, Death did not mind. When people felt like they would live for ever, Death simply smiled. Like a stealthy predator crouching in the grass, he knew that all he had to do was wait. Every tick of the clock whispered the same reality—time will pass and then Death will come. That is just what it means to be human in a world under God’s curse. Death reigned.

Of course, Death had his limits; he could not touch the eternal Son of God who dwelt in immortality, but there was plenty of other work to get on with. Then, in an act of breathtaking sacrifice, God became man and entered this cursed world, placing himself in the firing line.

Death could hardly believe what he was seeing—what an opportunity to do some real damage. From the moment Jesus drew his first breath as a baby, Death was stalking him. The clock was ticking. Death was the inescapable end of the line.

There were a few moments in Jesus’ life that might have caused Death a brief wobble. On three separate occasions Jesus raised dead people back to life. This was certainly more power than Death was used to dealing with, but surely these were just blips. Jesus might have postponed Death for a few years but each of them would die again. Death remained confident and undefeated.

And then came the moment for Jesus. It was earlier than might naturally have been expected; Death came prematurely at the hands of violent men. But Death didn’t mind. Whether through violence or sickness or accident or age, Death always had the final word.

As Jesus hung on the cross gasping for air, Death was gleefully poised to gather in one more trophy. As Jesus breathed his final breath, Death stepped in to claim his prize. Like so many who had gone before, Jesus was simply the latest victim of the all-powerful reign of Death.

Tragic. A life ended too soon. So much potential. So much good that he could have achieved. Now he was gone. Consigned to the history books, never to be seen again.

But Death got a terrible shock. There was something different about this man—something Death had never experienced before. When Jesus died, a deeper power was unleashed that was shaking the very fabric of the universe. There was a rumbling of change that Death was not ready for. The once all-powerful Death was suddenly staring defeat in the face.

In a burst of glorious light, Jesus broke free from the hold of Death and emerged victorious into the stunning reality of a brand new day. That Sunday morning, the sun rose on a new beginning. That Sunday morning, the Son rose to bring about a new era.

 Just as light drove back the darkness on the first day of creation, now the Light of the world drove back the darkness of Death to bring the glorious hope of a new world. Behold the conquering, death-defeating High King of heaven.

Ever since that day, the power of Death has been broken. Death still stalks; he still seeks out victims. We still stand at gravesides and weep. We still experience the frustration of bodies that are declining and frail. We still live with the shadow of Death hanging over us and one day each of us will face Death. But because of Jesus, everything has changed.

Death is a defeated enemy. Death has lost his sting. Anyone who is united with Jesus will share in his great victory. Death will not be able to keep hold of us, and we will rise to the life that is far beyond the clutches of sorrow and pain.

Jesus has walked that road already—he has fought that battle and won. Death can bring us pain but he is no longer powerful. Take heart and hold on.

Jesus is wonderful because he has defeated death completely and opened the door to life.

Where do you feel the shadow of death? How does the resurrection of Easter Sunday morning give you hope today?

Excerpt from More of Jesus: 50 Truths to Turn Your Heart to Praise by Jonty Allcock, pastor at The Globe Church in central London. He is married to Linda and loves being a dad to three sons. He is also the author of Impossible Commands.

Repurposing Old Sins With Modern Tools

C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters continues to strike a nerve—especially with Millennials and Gen Z. These generations, immersed in questions of identity, meaning and authenticity, are also more digitally distracted than any in history. That contrast—between spiritual hunger and technological noise—makes Lewis’ wartime satire feel oddly prophetic.

Though first published in 1942, the book feels tailored for today. Its brilliance lies not in predicting the future but in exposing timeless spiritual truths. The packaging of temptation may change—scrolls instead of cigarettes, curated posts instead of polished piety—but the strategy remains the same: keep the soul from God not through overt evil but through endless distraction.

One of Lewis’ sharpest insights is that the devil rarely invents new sins; he simply repurposes old ones with modern tools. There’s no need to create fresh temptations for the digital age—just hand us our phones and let TikTok loops, envy-laced Instagram filters and YouTube Shorts do the work. These platforms turn habit into addiction, presence into performance.

In Letter XXII, Screwtape rants against music and silence—“How I detest them both!”—because they lead the soul inward or upward. He praises noise as “the audible expression of all that is exultant, ruthless and virile,” and vows to fill the universe with it. Today’s noise isn’t always loud, but it is relentless: podcasts, reels, playlists and ambient notifications crowd out the still, small voice that might be speaking to us.

As Screwtape writes with chilling prescience: “It’s funny how these humans picture us as putting things into their minds. Our best work is done by keeping things out.”

This is where the digital world excels. Push notifications, autoplay and infinite feeds have transformed our tools into temples of distraction. According to Digital Information World, the average American now spends over seven hours a day in front of a screen; for Gen Z, it’s closer to nine. Screwtape wouldn’t need to invent a thing. The safest road to hell is now algorithmically optimized.

Lewis understood that spiritual ruin does not begin in rebellion, but in drift—in the slow erosion of attention, the dulling of desire. In the end, the soul doesn’t need to reject God; it only needs to forget He is there.

In Screwtape, Lewis portrays the Christian life not as calm or convenient, but as a battleground. He came to faith in his early 30s, after years of resistance. He knew how deeply truth unsettles before it sets free. The real war begins after conversion. As Screwtape writes: “All the habits of the patient—the attitudes, the beliefs, the emotions—are still in our favor.”

Lewis didn’t write The Screwtape Letters to amuse. He wrote to wake us up—before we drift too far. And in an age where attention is under siege, his warning feels prophetic.

Lewis doesn’t urge us to reject technology, but to reclaim our attention—to notice how our habits shape us, and whether they’re drawing us closer to Christ or quietly away.

When was the last time you sat in silence without reaching for a screen? Screwtape hopes you never ask. Which is precisely why you should.

 

by Max McLean, a stage actor, writer, and producer; founder and artistic director of the Fellowship for Performing Arts, a New York City-based company that produces live theater and film from a Christian worldview.

Max is known for his stage adaptations of books by author and theologian C. S. Lewis. Some of McLean's adaptations include The Screwtape Letters (written with Jeffrey Fiske), The Great Divorce (written with Brian Watkins), and C.S. Lewis Onstage: The Most Reluctant Convert (based on Surprised by Joy). C.S. Lewis Onstage was adapted into a film, The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis, which starred McLean as an older Lewis and was released in 2021.

Outside of his work regarding Lewis, McLean wrote the play Martin Luther on Trial with Chris Cragin-Day, and narrated KJV, NIV, and ESV versions of "The Listener's Bible", an audio Bible.