Evangelical Chuck Colson Dead at 80

The infamous convicted Nixon adviser became famous for prison reform…and his Christian worldview

Charles Colson, (1931-2012) respected evangelical leader and former US Presidential adviser, died Saturday April 21 at age 80 from complications resulting from a brain hemorrhage…

Colson will likely be best remembered for his prison ministry, behind-the-scenes political involvement, work on evangelical and Catholic dialogue, and his cultural commentary…

Jonathan Aitken portrayed Colson as "America's best-known Christian leader after Billy Graham."

“Born Again”

Before his conversion, Colson was described as an aggressive political mastermind who drank heavily, chain smoked, and smeared opponents. He served as special counsel to US President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. Colson was indicted on Watergate-scandal-related charges, which led to a 7-month prison term. After Colson’s conversion experience, he published Born Again, popularizing the term, “born again” which many evangelicals use to self-identify. 

Colson's public commitment to his faith drew initial skepticism from those who wondered whether he was attempting to profit from a conversion narrative. Criticism faded over time with his 30-plus years of commitment to prison ministry.

"…He was a specimen of God's amazing grace, one of the most remarkable in modern times," said Timothy George of Samford University. "Over time, he proved to the whole world that this is the real thing."…

Sarah Pulliam Bailey, Christianity Today, 21 April, 2012

Charles Colson, a Man Transformed

The real story of "Nixon's hatchet man" 

The trumpets will sound on the other side for Charles W. Colson—for what he achieved, but also for how much his character changed. His life story is the best known example in modern times of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

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Colson's early career in secular politics was successful. It led him to the US White House as a senior presidential aide. But it ended in spectacular failure during the Watergate scandal. In those dark days Colson was the most vilified figure in Washington after ex-US President Richard Nixon. Some obloquy heaped on Colson was undeserved… But in the role he gleefully relished as "Nixon's hatchet man" he connived many dirty tricks. In his biography, Colson "admits he was guilty of political 'dirty tricks'' and willing to do almost anything for the cause of his president and his party."

When the Watergate scandal broke, the press and the prosecutors had Colson in their sights. They knew he was a major contributor to the unsavory moral climate inside the White House. Colson hit the headlines in 1972 when he wrote in a memo, "I would walk over my Grandmother for [US President] Richard Nixon." That symbolized his end-justifies-the-means ruthlessness as a political operator. …He became a prime suspect for being the architect of Watergate.

As he later admitted, Colson had no moral compass for the first 41 years of his life. He described himself as "a nominal Episcopalian." This was a considerable stretch of the word nominal. He was so unchurched that he had no idea who the Good Samaritan or the Prodigal Son were… During his political career, Colson said, "Oh, I think religion is fine, provided one has as little of it as possible."

Conversion Greeted With Cynicism

The turning point…in Colson's life came soon after he had left the US White House under a cloud to rebuild his career as a lawyer. He called on Tom Phillips… who had recently come to the Lord at a Billy Graham rally. Colson came for some legal business. Instead Phillips talked with passion about his newfound faith and read aloud from Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

Colson thought Phillips' religious views were "pure Pollyanna." But the chapter on pride in Lewis's book ("The Great Sin") struck home. So did the prayer Tom Phillips said, asking Jesus Christ "to open Chuck's heart and show him the light and the way." Later that night, Colson broke down in tears at the wheel of his car and offered a prayer of his own. He told his wife, he thought he'd had a conversion experience—but he didn’t know what the term meant…

Once it leaked out that Chuck Colson had become a man of prayer, cynicism erupted everywhere. The media's mockery damaged whatever chance Colson had of evading the prosecutors. So he was indicted.  The evidence against him was slim. …The old Colson would have played every trick in the book to beat the rap. But a different Colson was emerging. He had a prayer group, he was reading Scripture, studying Christian authors, and taking his first stumbling steps in theology. His was learning and changing— although this was neither a quick nor an easy process.

Painful though it was, Colson's repentance was authentic. He became so convicted of sin that (against his lawyer’s advice) he pleaded guilty… The judge sentenced Colson to a 1-3 year prison term. Colson was the first of President Nixon’s aides to be convicted of Watergate-related charges.

