Courage to Stand
As I sit here composing this article, it is the day after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. My heart is broken, and my soul is grieving over a man whom I’ve never met yet was someone for whom I had great respect and admiration. I also recognize that I’m not alone in experiencing this anguish and feeling a profound sense of loss. Like me, countless people throughout our country and nations around the world are hurting, angry, and exhausted with the evil that continues plague the culture and communities of our day. Perhaps you are one of them.
A Nation Shaken by Tragedy
To be completely honest, Charlie’s death has hit me…hard. But why? Why does this feel so much more impactful than other tragedies I’ve experienced? I lived through the terrible events of 9/11. I remember the Boston Marathon Bombing. I can recall the Oklahoma City bombing and Los Angeles riots of the nineties and haven’t forgotten the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle in the eighties. More recently, I watched Minneapolis burn in flames in the wake of George Floyd’s death right here in my own backyard, and it was only last year since the assassination attempt on Donald Trump while campaigning for his second presidency. So, what’s so different about the heartbreaking murder of Charlie?
Reflecting on what happened yesterday and examining the reactions and responses that have occurred since, I think this is hitting differently because in the wake of what took place, it seems as if a giant mirror has been held up to all of us Americans. In its reflection, we see with unambiguous clarity where we are at as a country – culturally, politically, and spiritually, both the good and the bad. We see an abhorrent act of evil and hatred carried out by one person against another that leaves so many of us wondering, how did we get here? How have things gotten so bad that someone is martyred for simply voicing their opinion? We see a husband who will no longer be present to love his wife, widowed at such a lamentably young age. We see children robbed of a loving father who will be unable to watch and cherish them as they grow up. We see a courageous young man who was willing to dialogue with those who disagreed with him and had boldness to declare his Christian faith in a world where many have become fearful to do so. We also see the vile and inhumane responses of those who gleefully celebrate the death of another human being. We see.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with, or have never heard the name Charlie Kirk before, he was one of the youngest and most impactful voices to arise in America in this current generation. Because of social media, Charlie’s voice impacted millions in America and around the globe. Often seen as a political speaker, he was known for openly debating from a conservative position with others on college campuses, aspiring to create understanding and enlightenment in the minds of those with whom he disagreed. Yet, it was Charlie’s faith in Jesus Christ and the Godly values found in the Bible that informed his political beliefs and views. Charlie outspokenly and unapologetically professed his faith in Jesus and frequently exhorted others to place their trust in Christ. It was this foundation of faith that drove Charlie to courageously stand for moral, ethical, and Biblical truth so often challenged by the social, economic, and political issues of our day. Instead of advocating for lawlessness or violence, he employed reason and intellect to voice his opinions. And for that, he was murdered.
While this circumstance may feel different on a personal level, the sad reality is that terrible acts of hatred and violence against those who stand for righteousness, including murder, is as old as Cain and Abel. The Bible says there is “nothing new under the sun” and “that which has been is that which will be (Ec. 1:9).” Charlie falls among a long list of Christians who were persecuted and died standing for truth. When it comes to speaking truth, there is with it an inherent and unavoidable risk of receiving anger, disagreement, rejection, hatred, and even hostility in response. In other words, there is a cost to speaking truth and the question that one must ask is, “is it worth the risk?”
The Cost of Speaking Truth
Looking to Scripture, we find many examples of those who counted the cost and suffered because of their courage to stand for truth, even to the point of death. Jesus Himself, after woefully calling out the religious leaders of His day, acknowledged Israel’s history of killing and stoning the prophets God sent to them and predicted this to be an ongoing trend into their future (Mt. 23:31-37). Included among these is the prophet Zechariah who was stoned to death in the courtyard of the Jewish temple for calling out the idolatrous sin of the people of Judah (2 Ch. 24:18-21). Also among these is John the Baptist, the greatest of the prophets, who was beheaded for condemning the unlawful marriage of King Herod to his sister-in-law, Herodias (Mt. 11:11, Mk. 6:18-28). Let’s not forget Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who also was publicly stoned to death for chastising the religious leaders of Israel for resisting the Holy Spirit, killing the prophets of old, and murdering Jesus of whom they foretold (Ac. 8:51-60). James, the son of Zebedee, was slain by the sword at the command of Herod for being a follower of Jesus (Ac. 12:1-2) and according to historically documented accounts of the church fathers, the Apostle Peter was crucified for his devotion to Christ which was so strong, he requested to be crucified upside down as he esteemed himself unworthy to die in the same manner as his Savior. Though Peter’s death isn’t corroborated by Scripture directly, Jesus’ prophecy in John 21:18-19 about Peter’s future demise can certainly be viewed as an allusion to it. These heroes of the faith are just a few of the names among countless examples from history such as Polycarp, Justin Martyr, John Huss, John Wycliffe, William Tyndale, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and others who counted the cost, stood firm in their faith in Jesus, and proclaimed truth.
