A Tribute to Charlie Kirk

Since yesterday afternoon, like many of you, I’ve sat scrolling in numb silence. Charlie Kirk has been assassinated. He was a generational leader for Biblical truth and conservative cultural values. He was an authentic and decent Christian man.  He was killed because he was a powerful and unapologetic voice for truth. The forces of evil could not overcome the truth he proclaimed, so they shot him.

This is not the first time evil has attempted to silence the truth with violence. It has always been their way.  Throughout time, brutal dictators and cruel regimes have wielded cruelty to silence the truth that would set people free. Those empires now lie in ruins, and the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ has prevailed. Yesterday, they stilled Charlie’s voice, but they will never silence the message. Truth and righteousness will always prevail.

Charlie Kirk lit a flame within a generation of young adults. He lit the flame of truth, common sense, and conservative moral values. He encouraged his followers to get married and have a family. He encouraged young adults toward trades rather than expensive and useless college degrees. Most importantly, he was a bold and fearless contender for Christ.

In the days to come, we will lay to rest one of the best young leaders in a generation. We will wonder where we go from here. Who will arise to take up his mantle of leadership that fell to the ground yesterday afternoon? Who will rise to brandish the torch of truth, the gospel, and the way of Jesus Christ? Charlie not only lit the flame within a generation, but he also placed that flaming torch of truth within their hands, and ours.

Because this faithful man followed the call of God upon his life, there is a throng of young people waiting in the wings. He forged a new highway; he exposed the fallacies of the accepted path and rescued a generation. Like lemmings, many were destined to hurl themselves off the same cliff as their companions. However, they stopped to listen to Charlie’s compelling message of truth delivered with clarity and kindness. In so doing, he galvanized a movement, a force for truth, for Biblical morality, and for the gospel of Christ.

This moment was foisted upon us yesterday without warning, but Charlie invested in a generation so there would be other young leaders waiting in the wings. His mission was never self-exalting, but about raising and equipping others to brandish the torch of truth he placed in their hands. Because Charlie was faithful, there is not just one or two young leaders rising; there is a throng. The way we honor Charlie’s legacy, and most of all honor Christ, is to follow Charlie’s lead.  Speak boldly, unapologetically. Listen with patience and respond with compassion, logic, and Biblical truth.

Evil ended Charlie’s earthly life, but in the process delivered him into the waiting arms of Jesus. Charlie is home. We mourn the loss; we grieve for his widow and young children. We wonder who will rise to stand in the gap. We will rise. Yesterday, evil tried to crush a powerful work of God. However, the cross and empty tomb have already spoken. Evil will never win.

 It didn’t win at the cross, and it will not win now. For as Scripture says: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Psalm 119: 89