Charlie Kirk: American Martyr?

Before Charlie Kirk’s assassination, I didn’t know anything about him. The name seemed vaguely familiar, but I had no idea of his life and work. Now, I wish I had been following him. I suspect there are many like me, and as some have predicted, his influence will be far greater now than it ever was when he was on this earth.

Martyr?

In our world today, martyrs, or those who are killed because of their faith in Jesus, are mostly in countries where other religions dominate. These include Islamic nations, Hindus (India), Communist countries (where the government is like God), and others. While persecution does exist in the Western countries, it has manifested itself in more verbal ways, and attempted legal restrictions on free speech. There may have been cases where people were killed for their faith in the West, but I don’t know of any.

But now, we have a very public case. Now, the environment has shifted. An outspoken advocate of the Christian faith and its values, has been murdered in a very public setting where he was speaking. Now, we have a very visible case of martyrdom in our country. It is clear from the investigation so far that he was killed for what he believed in and spoke about.

Reactions

This horrific event has brought to the surface the deep divisions in our nation. Some on the far left have celebrated. Others have said that it was his own fault for spewing “hate”, or, the usual mantra “it’s Trump’s fault”. Still others cite the “hate speech” of the far right as responsible for the climate in our culture.

While some on the right may get out of hand, the vast majority, especially Jesus followers, see a different picture. We see many politicians apply the word “fascist” to people who disagree with them. This word refers to Nazi Germany, which maintained repressive control over its people. We see people of faith vilified as “haters”, simply for believing the Bible, it’s moral code, and principles. We see an insistence that everyone must believe as they do, especially in the areas of sexuality and gender. So who are the true “fascists”?

I find more ironies here. The alleged killer texted that one of his movitations was to stop this “hater” (Charlie) from spreading his “hate” any further. So he took his own hate to the extreme of murder, killing a person who didn’t hate, but loved people enough to persuade them to see truth. Look back a few years to the tragic killing of George Floyd by police. The left made this a cause, and many proponents rioted, looted, and burned cities. Charlie Kirk’s supporters had prayer vigils.

Our Reactions

Jesus said, “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). How can we do this? Only by the Holy Spirit, who transforms and changes us to be like Jesus. We fix our eyes on him, “who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). We remember his words from the cross, speaking to his executioners, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). This is what is meant by the scriptural concept of dying to ourselves, and living for God. We consider others more important than ourselves. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them” (Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:12).

Our perspective as believers includes a spiritual dimension. Paul, the Apostle, wrote that as we struggle in this life, “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). We acknowledge the existence of evil, and the deception that results. It’s the reason why some people “call evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20).

Therefore, our response to all of this should birthed in prayer. And we need to “stand against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). We “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15), for God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

The truth is what Charlie Kirk lived for. To debate, to listen, and to persuade many to see the truth. May the Lord give all of us the grace through his Spirit to do this as well. Amen!

Related articles:

If the World Hates You: Persecution

Their Back: the Ancient Gods

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made