The Example of Christ
Of course, the strongest and most prominent example of someone whose life was taken for declaring truth in an environment of hostility, is Jesus Himself. In the opening chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus’ life is described as the “Light of men (Jn. 1:4).” John then articulates, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (Jn. 1:5).” The idea being conveyed here is that in Jesus’ life the righteousness, truth, and holiness of God was embodied and manifested to a hostile world darkened by sin, wickedness, and evil. Yet, it’s precisely because of that love of sin and animosity toward God, that the world rejected Christ and everything He stood for, torturing and slaying Him upon the cross. Things are no different today. The world in which we live still rejects and expresses hostility to God’s truth.
The reality is, there are only two kingdoms: good vs. evil, right vs. wrong. light vs. darkness, life vs. death. The battle we fight as Christians in America isn’t one of politics, it is a spiritual battle for the soul of our nation as we declare truth, stand for righteousness, and point people to Jesus. But as we do, as we proclaim the good news of the Gospel, we must recognize the unavoidable risk that accompanies speaking truth and muster the courage to stand, even in the face of persecution. Jesus warned those who would follow Him, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you” and “…a slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (Jn. 15:18, 20a).
The Courage to Stand Today
Charlie understood this risk, counted the cost, took a stand, and for that, he paid a price. But this was a price he knew was worth the risk, and through his amazing life and even by his death, he set a powerful example for the rest of us. Like a modern-day Stephen, his courageous ambition to speak the truth in love cost him everything, the result of which has shaken this nation to its core. Yet, out of this horrific tragedy, a spark of renewed interest has been ignited in the hearts and minds of many who are turning to Jesus as they search for answers and try to make sense of what happened. Even some of Charlie’s fiercest opponents have condemned what took place, finding themselves at a loss and grieving over what happened, and for that I am thankful. I am thankful for those who, despite having different political beliefs, acknowledge that this was an act of evil and find common ground in valuing the right to express one’s mind and have their voices heard.
The Way Forward: Love, Forgiveness, and Faith
So, where do we go from here? How are we as Christians to move forward in the wake of such a dark event? It’s tempting to lash out in anger. It’s appealing to desire revenge for the sadness and sorrow within us. For many of us, Charlie’s assassination feels like a personal attack due to the shared Christian values and beliefs he espoused. However, the proper response to such hatred is found in the words of Jesus, “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Mt. 5:44)” which Charlie modeled so well. Hatred and evil cannot be driven out by more of the same. Any hope of effecting real change will come through communicating God’s love found in His Son, Jesus. But that, my friends, is sometimes easier said than done. It requires dependence on the Spirit of God who supplies the strength and courage needed to obey Christ’s admonition, “…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me (Lk. 9:23)”. We must die to ourselves. We must crucify our fleshly desires and instead, yield our hearts in obedience to God. I can think of no greater example of this than when Jesus Himself, while suffering in anguish upon the cross, cried out to God the Father, “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do,” interceding for the very ones who hated and were killing Him (Lk. 23:34).
Love. Forgiveness. Sacrifice. These are the Godly qualities that characterized Jesus and were reflected in the life of Charlie Kirk. May all of us who bear the title, “Christian,” truly follow the example set by our Lord and Savior along with those who have gone before us who had the courage to stand for truth despite the unavoidable risk. Just as Charlie knew, Jesus is worthy of that risk. As you look to the days ahead, may you find comfort and boldness as you reflect on the words that Charlie is surely hearing from his beloved Savior which we all long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Rest in peace, Charlie. Thank you for your example. You will be missed.