Behind Bars

During the time he spent in jail, Colson had to learn many lessons in humility and penitence. Blows rained in on him. Colson failed to gain the presidential pardon he expected. He was disbarred from practicing law. His father died. His son was arrested for narcotics possession. But Colson gradually began surrendering to God's will. He immersed himself in Bible reading, started a prayer group with fellow prisoners, and completed the Design for Discipleship course.

Yet Colson’s spiritual steps forward seemed to be accompanied by practical reverses. His parole application denied after other Watergate prisoners were freed. But Colson prayed on and was unexpectedly given parole in 1975 after serving seven months of his sentence.

Born Again Celebrity

He did not settle easily into the world of freedom. There were continuing struggles between the old and the new man in Colson. But God's plan gradually became clear. He had the idea of starting a discipleship program for prisoners…. This was the genesis of Prison Fellowship .

While he was working out his vocation for discipling prisoners, Colson wrote best-seller. This was Born Again. The phrase was little known outside evangelical circles in 1976. But Colson's title and the emotional narrative he wrote about his journey and conversion changed that. …The world started to ask what these two words meant. Colson, via Nicodemus and John 3:1-8, provided an answer.

Born Again sold three million copies worldwide and Colson became a celebrity Christian. But he was sufficiently steeped in his faith to know that label was dangerous, contradicting the humility of godly witness. Colson’s spiritually wise friends kept his feet on the ground.

Colson did one-on-one ministry in the prisons, but he knew he must also participate in the public arena. Inspired by the example of William Wilberforce, Colson believed he must implement a comprehensive Christian worldview regarding life and society.

Colson’s initiatives changed the face of prison ministry. It used to be an unfashionable, underrated, and largely localized Christian activity with no national or international leadership. It is still too far down the pecking order of most churches' priorities. But Colson gave it a profile and a passion worthy of the exhortation in Hebrews 13:3 "Remember your fellow prisoners as if you were in prison."

Evangelical Elder Statesman

Over time Colson's own profile stretched. He authored over 20 books since Born Again, including Loving God, How Now Shall We Live, and Kingdom in Conflict. He has been a prolific broadcaster on his own weekly radio program BreakPoint. He was a columnist for Christianity Today. He has received numerous awards. The most lucrative was the 1993 Templeton Prize for Religion. He donated the $1 million award to charity.

Colson's legacy extends far beyond the community of prisoners, although prison ministry has been his primary calling. In his contribution to changing the church, he crossed many denominational boundaries. 

Although Colson's achievements were remarkable, his example is more important. Back in Watergate times, Colson’s opponents loathed his spiritual journey and longed for him to stumble and fall. Almost four decades later he has confounded his critics and often won their admiration. This is because he has walked his talk.

Colson's personal life has been exemplary since he entered into a relationship with this Lord. He made considerable financial sacrifices. He battled, successfully, against the petty vices of smoking and drinking and against pride that tempted him to be too dominant and too controlling in his ministry. But these struggles made his journey all the more authentic and effective.

Back to the White House

In the 21st century, Colson journeyed back to the White House. He became a confidant of US President George W. Bush on the rehabilitation of prisoners. This resulted in some important initiatives in this field. But Colson's influence went further. In 2003, The New York Times carried the headline "Evangelicals Sway White House on Human Rights Issues Abroad."  It reported that Colson and others persuaded the White House to take initiatives to end the war in the Sudan, halt sex trafficking, and prevent the global spread of AIDS.

This represents a full circle in the Colson life story. As a young aide to US President Nixon, in the 1970s, Colson steered the White House towards the antithesis of Christian morality. Yet by the early 2000s the older Colson influenced in a wholly Christian direction the policies of US President George W. Bush.

Colson's legacy was possible because, amidst the earthquake of Watergate, he heard the still small voice of God's call. He obeyed it and stayed faithful to it. As a result Colson became a shining example of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the redemptive blessings of God's grace. Many Christians will say, God changed Charles Colson and used him for good.

Jonathan Aitken in Christianity Today, 21 April, 2012

Jonathan Aitken is the author of Charles W. Colson: A Life Redeemed.