An Article by Chuck Colson

Cathy Howerton shared this article with me via email and I felt strongly enough about it to publish it here. Obviously it is his article, not mine, but he is dead on with his analysis of the situation.

Most of you probably remember Colson as Chief Counsel to the President during the Nixon Administration. He was convicted in the Watergate Scandal and spent time in a Federal Prison, where he gave his life to Jesus Christ. Upon release, Colson founded Prison Fellowship, a Christian organization seeking to take the Gospel to those behind bars and to build committed disciples from individuals who have had broken lives.

I hope you will appreciate his insight on this article, written the day after our Presidential election.

THE DAY AFTER
By Chuck Colson
11/5/2008

Pray for Our President and Our Nation

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, whether you're
recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from
your pillow, today's a good day to remember the words of the apostle
Paul: "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession
and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in
authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness
and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

And the new President will surely need our prayers because he and his
administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our
nation and to peace in the world-challenges that, in my opinion,
neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome
without divine aid.

How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of
disaster? Why is our culture so utterly depraved?

I can only think of what Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the
catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. "I recall," he
said, "hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation
for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten
God; that's why all this has happened."

Solzhenitsyn was right. Indeed, I can't find any better explanation for
why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in. We have
forgotten God.

We have also forgotten that American democracy-indeed Western
Civilization itself-is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding
of God and humanity. Without that revelation that man is created in the
image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable
rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, as I and
others like Rodney Stark have argued, modern science and education,
liberal democracy, capitalism flourished in Western civilization
precisely because of the Judeo-Christian worldview.

The attacks on Christianity these days are only going to intensify in
the months ahead. But we must press on all the more to make a winsome
witness. Those who would banish Christianity from American life are
risking the very survival of American society.

Friends have asked me whether this economic crisis is God's judgment
upon us. I don't know.

As I've re-read the Old Testament prophets recently, I couldn't help
but notice the recurring theme: The people of God turned away from Him
and worshipped false idols. The result was always disaster.

Is God responsible for credit markets collapsing around the world? No.
We're responsible. Because instead of worshiping God, we've worshipped
false idols of the marketplace, credit card companies and cheap
mortgages. We've put our own appetites over our duties to God and
neighbor.

So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to
wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to
pray more, to give more. It's a time for Christians to lead, encourage,
and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.

This is a time for the Church to get serious about Christian
discipleship. Enough cheap grace.

So pray for the new President and his administration. But most of all,
my brothers and sisters, this is a time to love our neighbors and to
hunger for God and His righteousness.