Thoughts on Charlie Kirk's Assassination

Eight days ago Charlie Kirk was murdered by a sexual deviant over his views on the transgender debate, which views were based upon his Christian faith, which he often used to explain many of his moral and political beliefs. I agree with many other Christians that Charlie is a martyr for the truth of God. 

I was watching Charlie's rally with the students of Utah Valley University when it happened. When the shooting took place, I was in shock. The first reports were that he had been taken to the hospital and was in critical condition which spurred me to fervently pray for him, as it did for many other Christians. However, in my mind I was sure he was either dead or would die, for the shot tore into his major arteries in his neck. But, I did not know that for sure and prayed that somehow, by God's grace, a miracle would occur and that he would survive. Yet, it was not long till the hospital pronounced him dead. I was so sad and angry too. I loved brother Charlie. I enjoyed his debates with others, being one who studied debate in college and believed in debate.

He was so good at the right kind of debating. He was a modern day Socrates, and like Socrates, was killed because of his beliefs and for his being a "gadfly" to the Athenians. Charlie, like Socrates, knew how to ask his opponents the right questions, how to force them to give logical and coherent defense to their beliefs, and to challenge them with counter arguments. He was very effective at "convincing the gainsayers" (Titus 1: 9).

In my anger at the assassin and of those on the Left, the Liberals in the Democrat Party, I even told God - "Lord, why did you not prevent this? What good do you intend to come to pass by his death?" Since then I have seen the good. Millions of people in this country have held vigils for him. Thousands of new applicants from high schools and colleges to organize Turning Point chapters. Many have turned to the Lord and returned to the church. So, though the killer meant evil in murdering Charlie, God meant it for good. (See Gen. 50: 20) Over a million people walked the streets in London and all over England in memory of Charlie.

We have so many murders today, which is a sign of the last days. (See Rev. 9: 21) Further, it will even get worse when the rider on the red horse causes civil war all over the globe so that it contributes to one fourth of the world's population being slaughtered. (See Rev. 6: 3-8) In many places prosecutors and judges are too lax on criminals, due to liberal ideas such as defunding the police, no bail, etc. Criminals with long rap sheets are let loose to continue their criminality. The death penalty is rarely enforced today. If we want to reduce crime, this must change. If we began hanging murderers in public, it would reduce instances of murder.

It is a sad and depraved state for many to rejoice over the death of Charlie, who left his wife a widow, and his two little children without a father. It reminds me of the prophecy in the Apocalypse where God's two witness prophets are slain by the Antichrist and all the world rejoices and sends gifts one to another. (See Rev. 11: 3-10)

Charlie Kirk was such a large part of my day. Every day from noon till 2pm I listened to him on Real America's Voice. Now I can't do that. It has left a void. I loved him and his commentary. He was such a devoted Christian. Years ago I encouraged my daughter to listen to him.

Just yesterday I was listening to one person on a campus visit ask Charlie whether he believed that water baptism was essential for salvation. He said that he felt like there were good arguments on both sides. He then began to ask the questioner about the thief on the cross and other examples of people who gave their hearts to the Lord and yet could not get baptized. He asked the questioner, in the Socratic method, whether God would not allow such people into heaven. The questioner paused a good while, saying that was a good question, but then stubbornly held on to his belief that water baptism was essential. Still, Charlie challenged him to think more deeply.

I hate that some are misquoting him and misrepresenting his views. One such instance is where he said that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was the "solution." The Catholics (many of whom loved Charlie) jumped on this and tried to make more of that statement than Charlie intended, taking him out of context.

In a July episode of his show, Charlie Kirk said, "Mary is a phenomenal example," and "a counter to so much of the toxicity of feminism in the modern era." That is true, but it is a far cry from believing all that the Catholics say about Mary.

Kirk explained that he believes Protestants do not venerate or talk about Mary enough. He said:

“Mary was clearly important to early Christians.” - “Have more young ladies be pious, be reverent, be full of faith, slow to anger, slow to words at times. Mary is a phenomenal example, and I think a counter to so much of the toxicity of feminism in the modern era.”

