Chuck Colson's Problem

Chuck Colson has a problem and it might impact you. A lot of people know Chuck Colson’s story as the Chief of Staff in the Nixon Administration. And most people know how Chuck’s life was dramatically changed by a personal encounter of faith in Jesus Christ. The ministry Chuck founded at Prison Fellowship is a testimony to the power of the Gospel in changed lives, beginning with the Founder. Now a federal judge wants Chuck and Prison Fellowship out of federal jails. The Americans United for Separation of Church and State—a group to the left of the ACLU—has won a district court case against Prison Fellowship. Their premise is two-fold. First, they hate the Bush Administration’s Faith-based-initiatives and want them stopped. Prison Fellowship funded the program in question with 40% support from your tax dollars. Second, the federal judge looks to have gone way overboard in a 140 page decision pointing out his personal bias against evangelicals and trying to mark them as a fringe element in society. At first review this decision looks dangerous to the religious liberty of all. It reminds us of the frightening decision made by a federal judge in Indiana that barred prayer in Jesus name from the Statehouse. It bears a strange resemblance to the case of Michael Newdow and the pledge of allegiance. Judges drove prayer and the mention of God from public schools. Are we happy with the results? Now a judge wants to ban evangelical ministry from prisons? Can that make any sense at all?