September 10, 2025. I still remember where I was when I heard the news: "Charlie Kirk got shot." When he died, I was stunned. Like, I could not believe what had just happened. Charlie Kirk? Assassinated? At 31 years old? That stuff is not supposed to happen. My brother in Christ was taken from me! He was taken from his wife and kids. He was taken from everybody who loved him and looked up to him. That hurt. It still hurts. I had only seen Charlie Kirk live on two occasions. And it was enough to let me know that this man loved Jesus. It wasn't just about politics for him. He took his faith seriously. And it left me wondering: how could something so horrible happen?
This is not the kind of thing I even want to talk about. I'm not super into the online political world. And I don't even know that I've fully processed Charlie's death. But I don’t have to feel qualified to step up and do what I need to. God gave me a voice and I have something to say. And what I want to share are three ways this tragedy is changing me and growing me.
The first thing is remembering that I lost a fellow believer. Charlie was my brother in Christ. I didn’t know him. But I didn’t have to. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV).” Those who have put their faith in Christ are part of one family. And it's so easy to lose sight of that. It’s so easy to have looked at Charlie when he was alive and thought, “This is just a rich, conservative celebrity.” No! Charlie was a human being, just like everybody else!
Regardless of how famous a Christian is, they are still our brother/sister in the Lord. And if we remembered that, think how our conversations would change. We would remember to love somebody like Charlie. We would pray for them and show them honor when we spoke about them. We might celebrate the work they’re doing for the Kingdom of God. And even if we can’t celebrate what they’re doing... Even if we have valid criticisms and concerns, we still remember that we are on the same team at the end of the day. We remember to show forbearance.
The second thing I realized after Charlie died was the importance of his mission. Obviously, he was a political figure. And I'll be honest with you: I’ve generally tried to stay away from the political discussions that happen online. I feel like they easily breed emotions of anger, toxicity, vilifying people, etc. Politics essentially turns into entertainment: a way for me to root for my favorite sports team in a sense. But at a fundamental level, political conversations need to be had. I don’t feel Christians do the Church any favors by shying away or fading into neutrality when it’s time to speak up on an important moral and political issue. Lives are at stake. Unborn lives are at stake. Children’s lives are at stake. The wellbeing of humanity is at stake.
Now let me be clear: I am not a fan of a lot of the popular conservative figures on the internet. I feel like, in large part, they’ve created a culture that is not Christian. A culture that is not loving, not gracious, and I don't want my own spirit to become affected. It's very hard to find people who do politics and Christianity well. Charlie Kirk himself was not perfect. I don't think he always created the most Christ-like culture when he spoke and hosted his events. However, he did do a lot of good. He did bring Jesus into the conversation. He wasn’t ashamed to talk about his faith. And I’d love to see more of that in the conservative world. Not just saying you’re a Christian, but actually representing Christ in the way you speak and behave.
Oftentimes, politics takes the place of a genuine love for Christ, and I think Charlie was one of the few exceptions. Because of him, I’m reminded that political conversations do matter. And just because political conversations get handled the wrong way, with insulting; biting; slander; etc., doesn't mean that a political conversation can never be handled the right way. Maybe you and I can be the exception! We don’t avoid the hard political conversations. But have those conversations in a Christ-like manner. With temperament, humility, reason, meekness, love. I know the rhetoric of some is that if we’re not aggressive, we’re not gonna win anything. I want to challenge that notion. If we’re relying on aggression, then we’re turning to the flesh rather than turning to God. God is all powerful. He can shift the atmosphere. He can change hearts and minds. When we try to use aggressive, fleshly, worldly tactics to win arguments, we’re trying to play God and that’s a dangerous place to be.
Our job as Christians is to speak the truth in love and conviction, and then leave God to do the rest. “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:5–7 ESV).”
And then finally, I believe that Charlie’s passing should be our inspiration to pick up his torch, step up, and press into the calling God has placed on our lives! What is God calling you to do? Is he calling you to speak? Share the gospel? Serve? Create content? Go on mission? Be bold and do something for God! Don’t cower in fear. And I know you feel unqualified. I feel unqualified. We’re both unqualified. But check this out: Jesus once did a crazy miracle. Simon Peter saw it and said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” But Jesus replies, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men (Luke 5:8,10 ESV).”
I want you to hear Jesus saying to you: Do not be afraid! God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies those calls. And obviously, don’t just do something on a whim. Give it prayer and consideration. Ask God how He wants to use you and listen for what He says. God might give you an assignment. He might stir some passion within you. Or He might even convict you to just deal with some sin in your own life.
But sometimes, He might not give you a clear instruction and you gotta just take a chance. Sometimes, you just gotta make a decision and see where it leads you. If God is with you, He can confirm that. And if God is not in favor of what you’re doing, He can show you that as well. Just stay humble, surrendered, and teachable. But don’t be paralyzed. Don’t fall into the paralysis by analysis.
I’m sure Charlie Kirk had his own doubts and qualms. But at the end of the day, he decided to stake a stand for what is right. He made a few mistakes. He was learning and growing, just like you and I are. But ultimately, we remember Charlie for his faith and the fight he fought for the truth. So let’s have that same vigor!
Remember that your fellow believers are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Remember not to shy away from speaking the truth in love on the hard political topics. And remember to take a stand and start doing something for God! May the Lord bless you, and all praise, all honor, all glory be to God forever in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! Amen and amen!
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