Tribute To A Spiritual Giant

In Memory of Charles Colson (October 16, 1931 – April 21, 2012)

Chuck Colson emerged from prison, a new creation in Christ, in 1976, my second year of Bible college.  I had no idea at the time just how much impact he would have on my life through his writings, his testimony, and his missionary passion.

Though I never met him, he was in many ways a father in the faith to me. His grasp of the crucial distinctives of Biblical Christian world view, his clarity of thought and his great storytelling skills: all of these made a permanent mark on my life. I didn’t read all of his books (I say this to my shame), but the half dozen or so that I did read impacted me greatly: Born Again, Against The Night, The Body,Life Sentence, Kingdoms In Conflict, Dance With Deception, How Shall We Then Live?, The Good Life. Each an every one packed a punch because that was Chuck’s style. He was no intellectual or spiritual lightweight. This man who was hailed as a “genius of evil” in the Nixon White House became a genius of truth for the kingdom of God.

Chuck’s writings introduced me to a world of great Christian thinkers. Through his example he inspired me to make a difference in the world by thinking clearly and acting deliberately with kingdom intention.

It has been said we all stand on the shoulders of giants: great men and women who who have gone before to prepare the way. Colson’s shoulders, for me, were broad and inviting. He made it a lot easier for me to think Biblically. He will be sorely missed. I am thankful to God that his legacy remains and his voice lives on.