Like many of you, I was shocked, horrified, and saddened by the senseless murder of Charlie Kirk. I have followed Charlie’s work for many years now and have always been impressed by his poise, fearlessness, honesty, and truthfulness. In his early days, I applauded his willingness to have dialogue with people he disagreed with and was impressed by his knowledge and wisdom at such a young age. Over the years, I have been encouraged by his faith, his convictions concerning Christ and the Bible, and his growth as a man and believer. I know that he has been influential in the lives of many young people, including my own children. I love how he challenged people to think for themselves and showed how you can dialogue with people of differing opinions and convictions.
Most importantly, I am thankful for his faith in Christ, which seems genuine and steadfast. When I heard the news about his death, I felt genuine sorrow. Not because I knew him, but because a young man's life was senselessly taken by violence. I was saddened by a wife and two children who no longer had a husband or father. I was saddened by seeing more hate and violence in our world that already has too much. I was saddened by how desensitized we are to death and violence, and that it is common in our world to see videos of people being killed. I was heartbroken over the celebration of a person’s murder who was simply stating his views. I still am sick over what has happened.
Over the last week, I have reflected more on this tragedy and specifically how we respond as the church. I have thought about my own responses and the responses I have seen and heard from others. I want to offer a few things for you to think about as a member of our church.
First, we should be sensitive and sorrowful over all violence and death. If we are to have the compassion of Christ, then we cannot pick or choose which evil acts bother us and which ones don’t. This is not just about politics or ideology. It is about a man being murdered for what he believed in, which, regardless of whether you are a conservative or liberal, is evil. We should never be divided over evil things like murder; it should be condemned and fought against at every turn. Our hearts should break for all the evil that exists in our world. The church shouldstand and fight against all evil and injustice, longing for the perfect Kingdom of God to come.
Second, hate is never the answer to hate. I have been grieved by the posts of some professing Christians and the hate that they speak against those with whom they disagree. Jesus taught that in the Sermon on the Mount that if we hate in our hearts, we will be subject to judgment just as the murderer will be. Paul said in Romans 12:21 that we are “not to be overcome by evil, but we are to overcome evil with good.” Our response as Christians matters. It is okay to be hurt, grieved, and even angry; these can all be righteous responses. However, we are not to return evil for evil. Emotions can be raw, but we are not to be ruled by them. When Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return. While I cannot speak for Charlie Kirk, I am fairly confident (because he seemed to believe in the Word of God) that he would not think hate was the correct response either. The only way to break the vicious cycle of hate and vitriol in our world is to truly overcome evil with good; that is the good of the gospel. Mind you, this is not a call to passivity or indifference. It is a call to action that is accompanied by the balance of grace and truth that Jesus demonstrated. It is a call to more rational dialogue, more truth, more grace, and less hate.
Third, there are worse things than death for the believer. Christians often say that when another Christian dies, they are in a better place, but rarely act as if they believe it. I am not saying we should be excited about Charlie Kirk's life ending. On one hand, we should detest it, as it came at the hands of evil. However, on the other hand, we find hope and comfort in the gospel promise that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, and what the world means for evil, God means for good. I couldn’t help but think about Philippians 1:20-21 when I thought of Charlie’s passing. Paul wanted Christ to be honored in his life, whether by his life or his death, because he knew that for him, to live was Christ, but to die was gain. When we think of Christ being honored in our lives, we tend to think about living a happy life with the longevity of getting to tell people about Jesus. Some people get that, but not everyone. However, that wasn’t Paul’s concern. His primary concern was that God be honored regardless of how his life went. I think this should be the heart of all Christians. What if God's plan for using Charlie Kirk's life to make the biggest impact for Him was not in a long life at all, but in an untimely death? What if this is what God decided to use to lead many to faith in Christ, using what a murderer meant for evil for good? I think Charlie Kirk would be okay with that because when his life ended, he was in the presence of His Lord, and that is great gain.
Fourth, don’t go to church for Charlie Kirk. If Charlie Kirk’s death led to more people going to church, then praise God. However, no Christian should attend church for anyone other than the resurrected Lord Jesus. If you were upset last week that more pastors and/or Christians around the world weren't discussing Charlie Kirk, consider this: if they were talking about Jesus, they were talking about the only person who will ever truly give you hope. No true believer, including Charlie Kirk, would ever want church to be about them. Church is about the worship of God through Jesus Christ and in the power of His Spirit. God is the focus; He is the only hope we have.
Fifth, pray more, talk less. A political pundit infamously said recently about a national tragedy, “Prayer is not freaking enough.” I wouldn't expect an unbeliever to understand the power of prayer, but we do. God has opened up heaven to us through prayer. He has opened His power, peace, and presence through seeking Him. We should pray to God more than we talk to others, and we should pray before we speak to others. If you have people you disagree with, listen first, then talk. If there are those with whom hostility exists because of differing views, don’t let hateful dialogue be your primary course of action. Jesus said to pray for our enemies and for those who persecute you. Let me shock you by saying we should even be praying for Charlie Kirk’s killer and those who seek to harm. Pray that the light of the gospel would shine through the darkness in their lives as it did ours. This was Jesus’ command to us. Are there action steps to take? Yes, as long as you understand that prayer is an action and that prayer should precede any other actions.
Time will tell what happens concerning these tragic events. I am glad that his killer was caught and believe justice should be served. I pray for his family as I do for Charlie Kirk's family. I pray this could start a revival, not of conservatism but of salvation. I pray for more people to have the boldness of Charlie Kirk to speak about Jesus courageously. I pray that we would know how to navigate these hostile times as Christ would have us to.
For His glory and your joy,
Pastor Charlie
