Election Results

By Chuck Colson

11/7/2008

Opportunity Unlimited

Over the last few days, I have been besieged with calls from Christian friends in deep despair over the election. I understand the feeling. The President-elect, along with his newly strengthened allies in Congress, opposes almost every pro-life and pro-family position conservative Evangelicals and conservative Catholics have fought for so hard.

The election was tough in another way, as well. We lost some good friends in Congress. I think particularly of Robin Hayes, an outstanding Christian Congressman from North Carolina. And Marilyn Musgrove from Colorado, who courageously led the initiative for the marriage amendment and was targeted by gay activists, who spent $14 million dollars to defeat her.

But as I told the hand-wringers who called me, we must never despair. It is a sin to deny the sovereignty of God. We just have to learn how to live differently. But I’ll talk more about that in the future.

First, this is the new President’s hour. And we should be praying for him. Major decisions which affect the welfare of us all are in his hands.

Second, we ought to take pleasure in the joy expressed by African Americans over Obama’s election. They have fought hard for civil rights, and now one of their own is President. I was moved to tears myself election night watching Jesse Jackson standing in the crowd, alone, tears flowing down his face. This can be a good thing for the United States of America.

We should also be pleased at the jubilation around the world at the election of America’s first black president, which has smashed the stereotype of America as an oppressive white superpower throwing its weight around. This could build unprecedented good will for us among many other nations—nations with whom we must cooperate on many important issues.

Third, this may be a teachable moment for all of us. Ever since the 1960s, liberal political leaders have built their power bases by telling minorities that they are the exploited victims of racism.

Tragically, many African-Americans feel, rightly or wrongly, that there is nothing they can do to help themselves except to elect politicians who promise to pour money into their communities. All these politicians have done is feed the grievance mentality and stay in power; the poor remain as poor as ever.

Obama’s election shatters that delusion. How could any young African-American any longer believe that he is destined to a life of crime and poverty simply because he was born black? Obama’s election demonstrates that America truly is the land of opportunity for every citizen regardless of the color of his skin, the circumstances of his birth, or the community from which he comes. If this new attitude takes hold, I could see us rebuilding the pits of despair and depression that many inner cities neighborhoods have become.

Having said that—I have my differences with the incoming President and the majorities in Congress—and I, for one, will continue for one to fight hard for the unborn and for traditional marriage, among other issues.

So don’t give up, or retreat into your sanctuaries, as some are suggesting. Stay tuned to BreakPoint. I’ll be back in due course with some strong ideas for us on how the church ought to now live.

Today's BreakPoint Offer

Turn the world right side up. Learn about the 2009 Centurions Program and apply to study Christian worldview with Chuck Colson!

For Further Reading and Information

“The Day After: Pray for Our President and Our Nation,” BreakPoint Commentary, 5 November 2008.

“The Solzhenitsyn Challenge: Restoring Public Courage,” BreakPoint Commentary, 4 November 2008.

The Bill Comes Due

BreakPoint Commentaries

The Bill Comes Due

By Chuck Colson
9/24/2008

Consumption and Crisis

If you are like me, you are shocked by the cost of the proposed bailout of the financial sector—at least $700 billion. You probably wonder why we should pay so dearly for other people’s mistakes.

But when it comes to one aspect of this financial crisis, many of us have only ourselves to blame.

As I told you yesterday, much of the mess can be laid at the feet of what Tom Wolfe ironically called the “Masters of the Universe” and their enablers in Washington. Much but not all. Our anything-goes, “you can have what you want when you want it” attitude also played an important part in creating this mess.

As you know, the financial crisis was precipitated by the meltdown of the “sub-prime” mortgage market. Millions of Americans took out mortgages they couldn’t afford to buy houses that in some cases they really didn’t need.

Maybe inspired by television shows like Flip That House, they gambled that home prices would keep rising indefinitely and they could sell or re-finance the home before the bill literally came due. They were wrong, and currently, 9 percent of all Americans with mortgages are either behind on their payments or in foreclosure. The number can only grow.

But it’s not just the sub-prime mess. The personal debt of Americans is at record levels. A well-known credit-card commercial has a man shopping for a new television set and using his cell phone to check his credit limit. Not his checking or savings account balance, but his limit! And in case you don’t get the message, the music in the background blares, “I want it all and I want it now!”

It’s not only consumer goods. Everything from the war in Iraq to Katrina recovery is funded by borrowing. Both political parties are quick to promise specific “goodies,” like new entitlements or tax cuts or new roads, but they never say how they are going to pay for them.

The answer of course is that they haven’t a clue, other than to borrow from foreigners and then stick our children and grandchildren with the bill for some future day.

A few years ago, a very intelligent man—a good friend of mine—and I had a conversation I won’t forget. He told me that he was getting out of the financial business because, in part, he was concerned about how much debt Americans were taking on. He knew that eventually our folly would catch up with us and feared a possible collapse.

Well, I don’t know if this is the collapse; I hope it’s just a warning shot across our bow. But in either case, one thing is clear: Business-as-usual can’t continue. Let’s recognize we can’t have it all—whether at the shopping mall or from government.

So first, we put our own houses in order. Next, we demand that our political leaders stop behaving like Santa Claus, or shop-a-holics in an outlet mall. In fact, I’m tempted to say we ought to be voting for the candidates who promise us the least goodies and tell us the hard truth: that is, that we have to start acting responsibly.

Tomorrow on “BreakPoint,” I will share with you a promising plan from one mature political leader who isn’t afraid to say it’s time we all sobered up.

In the meantime, contemplate the words of the Apostle Paul: “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”

Today's BreakPoint Offer

Turn the world right side up. Learn about the 2009 Centurions Program and apply to study Christian worldview with Chuck Colson!

For Further Reading and Information

“Accounting for Disaster: Wall Street, Congress, and You,” BreakPoint Commentary, 23 September 2008.

“Faith, Not Fear: God and Wall Street,” BreakPoint Commentary, 17 Septemeber 2008.

Jim Landers, “Our Kids Will Pick Up the Check for Our Financial Mess,” Dallas Morning News, 23 September 2008.

“Wall Street Bailout Faces Lawmakers, Lobbyists,” BusinessWeek, 21 September 2008.

“Policymakers: Congress Must Move Quickly to Avert Damage,” Washington Post, 23 September 2008.

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