Wake up, America!

Unlike many Americans who knew of Charlie Kirk and were acquainted with his organization, Turning Point USA, my husband and I learned of him through his tragic death. Being in South Carolina for a quick getaway, we had some extra time to research, listen to many of his debates, and hear of his story. As a young man with a dream in his heart for free speech, the critical thinking of American students, healthy debate, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed to a nation that has long forgotten, Charlie accomplished more in his life than most of us ever will.

Regardless of whether or not people agree with the conservative political views of Charlie Kirk, it is undeniable that he was committed to his cause. The courage it takes to stand for your beliefs in the face of mockers, knowing that you are risking your life daily to do so, is commendable. However, Charlie didn’t just stand courageously in the face of the mockers, he routinely welcomed them into discussion and heard them out on the issues close to their hearts as well. In so doing, Charlie opened himself up for scrutiny. As we are seeing displayed all over the internet after his death, his conversations have been sliced and diced and taken out of context for a world of unresearched individuals to take in and use to defame his character and misrepresent his ideals. The internet and television are such a blessing in many ways, but it is no secret that with anything God can use for good, the enemy will use for evil. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, this week, incorrect character or political conclusions of Charlie Kirk. With a little time and research, the vast majority of these accusations, when seen in their contextual framework and entirety, were proven false. Was he perfect? Absolutely not. Were there things that he likely would’ve taken back given the chance? It is likely. Was he ever sarcastic? Most definitely. However, when hearing about Charlie from people on both political sides (Gavin Newsome, Nikki Fried among some of the Democrats), Charlie was known as an unapologetic Christ follower who lived his life in a way that brought encouragement even in the midst of disagreement. We need to get to a place in society where we stop mindlessly ingesting information. God has given us minds that can think and reason. He has given us His word to read and know, so that we can TEST the spirits and see if they are of God or not. 1 John 4:1. If we aren’t willing to engage our minds and research adequately what is being said, we are foolish and perpetually living in the game of telephone where incorrect information is passed along as truth and spread like gossip. Repent, friend, if you have been in this cycle. Repent of the gossip you have accepted and spread. Repent of being ill-researched and blindly accepting information as fact that you haven’t researched in its entirety from a VARIETY of viewpoints on both sides of the aisle. Repent if you have allowed yourself to be led by an unbiblical empathy that causes you to not only accept sin as permissive, but cheers on those that partake in it. We have got to agree with God, as believers in Christ, in what he says is good, right, and true. Without reading our bibles, we don’t know the God in whom we proclaim. Without biblical knowledge renewing our minds, WE WILL be conformed to this world.

Now more than ever, we are able to see the clash between good and evil. Perhaps you or your parents grew up with a more mellow, moderate Democratic party. That is not the Democratic Party of our day. I am not saying that all Democrats are violent, or that there aren’t even some things in the democratic agenda that I agree with. However, take note of the response to Charlie’s assassination. We don’t see rioting in the streets, businesses closing due to fear of violence, or cities lit up in flames. We see peaceful vigils being held. So where is the hate predominantly? Where is evil predominantly showing it’s face? The battle lines have been drawn deeper, not just politically, but spiritually. The enemy has used his minions for years to parade around as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14-15), but the disguise has been removed and the evil is seen without abandon and not only accepted, but praised!

Should we be surprised that when the angels in Heaven rejoice at the homecoming of a Christ follower that the demons cry out in rejoicing as well? But, he is so short-sighted. This ancient deceiver, the father of lies, frequently forgets the end of the story. Our God has already won! Jesus is the victor! As Charlie himself said, “All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.”

So what now? What about those who are ready to jump in the spiritual fight for good over evil. Repentance is needed for us too. Maybe you have lots of theology, but your heart isn’t breaking for the lost soul of the shooter and all those who are cheering on the death of a human being. Let’s remember the example of our Lord as He died on the cross. To those who hung him there and likely beat his body He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34a

Hate in our hearts toward people who disagree with us is murder in God’s eyes. (1 John 3:15) We must pray for the Lord to remind us that our hearts are desperately wicked and evil. We are just as guilty as the next person, and would be experiencing the same repercussions of that sin and guilt had in not been for the precious blood of Jesus. He took that payment for us. What a gift! He saved us. He brought us from death to life. DESPITE, not because of anything we have done. So, Christian, may we humble ourselves before the Lord. May we pray for godly sorrow that leads us to repentance DAILY. May we hunger and thirst for righteousness, in order to shine His light in the darkness. Let us join together in pleading with the Lord for humility and boldness that propels us to share the truth of Heaven and Hell, the gospel of repentance and surrender to Jesus Christ, and the calling to GO and sin no more from the rooftops. Let us not let Charlie’s blood, and more importantly Jesus’ shed blood be taken for granted. But, let it give us courage, faith, assurance, and a fan to the flame of the gift within us.