Charlie Kirk’s murder is a reminder that Christians will be hated for what we believe, teach, and confess about this sinful world and because of the God who has died and risen to save it.
Charlie Kirk, a husband, a father, and a brother in Christ was killed ostensibly for his ability to calmly and clearly articulate and debate his political and religious convictions.
This tragedy is deeply troubling—firstly because a wife and children were unjustly robbed of the most important person in their life. As a young man roughly Kirk’s age and a father of four, I feel emotionally and physically ill at the idea of this type of loss. The Kirk family should be held in our prayers, beseeching God to comfort them with the promise of the gospel and the reminder that Jesus Christ has died and risen both for them and for their now deceased husband and father.
The second reason why this tragedy brings such trouble is that one of the deepest values of our society—the ability to speak freely and confidently—has been put under fire and threat of death. Not by a government or policy that can be challenged or overturned, but by an unhinged act of public violence influenced by the unmatched power of the internet and the unfiltered access to information.
This type of violence has no authority but carries a particular weight of dread because it cannot be controlled or reasoned against. All those who speak publicly have been reminded of the unjust hand of radical men who fear neither God nor man.
Speaking as Christians, Not Partisans
Commenting on the death of a public figure is extremely complicated, especially one whom I did not know personally. Many Christians, churches, and institutions who choose to give public comment will be accused of only speaking up because they are aligned with the political agenda of Kirk.
However, organizations such as this one—1517—operate with something in common other than policy or political alliance with Charlie Kirk. Our organization is one whose primary purpose is to publicly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. A key word being public such that we exist due to the ability to freely and confidently share that message in and with the public.
Likewise, Charlie Kirk often went beyond mere politics to use his platform as a means of proclaiming the gospel of Christ and defending its truthfulness. Charlie Kirk’s murder is a reminder that Christians will be hated for what we believe, teach, and confess about this sinful world and because of the God who has died and risen to save it. But this is no surprise, as Christ constantly preached:
Luke 6:22–23: “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”
Matthew 10:16–23: “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves… you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”
Confidence in the Good Shepherd
The threat of death and harm cannot stop Christians, the flock that has been sent into the world by the Good Shepherd, from proclaiming his death and resurrection to the world. His death and resurrection overcame the wickedness of the world not just generally, but for you. Christ has already secured victory over sin, death, and the devil such that no wolf can truly overcome us.
As disgust, anger, and fear assail us, cling to Christ and receive his word as confidence in your salvation and the salvation of all those who call upon his name. Then, even as we are reminded of the suffering and death that may befall us, we can take that confident confession to the world.
Lord protect us, keep us, bring comfort and assurance to the Kirk family, and send us evermore to proclaim Your death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins.
