The Martydom of Charlie Kirk: A Christian Response
Unexpected Grief
The death of a celebrity has never really affected me before. I never understood how a stranger’s death could arrest someone into grief or seriously weigh on someone’s soul. Never before… but I understand now.
The public assassination of Charlie Kirk was filmed and shared across the world in real-time. It was a gruesome murder—no, martyrdom. There is no place in this country for public execution on a university campus during civil dialogue while your wife and children are watching. None. Psalm 11:5 says, “The LORD tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.”
I have tried to gather my thoughts, jumbled as they are, and offer whatever wisdom herein to you. I never thought the death of a stranger could weigh so heavily on my soul. But Charlie Kirk’s public martyrdom forces us to grieve, to pray, and to trust the God who still reigns.
As you read, please keep in mind these four realities: (1) I am a local church pastor, so I am writing with my church in mind, (2) I am deeply concerned with the state of our culture, so I seek to understand the times to know what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32), (3) I am a young husband and father, so this feels strangely personal, and (4) I have been saved by God, so I make no attempt to cover up my trust in Scripture as authoritative and sufficient.
A Martydom, Not Just a Murder
And while it is a vain endeavor to make sense out of the senseless, I would like to try and share my thoughts on the reason for this martyrdom. Charlie Kirk often spoke the truth, so a liar killed him for it. He spoke with common sense, so a lunatic killed him for it. He spoke with courage, so a coward killed him for it. He spoke about Christ, so a devil killed him for it. While the exact motive has not yet been confirmed, there is no other reason. Kirk was not an elected official, he held no public office, he had no true legislative power. He was an influential civilian and was assassinated because he was effective. This is far more than political, this is spiritual. John 15:18 says, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” Should we be surprised? Yes, because we long for justice and order and sanity and compassion. Are we surprised? No, but neither is God.
Far more than being a provocateur or a political activist; more than being a husband and father; Charlie was (and remains to be) a Christian. You and I should know that that is our first identity: Christian. Greater than any earthly relationship or political alignment, our allegiance to Christ is supreme.
And despite a shrinking opinion, Christians should be engaged in politics. It should never be an idol, but we should care a little about things like marriage, identity, the sanctity of life, the execution of justice, the protection of women and children, and the rights of free speech and freedom of religion and freedom of expression and freedom to assemble. We are citizens of this country, which God has granted us many privileges because of it.
Be careful to not become a glutton for freedom and comfort. We should take advantage of the land we are in at the time we are in it. We ought to live out our faith in the public square, desperate that God would allow us to impact those around us with the hope of the gospel. You see, cultural engagement, at least at the level that Kirk was, is not for everyone; however, cultural abdication is no godly alternative.
As a pastor, I have a low tolerance for people who use the name of Christ as a means to an end. I’m talking about Christ-less politicians who claim to follow Jesus with their lips for their own political gain but their hearts are cold. They are frauds. God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7). Jesus has a few things to say about these kinds of people (see Matthew 7:21-23).
The Folly of Killing Christians
Charlie, on the other hand, did not only profess Christ with his words, but he also evidenced a life consistent with his confession. He knew God’s word, he was involved in a local church, he fled from sin, he pursued righteousness. More than any of that, however, he recognized that none of those works could save him (Ephesians 2:8-10). Charlie preached the true gospel to millions. In an interview, Kirk was asked, “How do you want to be remembered?” “If I die?” Kirk replied, “I would want to be remembered for courage for my faith.” Well, I’m happy to say that is exactly how he will be remembered. The ministry of Charlie Kirk was providentially punctuated with his martyrdom. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 is appropriate to think about: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
If the assassin thought a bullet to Charlie Kirk’s neck would stop the gospel from being preached, he is not only wicked, but a terrible fool. Tertullian, an early Christian theologian from AD 200, famously wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” This means that you can kill us, but that will only fertilize the soil that will soon produce more fruit. Tertullian told his Roman persecutors, “The more you mow us down, the more we grow.” Think of Philippians 1:12-14.
How Christians Should Respond
Pray to the Triune God — I don’t care what pagans say, prayer is powerful because the God we pray to is powerful. But don’t just pray to the universe. Pray to God the Father through God the Son by the power of God the Holy Spirit. In other words, pray to the Triune God of Scripture. Pray for guidance in this tumultuous time. Pray for wisdom in the confusion. Pray for justice to be done. Pray for peace in the chaos. Another kind of prayer is intercession—pray for Charlie’s wife and children. Read passages like Philippians 4:6-7 and 1 Timothy 2:1-2.
Be Angry Without Sinning — What a timely imperative. Be angry because God hates this. God hates this unjust murder. God hates the smug, heartless cheers. “Woe to those who call evil good” (Isaiah 5:20). God hates all this wickedness. So be angry; but in your anger, do not sin. Watch your heart lest your flesh takes over. You may burn in rage, but vengeance is the Lord’s (Romans 12:19). You may seek to correct every false word, but they will give an account to the Lord for every careless word they say (Matthew 12:36). There is a God, and you are not Him. So be angry over what He’s angry at. Read Ephesians 4:26.
Trust in the Sovereign God — The devil did not win, nor will he. Charlie Kirk’s days were numbered by God and the Lord, in His perfect wisdom and compassion, was pleased to bring Charlie home at the right time. Psalm 139:16 says, “In your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” We may not understand why God does what He does, when He does it, and why He does it. In fact, it’s none of our business. Deuteronomy 29:29 says that the secret things belong to God; the revealed things belong to us. This mystery is not ours to know; it is God’s and He is not obligated to share. What we do know is that God is good and kind and just and wise. Read Romans 8:28 and Job 1:21.
Our Hope Beyond the Grave
Would you pray with me? Father, you are better than the best thing. The pleasures of this world are crumbs when compared to the pleasures that are at your right hand forevermore. Thank you for the assurance of salvation; that those who repent of their sins and turn to you are forgiven and given eternal life. We trust that Charlie Kirk is with you now. He is not looking down at us because he is too busy beholding you in your glory. Father, would you comfort his wife and children in a way that only you can. We dare not imagine how it would feel to have the person you love and respect most in this world publicly murdered in this way. While we cannot understand, you do. You have experienced it firsthand. Lord, would you give them peace that surpasses understanding. Surround them with brothers and sisters in Christ, but surround them first and foremost with your mercy. God, only you could take a tragedy of this magnitude and turn it for good. You have done it before, you are doing it now, and you will continue to until “every sad thing becomes untrue.” If you could see to it that good would come out of the public execution of the only innocent man who has ever lived, your Son Jesus, then you can certainly work this out for good. Lord, would you make much of your name through this brother’s death, as you did through his life? And would you give every Christian man the courage to speak the truth and the compassion to speak it in love.
