Two Cities: Augustine’s City of God (Chuck Colson on citizenship)

BreakPoint ^ | 27 Jan 04 | Chuck Colson

[Mr. Silverback]

BreakPoint/Chuck Colson Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my BreakPoint Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[tcuoohjohn]

I am somewhat chary of getting moral guidance from Chuck Colson.

As a Christian I am compelled to forgive Chuck Colson. I am not required to accept his guidance. Particularly in view of his rather dismal past.

[Ozone34]

Didn't Colson go to prison for illegally having one FBI file in his posession?

[NYer]

(This is the oldest surviving portrait of St. Augustine, from the Lateran in Rome in the sixth century.)

The City of Man is not our true home. No, our true home is in the City of God. And it is to that city that we owe our affections and our ultimate loyalty.

Life of St. Augustine of Hippo

[Guenevere]

Yes, he did go to prison....
....and has turned his life around for the good....

..founder of Prison Fellowship...and author of quite excellent books.

You may not care for his advice or opionion, but I and a lot of good folks I know, sure do!

[lockeliberty]

Excellent! Thanks for posting.

Thanks also for your ping list. I look forward to his further elaboration on the paradox.

[Mr. Silverback]

Particularly in view of his rather dismal past.

So, are you completely unaware of Colson's conversion, or do you believe a Christian should continue to be judged by his pre-conversion behavior, even after three decades in the Faith?

Ozone, you are correct. Colson misused one FBI file and did eighteen months in the federal pen for it, while the Clinton White House misused 900 or so and nobody has paid yet.

[LiteKeeper]

The best citizens of the City of Man are those who remember that their true citizenship is in the City of God.

I am wrestling with an issue that relates to this. I am puzzling through why there is so much emphasis in preaching and writing that focuses on how being a Christian will make my life better...better health, better relationships, better success. And yet, there is very little emphasis on how being a Christian will make my community and world better because I am living in my community and world as part of the Kingdom of God (He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords) and functioning as His ambassador...calling people to return to the Kingdom. People have abandoned His Kingdom, even denied its existence, and they rebel against it. But they are still in the "Universal Kingdom" though not part of the "Heavenly Kingdom" which can only be entered by faith in Jesus Christ.

The result? The world, in general, is worse off for it...and is heading downhill, picking up speed with every passing day.

[Zack Nguyen]

What about Colson's opinions do you find objectionable? You realize that after he came to Christ while in prison, he established Prison Fellowship which has brought countless inmates across the world to Christ, and continues to do so to this very day.

[Romulus]

I am not required to accept his guidance. Particularly in view of his rather dismal past.

I know what you mean. I bet you've got your eye on that Augustine fellow too.

[Godzilla]

I am somewhat chary of getting moral guidance from Chuck Colson. As a Christian I am compelled to forgive Chuck Colson. I am not required to accept his guidance. Particularly in view of his rather dismal past.

Was you life before Christ any better? How would you like to be thought of - the way you were before Christ or after? Judge his guidance based upon what the Bible says, not what his life was before Christ.

[stainlessbanner]

bttt

[Mr. Silverback]

I know what you mean. I bet you've got your eye on that Augustine fellow too.

LOL!

[Barnacle]

Didn't Colson go to prison for illegally having one FBI file in his posession?

If my memory serves me right, he did time for his involvement in Watergate. He founded a prison ministry while he was there.

Please state the point of your question.

[Barnacle]

As a Christian I am compelled to forgive Chuck Colson. I am not required to accept his guidance. Particularly in view of his rather dismal past.

No doubt those words were spoken of St. Paul.

[siunevada]

I bet you've got your eye on that Augustine fellow too.

Particularly in light of his dismal past! Very sordid!

[livius]

Very good article.

[Mr. Silverback]

Particularly in light of his dismal past! Very sordid!

My question: How many FBI files did Augustine misuse?

[Mr. Silverback]

Colson served 18 months, and it was for misuse of an FBI file in connection with the Watergate scandal.