Letters to the Editor
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Chuck Colson and Christian forgiveness
My great-uncle Argus was, by turns, a Pentecostal preacher and an alcoholic wife-beating racist. While the wife-beating and the racism was no impediment to being a lay preacher, a little hooch was thoroughly taboo. But Argus had a cycle all his own. He'd fall off the wagon, then volubly repent with tears, wailing, and gnashing of teeth, although rejoicing in the grace of Jesus. Within a few months, he'd be drinking again, which only gave him further opportunities to experience divine forgiveness.
Thing is, he was credited with utter sincerity. At no point, did the faithful cut Argus off. That remarkable dualism ("Satan led me astray, but Jesus brought me home") will doubtless provide DeLay access to the same mechanisms of sin, repentance, and forgiveness as often as he cares to avail himself of them. The suckers never learn.