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Christianity Today, June, 2008 |

The Great (Non)debate

Why are the candidates ignoring the huge problem under our noses?

Charles Colson, with Anne Morse | posted 6/24/2008 08:54AM

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The one thing we cannot do is pretend the crime problem doesn't exist. According to the JFA Institute, our prison population will grow, under current sentencing policies, by another 192,000 over the next five years—at a cost of an additional $27.5 billion in construction and operations. Christians must aggressively promote moral development and healthy family life, asking state and local political candidates what they're going to do about the crime problem. We should remind them that promoting order is one of the clearest God-given roles of government. When they fail to fulfill that charge, we all end up paying the price.

Related Elsewhere:

Colson's columns are available on our site.

Our coverage of prison ministries includes:

Rx for Recidivism | Prison Fellowship president Mark Earley talks about challenges the ministry faces. (November 21, 2006)

Second Chances at Life | 698,000 inmates were released from prison in the last 12 months. Most will be behind bars again by 2009. How can we keep more from returning? (September 12, 2007)

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June 2008, Vol. 52, No. 6

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Ray	Posted: July 04, 2008 6:29 AM


Well, good article I agree with the author. I believe if crime can be eredicated we can use that money to create job opportunities and improve youth programs and so forth. Crime is costing our government!

victor pauls

Posted: June 26, 2008 12:26 PM


Excellent! Sinful human nature and the drug problem are the major causes of crime. God Bless you in your ministry!!

Steve Skeete

Posted: June 25, 2008 2:41 PM

"The author ignores the fact that 85% of all crime is drug related". This is a mind-boggling statistic to which I would like to hear an informed response, because if it is anywhere near true, then issues such as decriminilization, alternative sentencing etc., must be given serious consideration. Again, if "85% of all crime is drug related" and one percent of the nation's populated is incarcerated then I have to agree with Colson. What on earth are these presidential candidates discussing if not the drug trade, the "war on drugs", prison reform, education and family life? And why not place faith on the platform as well? Any serious candidate ought to ask himherself what kind of society produces this amount of law-breakers and drug users? And what kind of "Christian" society produces these staggering statistics? The Church needs to wake up as well and inquire as to the nature of a faith that produces such tainted fruit.

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