Chuck Colson Speaks: Twelve Key Messages from Today's Leading Defender of the Christian Faith

by Charles W. Colson

Chuck Colson Speaks assembles twelve of Mr. Colson's most important speeches delivered in recent years. Covering a wide range of issues such as morality, ethics, leadership, personal holiness, and social justice -- just to name a few -- Colson delivers a thought-provoking and life-changing challenge to readers interested in applying Christian truth in today's culture. All of the speeches have been edited for readability and clarity and offer timeless insights into some of the most difficult questions facing Christians today.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2000

About the author

Almost 40 years ago, Charles W. Colson was not thinking about reaching out to prison inmates or reforming the U.S. penal system. In fact, this aide to President Richard Nixon was "incapable of humanitarian thought," according to the media of the mid-1970s. Colson was known as the White House "hatchet man," a man feared by even the most powerful politicos during his four years of service to Nixon.

When news of Colson's conversion to Christianity leaked to the press in 1973, The Boston Globe reported, "If Mr. Colson can repent of his sins, there just has to be hope for everybody." Colson would agree.

In 1974 Colson entered a plea of guilty to Watergate-related charges; although not implicated in the Watergate burglary, he voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in the Daniel Ellsberg Case. He entered Alabama's Maxwell Prison in 1974 as a new Christian and as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges. He served seven months of a one- to three-year sentence.

After leaving prison, Colson founded Prison Fellowship Ministries in 1976, which has since become the world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. Today, Colson remains a member of the board of Prison Fellowship Ministries.

A sought-after speaker, Colson has written more than 30 books, which collectively have sold more than 5 million copies. His autobiographical book, Born Again, was one of the nation's best-selling books of all genres in 1976. Another bestseller, co-authored by Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live, is considered one of the most important books written on the subject of Christian worldview. His most recent book, The Faith, is a powerful appeal to the Church to re-embrace the foundational truths of Christianity.

In 1991 Colson launched BreakPoint, a unique radio commentary that provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. BreakPoint is currently aired weekdays to more than 1,300 outlets nationwide that reach and estimated 2 million listeners.

Today Colson is focused full time on developing other Christian leaders who can influence the culture and their communities through their faith. The capstone of this effort is The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, an online 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. The Colson Center website also hosts Colson's popular weekly Two-Minute Warning video commentary aimed at engaging a younger generation with a biblical perspective on cultural issues.

In 2009, Colson was a principal writer of the Manhattan Declaration, which calls on Christians to defend the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage and religious freedom. Nearly half a million people have signed the Manhattan Declaration. Collaborating with other Christian ministries, BreakPoint aims to launch other ecumenical grassroots movements around moral and ethical issues of great concern.

In recognition of his work, Colson received the prestigious Templeton Prize for progress in religion in 1993, donating the $1 million prize to Prison Fellowship. Colson's other awards have included the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor (2008); the Humanitarian Award from Dominos Pizza Corporation (1991); The Others Award from The Salvation Army (1990); the Outstanding Young Man of Boston from the Boston Chamber of Commerce (1960); and several honorary doctorates from various colleges and universities (1982-2000).

Reviews

[Greg Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

His speeches were amazing! Great idea to make a book about them

[Ian Minielly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave Colson another chance. This compilation of essays has some good nuggets. I love how he never quit. Colson was publicly humiliated and he showed true grit. He did not throw anyone under the bus, he took his prison time, even though it was hogwash and he came out the other side smelling like a rose.

God can redeem anyone and Colson's life in my opinion was better after becoming a "criminal" because of God's impact in his life.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything I have read by Colson is excellent. He is one of the leading Christian thinkers and communicators of the 20th century. The only reason for 4 stars is most of the speeches were given around the same period of time and a few of his stories repeated. Otherwise, excellent!

[Jose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book could have been easily describing today's society and the events that we as a country are experiencing. It's a must read!

[James Allred · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is a little dated at this point. I’m not sure that I felt it super helpful. I’d love a modern version with thoughts on the world today (trump, social media, AI, etc).

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains a contradiction that appears in his later books. Colson identifies himself as a Calvinist in this book, yet in his book on God and Government, in the section critiquing theonomy, Colson says he has always championed theidea of "free will."

[Kristopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written apologetics

[Diane Peters]

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