An Event of Great Magnitude
On Wednesday, September 10th, I received a text message from my mother only a few minutes after Charlie Kirk was shot. When you hear stunning news like this concerning a significant figure, you hope for the best but fear the worst. I then followed the news and sadly learned that the shot to his neck was fatal, and he passed. News like this brings back memories of the tragic times of old. On November 22, 1963, everyone knew where they were when John Kennedy was shot. It shook the entire nation. Everyone knew where they were on September 11, 2001.. With events such as these, it became difficult for people to go on with their daily activities. All they could do was think about the tragedy that had just happened.
This has been the experience of millions across the nation over the past couple of days when they heard the news, showing the enormous influence that Charlie Kirk had.
Sometimes you don’t know how influential someone was until that person dies. What we learned on Wednesday is that Charlie Kirk is not only one of the most well-known Christians, but also one of the most well-known people in America. It was around 4:00 Central time when I heard that he had died. At 6:30, we had our regularly scheduled Wednesday Bible study. I already had my lesson planned in the Gospel of John, but I decided to call an audible to address what was on everyone’s minds: that a significant figure in American politics and a Christian evangelist had just savagely been taken from this world. There is so much to process, and all of it is so fresh. How important it is for a pastor to shepherd his people through this monumental tragedy.
Satan’s Effort Against God’s Grand Work
What happened at Utah Valley University on Wednesday was a Satanic attack aimed at the great work that God has been doing through a young man.. When a great work of God is taking place, just wait, a great assault from Satan is on the horizon. Where weak and mediocre Christianity takes place, Satan pays little attention. Satan is a destroyer. He loves to destroy the work that God is doing. The apostle Peter wrote that he “prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He spends his energy every day trying to squash God’s work (Matthew 13:4,19).
His biggest target is on God’s most effective servants. Satan’s focus was on bringing Jesus down during his ministry (Matthew 4:1-10; Luke 22:3). The apostle Paul, who faced enormous opposition during his ministry (2 Corinthians 11) was aware of the Devil’s “schemes” (Ephesians 6:11) and that our struggle behind human actors is against Satan and his demons (Ephesians 6:12). What happened in Utah on Wednesday was Satan’s attack on God’s servant and it was his attack on the church. We should not be surprised that Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, an unabashed servant of Satan, said in a rant full of expletives that his death should not be mourned, but “It’s important for us to call them out.” Statements such as these have been spoken in large numbers by Satan’s servants all over America. The Devil hates the work that Charlie has done over the past number of years.
Charlie went to arguably the darkest places in America —college campuses —to proclaim the truth of God’s Word and the gospel. Misinformed Christians may say that all he did was focus on politics. But what is politics? Politics done rightly is applying biblical ethics to the public square. Charlie taught students who were in the process of being indoctrinated what a God-honoring society is supposed to look like. The students were able to hear from him that following God’s law meant blessing for a nation. As King Solomon wrote, “Righteousness exalts a nation” (Proverbs 14:34).
Anyone who has watched Charlie’s clips on the internet can see that he not only applied biblical ethics to public policy, but he also regularly proclaimed the gospel. It is reasonable to conclude that thousands or even millions of young Americans came to saving faith in Jesus because of Charlie’s bold proclamation. In one of his last posts on X, he wrote, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.” As Charlie argued for God’s law in the public square, he was doing what the prophets of old did, calling out the idols in our nation. As he did this, he called people to repent. While it is true that Charlie was a conservative political activist, it is equally true that he was an evangelist on college campuses. He was a John Witherspoon-like figure, a founding father who made a difference in this Country and on people’s souls.
Many Christian leaders have been confused as to whether Charlie was a good influence or a negative one. Satan was not confused. This is why he took him out. He used his willing servant, Tyler Robinson, a radicalized young Leftist, to do so. Make no mistake about it, Charlie wasn’t murdered merely because he was a political conservative thought leader, but for his bold stands for Christ and biblical truth.
Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr.
The Opportunity Before Us
For pastors not to say anything to their people on Sunday would be a dereliction of duty. To not acknowledge this would be akin to not acknowledging major events of the past, but it would be even more of a missed opportunity than those tragedies. This tragedy speaks directly to the spiritual battle that we see playing out every day. We are in this battle whether Pastors and Christians like to believe it or not. On Sunday, there should be gratitude for the work that Christ did through Charlie. It is also an opportunity to continue the work of God in which he eagerly and boldly engaged. Pastors need to call their people to not only proclaim the truth of God’s Word at home and in the church, but also in the public square.
No doubt Charlie resisted the pietistic voices that have told Christians to avoid engaging in the public square, believing that public engagement is somehow not our task. What Christians need to realize is that full faithfulness to Christ requires that we engage the public square and go after the idols of our day. As we go after idols in our communities, we then call sinners to repent and believe in Jesus.
Because this has been so neglected over the years, “the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37). What an opportunity for pastors and Christians to see the fruit that came from Charlie getting God’s Word and the gospel into college campuses. He certainly wasn’t perfect in everything he said, but the Lord clearly blessed his work. If he blesses his, he will bless ours also. We have an opportunity before us to wake up a nation toward Christ. We have an opportunity before us as the public hears God’s wonderful law and the gospel. Everyone knows there are deep issues in our nation. Superficial solutions will change nothing. This nation needs a return to the Bible. Charlie understood this, and the Lord’s favor was upon him. May we follow his example of being salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).
We are called to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39). The church needs to be the church. Our nation desperately needs our influence.
Yes, Pastor, you should address Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom in church on Sunday.