“But let me first say, I think we as Protestants and Evangelicals under-venerate Mary. She was very important. She was a vessel for our Lord and Savior. “I think that we, as Evangelicals and Protestants, we've over corrected. We don't talk about Mary enough. We don't venerate her enough. Mary was clearly important to early Christians. There's something there. In fact, I believe one of the ways that we fix toxic feminism in America is that Mary is the solution."

All this is true, but to interpret Charlie as supporting Catholic teaching on Mary is unwarranted. Peter also pointed to Sarah as an example of how women are to live, but that doesn't equate with worshiping Sarah.

Charlie was not an evangelist like Billy Graham or D.L. Moody, although he was from Chicago as was Moody. Just as the disciples asked - "can any good thing come out of Nazareth" (John 1: 46) so we wonder whether anything good can come from Chicago today. Charlie was used by God to save many sinners and is enjoying the promise of God which says: "And those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever." (Dan. 12: 3 nkjv) So, not only does he have the crown of a martyr but the crown of a soul winner for the Lord.

Charlie oozed heavenly wisdom in his dialogues with those who opposed truth and morality. He had that "wisdom that is from above" that James spoke about when he wrote:

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3: 13-18 NKJV)

Charlie manifested "the meekness of wisdom." He did as Paul described to Timothy when he wrote:

"But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will." (II Tim. 2: 23-26 nkjv)

Charlie met earthly and demonic wisdom with the wisdom of God. He was gentle and humble in his attempts to reason with others, even with unreasonable people. Charlie's wisdom produced the "good fruits" enumerated in the above text. Further, he was no hypocrite, but lived by the morals he taught to others. 

He was an "autodidact." He denounced how universities had become indoctrination machines, instilling in young minds devilish wisdom. Charlie ably fought the Sophists of these institutions. He was a man of courage, as John the Baptist who was not afraid to denounce Herod's sin, even though it led Herod to chop off his head. Charlie tried to show how foolish it was to say that men can become women or women becoming men. He pointed people to common sense, to biblical morality, to western values. For this he was hated by evil men. We are living in a day when men "call evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5: 20), and when many are "despisers of those who are good" (II Tim. 3: 3).

Charlie was on the front line in the battle for truth and righteousness, being a "good soldier of Jesus Christ" (II Tim. 2: 3) and he "endured hardness" as such. He fought in the trenches against evil. It reminds me of the song "Keep on the Firing Line." The lyrics are as follows and describe Charlie and all good "Christian Soldiers."

1. If you’re in the battle for the Lord and right, Keep on the firing line; If you win, my brother, surely you must fight, Keep on the firing line. There are many dangers that we all must face, If we die still fighting it is no disgrace; Cowards in the service will not find a place, So keep on the firing line. 

Refrain: Oh, you must fight, be brave against all evil, Never run, nor even lag behind; If you would win for God and the right, Just keep on the firing line.

2. God will only use the soldier He can trust, Keep on the firing line; If you’ll wear a crown then bear the cross you must, Keep on the firing line. Life is but to labor for the Master dear, Help to banish evil and to spread good cheer; Great you’ll be rewarded for your service here, So keep on the firing line. 

3. When we get to heaven, brother, we’ll be glad, Keep on the firing line; How we’ll praise the Savior for the call we had, Keep on the firing line. When we see the souls that we have helped to win, Leading them to Jesus, from the paths of sin, With a shout of welcome, we will all march in, So keep on the firing line.

Charlie was murdered for doing good. He was like our Lord in this respect, who "went about doing good" (Acts 10: 38) and was hated for it. 

The work of the Lord will go on. Charlie's death has inspired many to volunteer to become one of the soldiers in the army of the Lord. So, "Onward Christian Soldiers"!  

Our prayers are with Charlie's wife, children, and family.