How do we respond to the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk?

A Call to Boldness in a Dark Hour

Normally, during our Sunday services, we do not vary from our order of worship. But, after the past week’s events, after much prayer, our elders decided to do something different. We felt that we could not let the moment pass without speaking clearly about our nation, our calling as Christians, and the courage required of us today. The following is an adapted version of the statement that I shared with our congregation on Sunday morning regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk:

A Sobering Moment

As you know, Charlie Kirk was killed for his faith last week. He was a man who lived boldly under the Lordship of Christ, not only in private but also in public, not only in the church but also in the realm of politics and culture. And because he would not bow to the lies of our age, he was hated and ultimately martyred. I want us to be clear about why.

Faith and Politics: An Inseparable Connection

The Christian life necessarily affects every part of who we are, including our politics. Many people assert that it is possible to profess Christianity while embracing any political viewpoint they like. This perspective suggests that one’s faith and political beliefs can exist independently, with no necessary connection between the two.

However, the events of the past week reveal the faulty nature of this notion. The reality is that our beliefs shape every aspect of our lives, including how we engage with the world around us. As Christians, our calling compels us to let our faith inform our convictions, actions, and even our stance on political matters. Indifference or neutrality is not an option when the truths of the Gospel are at stake.

Do not buy the lie that you can be a Christian and believe whatever you like, or that it doesn’t matter what party you support; all of it matters. The Bible tells us that there is one holy God, that He created us male and female, that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that every human life is precious and worthy of equal protection. God has given us principles that shape reality and principles for living that must shape the way we think, vote, and act. If we are serious about living for Jesus, then there is no area or sphere of our lives where He is not Lord. He is just as much Lord over our politics as He is over our salvation.

Charlie Kirk believed that. He stood on those truths. And because he did, because he lived as a witness to Christ’s Lordship over all of life, he was killed by someone who hated those very truths. That makes Charlie a martyr. The word “martyr” means witness, and Charlie bore faithful witness to God’s truth in life and in death, and I am thankful for his bold example. His death has already had more impact on the believers of our nation in these past days than we have seen in many years.  

For many of us, martyrdom is something we associate with distant lands: Christians in the Middle East, Asia, or under brutal dictatorships. But now, martyrdom is here. It is on American soil. And that means something profound for us: If they could kill him for his witness, they could kill us, too.

What This Moment Demands

In light of these events, three things are clear:

1. Easy-believism will not hold. The health-and-wealth gospel and “feel-good Christianity” crumble under persecution. What our nation desperately needs is the blazing hot gospel of Jesus Christ, the truth that saves the soul, warms the heart, and moves the feet into bold obedience.
2. There is no neutrality. Fence-sitting is not an option. Silence and cowardice are what brought us here. To shrink back now would be to fear man rather than God. It is not that we are going out of our way to offend; we are simply standing upon the truth of God’s Word and saying, “Thus saith the Lord.”
3. Following Christ has a cost. The Apostles knew it. The Reformers knew it. The Puritans knew it. The Covenanters knew it. Global Christians today know it. And now we must know it. Christianity in America is no longer comfortable. There has always been a cost for following Christ; we have simply been blessed to have been spared from much of the physical cost. We must be willing to give our lives for the sake of the Gospel. Prayerfully, it will not come to that, but we must be ready and willing to give our lives for the Gospel.

Power, Love, and Self-Control

So how do we respond to all of this? In moments like this, our response must be dictated by the words of Scripture.

“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
—2 Timothy 1:7

• Not fear. Fear is not from God. We do not have a spirit of fear. We do not cower. We do not tremble. Why? Because our God is sovereign. He ordains all things. He takes what is meant for evil and turns it for good. He works all things for His glory and our ultimate good. We do not fear, for as Paul’s letter to the Philippians teaches, to live is Christ and to die is gain. The worst they can do to us is kill us, and that is a promotion. If you find yourself afraid to speak boldly for Christ, or fearful about raising children in such a dark and hostile age, remember this: that fear is not from God. Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid.
• Instead, power. The very power of God is with us, emboldening us to speak, to act, to stand. And so, boldness should mark us. Power is not just the opposite of fear; it is also the opposite of weakness. Too many people will say, “There’s nothing we can do,” or they’ll rage for a week on social media and then slip back into silence. Our response as believers should not be temporary outbursts, but consistent boldness demonstrating the power of God in us.
• And love. We overcome hatred not with bitterness, but with a greater love: love for God, His truth, and His people.  Let the world see our loves, and let them know that our love is stronger than their hatred. Let them see that we are passionate about the Lord. Let them understand that we love God and His truth more than we love our own lives. Let them know that we will not back down. Not because we hate them, but because we love God and we desire to see people follow Him as Lord by His grace through the Gospel.
• And self-control. Scripture says, “Be angry, and do not sin.” Just as many are fearful or sad, there are very many of us who are angry. Angry that this could happen, angry that a wife is a widow and that two children are fatherless. Angry that things are the way they are. It is important to note that anger is not a sin, but it can easily become one. Hence, the Scriptural warning to “be angry and do not sin.” As one pastor has rightly noted, righteous anger that does not lead to righteous action is like dairy; it quickly curdles into unrighteous anger. We cannot be led by emotions, as they are cruel masters. We must be led by the truth of God’s Word, steady and firm, walking in obedience. So, what do we do with this anger? We pray. The Psalms are full of imprecations. This is simply a prayer asking the Lord to deal with the wicked. Psalm 58:6 says, “break the teeth of the wicked O Lord.” This is a prime example of an imprecation. It is perfectly good for us to pray that God would judge the wicked. So, we pray, but we also proclaim. We allow that passion and zeal from our anger to merge with our power and love so that we proclaim the truth of the Gospel in love with boldness. But we do not allow our anger to lead us into sin. Instead, we demonstrate the self-control of those led by the Holy Spirit.

How Then Shall We Live?

This is no time to check out. This is the time to lock in. Men, rise up in faith. Lead your families with courage. Defend the defenseless. Serve the church with zeal. Women, stand strong in love and joy. Support your families. Nurture the next generation. Serve the church with gladness. And together as the church, let us pray, proclaim, and persevere.

A Call to Prayer

Let us grieve, but not as those without hope. Let us resolve to stand. Let us bear witness boldly. Let us live and, if called upon, die under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. And let us pray. Pray for our nation. Pray for the Kirk family. Pray for the church. Pray for courage, holiness, and faithfulness in our time. May God raise up a generation of believers who will not fear, but who will shine as lights in this dark age.