Chuck Colson Controversial Quotes: 7 Hot-Button Statements From Christian Evangelist

Chuck Colson was the founder of the Prison Fellowship and The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Before he converted to Christianity in 1973, he was a tough, committed politician and many were skeptical of the change in his life.

Colson confounded the critics, devoting the following 30 years of his life to evangelical Christianity until his death in 2012. Colson served in the United States Marines until entering politics in 1956, was married and had three children.

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Colson was also one who always spoke his mind. Here are seven hot-button statements he has made:

1. "It's no understatement that the church has done a poor job in teaching our young people that reason and faith are not opposites."

2. Colson once pointed out the dangers of social decay. "The kind of social decay on display in working-class communities makes social mobility and prosperity far less likely and will only further aggravate the gap between the "haves" and "have-nots."

3. Modern society has created many problems, Colson once said. "The Great Society helped to create an entitlement mentality. Those in unfortunate circumstances are told they are victims of larger forces over which they have no control, so they must look to and rely on the government for aid."

4. In an article for the National Review, Colson blamed the behavior of congressmen for society's problems. "The tragedy here is that Congressmen, like schoolboys, have bought the modern myth: Life is all about us and our desires, and whatever we want to do is okay as long as we feel good doing it."

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5. The political system is corrupt, Colson argued once during his weekly blog. "The whole political process has been bought out by special interests."

6. In another blog piece, Colson blamed Christians for decline in marriage standards. "We Christians need to say to the public and even to the gay community that we are responsible for the decline in marriage."

7. In an interview with the Christian Broadcast Network, Colson placed the blame for society's failings on an inactive Christian church. "We are seeing moral decay in our society, and we point our finger at those nasty liberals who have done this to us. No, if we're being the church that doesn't happen to a culture."

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