I am heartbroken for Charlie Kirk’s wife and young children. I have been praying for God to strengthen and comfort them in a time that is incomprehensible to the rest of us.
And I am angry. What kind of nation do we live in where a man cannot speak clearly, openly, honestly, and with great reason—about his faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, about his strong moral stance rooted in God’s Word, and about his deep love for this country and its people—without paying for it with his life?
Who was Charlie Kirk? I would say that, first and foremost, he would describe himself as a Christian. His strong moral beliefs, rooted in his study of God’s Word, shaped the way he engaged with others—inviting them into conversations about why they believe what they believe. He was deeply committed to seeking truth—not just “his truth,” but what is true for all.
Charlie went to college campuses and encouraged people to ask questions and present their arguments. I never heard him belittle someone for holding a different belief, yet he never backed down from defending his own stance with clear reasoning. Trained in the Socratic method, he engaged in dialogue thoughtfully, using syllogisms and reasoned discussion to explore ideas in the marketplace of thought.
His beliefs led him to be conservative in his political stance. Our moral convictions flow from our understanding of Scripture and influence every area of our lives, including our political views. While many try to separate the two, the beliefs that shape us inevitably shape our worldview. In a country that is governed by its people, those convictions naturally ripple out into the polity. And while you may not agree with every conclusion he reached, you should surely agree that he had the right to live in a nation where he could freely express those opinions—and even use his reasoning and critical thinking to persuade others.
According to his wife, he was a wonderful father, a loving husband, and a leader in their family. He was a man to be admired for living out in private what he professed in public.
Again, I can’t get over the fact that this young man—only 31 years old—was taken from this life simply for living the life he professed. Because of his faith, his convictions, and his dedication to truth, he had a profound influence on many.
So, why in the wake of his murder, is there an outcry against the grief that is being publicly expressed over his death? Why are some trying to compare his assassination to the tragic deaths of children in school shootings? Yes, our country did just experience yet another tragic incident involving a student senselessly shooting students at a Colorado High School. Two students were shot and injured. The shooter, also a student, turned the gun on himself, taking his own life. Our hearts break for the families of those children.
But, where exactly is the comparison? School shootings, horrific as they are, are often followed by attempts to rationalize the violence—as if there could ever be a reasonable reason to commit such an act. Whether in words, writings, or manifestos, those faulty justifications are typically grievance-based, morally warped, ideologically inconsistent, or self-justifying—never sound moral or legal defenses. The victims are rarely targeted for their faith, beliefs, or message, but are instead caught in the path of chaos. The grief that follows those tragedies is real and raw, and I have never once heard anyone defend a school shooter. What we hear is heartbreak, compassion, and sorrow for the families left behind.
But Charlie Kirk’s death is different. This was no random act of senseless violence. This was a targeted, deliberate act meant to silence a man whose very life was dedicated to reasoned debate, truth-telling, and bold faith. One precise shot. One clear intention: to stop his voice.
That is why the grief feels different. That is why the anger is sharper. Because this was not chaos. This was an assassination. Cold-blooded murder.
And yet, even here, we must remember: gun violence is not the issue. I say this because typically guns are blamed for the violence problem…even though it usually takes a person on a mission to pull the trigger. At its root, it is a heart issue. A heart so hardened by hatred, sin, and rage that it believes a bullet can silence truth. Until hearts are transformed, until lives are changed by Christ, violence will continue to flow from broken people in a broken world
God Himself speaks in Ezekiel 36:26–27:
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”
While this was first spoken to the nation of Israel, it is deeply relevant to our hearts today. We all need to pray this verse for ourselves. May we live and move with the Spirit of God living within us, bringing us to repentance and giving us humble hearts toward the broken, both in ourselves and in others. May He remove the lies that have become triggers in our hearts, lies that twist words into meanings never intended or implied.
We have been so ingrained with the deceptions of the enemy in this nation that we no longer recognize truth when it is spoken. Too often, we hear only what our itching ears want to hear. But God’s Word calls us higher—toward truth, toward repentance, and toward hearts made new in Him.
And as we are transformed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, I pray that each of us will boldly proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to this broken world, so that we, too, may hear from our heavenly Father, just as I am sure Charlie now hears:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
