Our nation once again was wounded by another school shooting and the public assassination of our brother in Christ, Charlie Kirk.
I have wrestled with how, as a pastor, I should respond to this. I was literally sitting at Fountain's fall festival stand when I got the news first that he had been shot, and then that he had not survived. My phone immediately began pinging with messages and phone calls, and it really hasn’t stopped. The students at Red Hill organized a prayer vigil the next morning at 7 am. The students. While some adults might not know who Charlie Kirk is, the youth of America do. Charlie was only 31, but in his short life, he took the Gospel to campuses all over our country, and he welcomed debate and civil disagreement. He loved those who disagreed with him, and when I say he loved them, it was more than just words. He saw them. He listened to them. When they shouted I hate you at him, he did not shout back; he continued to see their humanity and speak lovingly to them, reminding them that they are loved and made in God’s image.
I have been asked again and again why people are experiencing this differently from previous acts of violence. I’m not sure I fully understand that. I don’t know that anyone does. I do know this: Charlie was the first Christian Martyr killed on American soil in a generation. The last one we saw was Dr Martin Luther King Jr. He was in the act of bringing people who disagreed together to talk and listen when a 22-year-old radicalized man, who called Charlie a fascist, chose a bullet instead of conversation. Millions witnessed the bright light that was Charlie Kirk taken out of this world in real time as it streamed live around the world. Why is it that since that day, around the nation and around the globe, people have taken to the streets, not to riot or burn cities down or loot, but to pray and comfort one another? They have gathered to say that the message of hope, love, and the gift of civil discourse that Charlie spent his life giving to the world would not be silenced. Why is it that I have heard and read countless statements that say, “ I have never cried so much for someone I never met.” The answers are multifaceted, but I believe that part of it is that Charlie Kirk represented the best of what we hope we can be in many ways. He boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and wanted to be known most for being courageous in his faith. He found ways to bring people from all walks of life, faith, and no faith, together, and he led by example in how we CAN disagree and not devolve into hate for the people we disagree with. He was an unashamed conservative, and yet he was a guest on the Democratic Governor of California Gavin Newsom's podcast, and Bill Maher's show Club Random. 2 people who disagreed with Charlie on 80% of the things he believed, and yet it was dignified, respectful, and beautiful. He saw their humanity. He laughed with them and was able to be truthful about his convictions without being hateful or mean.
My hope is that this is what WE ALL aspire to. I know some of us are angry. Some are sad. Some of us are confused or feel hopeless when we look at this young, bright light taken from us so violently.
Not everyone is grieving, though, and I know that. Some people are indifferent, and some sadly are celebrating. When you stand up for the truth, you will always have some people who hate you. Charlie did. He loved them, though, even when they screamed I hate you in his face.
The church is made of people on the left and the right, and in the middle. It always has been that way. When Dr. King was martyred in Memphis in the 60’s there were some Christians who celebrated and most thankfully mourned. Some didn’t care.
How can we respond as followers of Jesus when one of our brothers is martyred on American soil while he is actively working to promote free speech and freedom of religion- 2 pillars of what it means to be American. Where are we as a nation when this can happen, and even a small minority of people will celebrate it or just not care? Some have said, “What about the kids killed in the schools?” “Don’t you care about them, too? Of course. We can and should do both. I have asked myself what the difference is that makes many people say that this feels different. One thing I think is significant is that no one is celebrating children being murdered, and no one who is sane is indifferent to it. Sadly, some are celebrating the Martyrdom of Charlie Kirk, and some are indifferent. The question it makes me ask is this: Do I have to agree with someone to mourn their murder and speak up to condemn it? The answer should be no.
I believe the reason some can celebrate or be indifferent to such an atrocity is that in America, we as a culture have become comfortable with using language about people we disagree with that dehumanizes them. When you take away someone's humanity, it makes it much easier to move to violence and take their life. If they are not human or if we see them as less than human, it doesn’t matter that much.
Charlie’s murderer called him a fascist and a nazi. In his mind, was he doing something patriotic by taking out a nazi fascist? Perhaps. This is why Paul tells us to be very mindful of how we use our words. Scripture says that in the tongue is the power of life and death, blessing and cursing.
Standing on the football field at Red Hill Jr Sr High School, I was talking with one young lady before we prayed, and she said that she felt hypocritical condemning people for calling conservatives nazis, fascists, and even some calling President Trump Hitler because she knew that when President Obama was in office, MANY christians called him the antichrist. She now sees that this was wrong. It was dangerous. It violates the law of love that Jesus calls us to. I told her that the fact that she sees that her past behavior was wrong means that she has grown and matured. That doesn’t mean she cannot now speak out about the danger of others doing it. People of all political persuasions have probably engaged in hateful rhetoric. Here’s the unvarnished truth. People who follow Jesus should not. Ever.
Vigorously debate policy differences, defend your religious convictions, stand boldly for the Gospel, and share it with others YES! Listen to the opposing views of others. Make them feel valued and heard. NEVER stop seeing their humanity. This is what Charlie did. This is what Jesus did. This is what all followers of Jesus should do. We can and should do it without attacking people’s humanity or name-calling.
Charlie started the non-profit org called Turning Point USA. It will continue, I’m sure.
My prayer is that the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk will be a turning point for our nation and in particular, for EVERY christian in America. My prayer is that from this point forward, when we disagree, we will refuse to give in to the temptation to dehumanize those we disagree with. We will refuse to name-call. We will think about the power of our words, whether spoken, written, or shared on social media.
Jesus said to bless those who curse you. Pray for your enemies. I always saw Charlie doing that. I pray that we can see more of that from the church.
How do we respond to this tragedy and to the divisiveness in our nation? With love. With prayer. With forgiveness. With repentance. With grace. With boldness. With courage. With the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For only it has the power to save, redeem, and heal.