Colson remembers Buckley.
By anyone's measure, Bill Buckley's prodigious intellect helped reshape and revitalize the modern conservative movement. He also put an attractive and winsome face on conservatism.
Buckley was a formative influence for me, beginning with his earliest writings. Over time, we became very close friends. We shared some rich spiritual experiences, visiting prisons, during "Firing Line" visits, and in private conversation. I have no question about the sincerity and depth of his faith.
Someone else will pick up his work, but no one will replace him. He was a man God raised up for this time.
On a strictly personal basis, I will really miss him, his many encouraging notes to me, his frequent references to me in his work and writings, and the wonderful friendship we enjoyed. I remain deeply indebted to Bill, and grieve his passing.
Charles W. Colson
Founder
Prison Fellowship
Posted by Susan Wunderink on February 29, 2008 9:45AM
Comments
Colson writes: "He (Buckley) was a man God raised up for this time." As a firmly evangelical believer, I find this pronouncement extremely disturbing. It illustrates, I think, why I (and many evangelicals as well as non-believers) have concerns that right-wing conservative such as Colson have elevated conservative POLITICS to the level of fervent doctrinal belief, seemingly even trumping biblical Christian beliefs at times.
Posted by: Fred Nichols at February 29, 2008
One of the ways Buckley reshaped and revitalized conservatism is, if you've actually read his National Review as I have, was by being a polysyllabic racist. (I once wrote an article on that in the middle Nineties, for the New York Amsterdam News.) I see his life as a tragedy, of uncommon opportunities and undoubted intellectual gifts squandered to the idol of white privilege.
To be fair, he did tone the racism in his last couple of decades, but never, that I saw, actually expressed contriteness and repentance. Perhaps I just missed it. I hope so.
In my jaundiced observation and no doubt mean little mind, Buckley's life was pretty much about comforting the privileged, empowering the powerful and silencing the afflicted. Is that Conservatism?
However, he played a great harpsichord and I enjoyed his Blackford Oakes novels.
Let me tell you about his hilarious adventure in drive in movie theaters sometime.
Posted by: Gregory Peterson at February 29, 2008
Mr. Nichols could you please give a specific example of why you believe Mr. Colson's statement is blurring the line between Christian belief and politics?
There are two ways that one could interpret Mr. Colson's statment, "He was a man God raised up for this time." One way would be from a historical perspective, like Cyrus allowing the Jews to return from their exile. The other way would be a man of faith who used his talents and gifts to make a positive impact on society.
Posted by: arthur at February 29, 2008
How could anyone simply paint Chuck Colson with the "right wing conservative" brush. For thirty years now, this man's whole life has been about reaching "the least of these" (Prison Fellowship) as well as reminding the Western World of our (imperfect as it is) heritage. This complex and scholarly man is operating in the enrgy of the love of Jesus Christ.
Posted by: Eric J. Hanson at March 1, 2008
I'll miss his "dry humor" and had always enjoyed listening to him speak.
Posted by: Mark Kwiatkowski at March 6, 2008
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