This week, political violence struck as conservative political pundit Charlie Kirk was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University. The shocking event has elicited a wide array of reactions. How should Christians respond?"
"He's gone."
That was one of many versions of a final update regarding Charlie Kirk after he was shot during a speaking engagement in Utah on Wednesday. This particular one came from one of Turning Point USA's social media pages. The non-profit organization that Kirk started over a decade ago announced his passing shortly after the shooting.
There will be no video links to the murder in this story. At the time of this writing, the alleged shooter has just been apprehended. Much more information about who he is and the full motivations behind his heinous act will come to light soon. This piece will not be about those things.
Instead, this story will simply serve as a somber reflection on the latest example of political violence in the United States and how Christians should respond (and not respond) in the face of this tragedy.
Kirk, one of the most prominent names in conservative activism, was killed taking part in one of his "Prove Me Wrong" debates. As he often did, Kirk traveled to a college campus, inviting questions from both supporters and challengers.
There is plenty of room for discussion and some disagreement regarding Kirk's political stances. Some of the challenges against him stem from out-of-context social media clips, rather than fully accurate representations of his beliefs. Others were, perhaps, more merited, as Kirk was not opposed to making stronger claims than necessary at times. All of his stances, though, came from an attempt to remain aligned with biblical teachings (more on that later).
Regardless of political ideology or rhetorical strategies, what happened at Utah Valley was unimaginably awful. A 31-year-old man had his life ended prematurely. A non-violent person who called for ongoing political discourse was murdered. His wife and two young children will not have their husband and father around any more. The graphic video exists online and will never go away.
That is nothing short of tragic.
Who was Charlie Kirk?
For many, Charlie Kirk's legacy will be one that is primarily about his place in the world of American politics. After all, he was one of the biggest influences in modern conservative politics, especially among younger conservatives. He helped campaign for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump when he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden and when he defeated Biden in 2024.
However, a closer look at Kirk shows that he was a Christian who worked in politics, not a political pundit who happened to be a Christian.
This summer, he was asked about how he hoped to be remembered in the future. His response was simple. "I want to be remembered for courage for my faith," Kirk said. "That would be the most important thing; the most important thing is my faith."
Any full viewing of a Prove Me Wrong debate (many of which are still available online) included multiple professions of his faith in Christ. Kirk said variations of the same thing almost every time out: "I am a sinner. Jesus saved my life. He defeated death so that we could live."
At its most basic level, this articulates the crux of the gospel message: through the undeserved death on the cross and supernatural resurrection from the grave of Jesus Christ, the loving Messiah has made it possible for sinners to be saved and brought into right relationship with God. Romans 5:8 expresses this very idea. "...but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
It would be unwise to paint Kirk as a perfect person simply because he was a Christian or because he expoused certain political beliefs. He, himself, would not have agreed with that type of characterization. He was flawed, and sometimes that was reflected in his views or in the way he spoke to people, just as it would for anyone else. However, he clearly grasped the nature of his failings and his need for a Savior. He sought to honor God with his work and his outreach.
It was because of his desire to live in a God-honoring way that Kirk took political debate in a direction not often seen. He met young people where they were (typically on college campuses), invited them to talk, and promised his best attempts at answers.
Sometimes his responses were unfairly framed in an unflattering light because of the nature of short clips on social media. Sometimes, in his humanity, he failed to avoid curtness when addressing stances with which he disagreed. Even so, though he disliked the word due to its overuse in modern society, Kirk arrived at these conversations with a certain type of empathy that is not common. He desired to meet with individuals who didn't agree with his beliefs on Christianity or on politics. And he did this because he cared about them and the people around them.
Kirk also never encouraged violence. In fact, he did the opposite. One of his most commonly expressed views was his belief that senseless violence is a direct result of the dehumanization that occurs when individuals refuse to communicate. "When discourse ends, violence begins" and "When people stop talking, that's when violence happens" are just two Kirk quotes that summarize that belief.
Intertwined into his political persuasion attempts and abundant moments of personal testimony, Charlie Kirk was also a Christian apologist. He helped many skeptics see the historical realities of the Bible, the documented Truth contained within the pages of Scripture.
Because that is who Kirk was, he made his beliefs well-known. His often-recited value system consisted of three core tenets that supersede all else. In this order, Kirk's entire belief system could be summed up: "Faith, family, and country."
His country was obviously important to him, as he built his career on political discussion. By all accounts, he was a strong husband, father, and family man. And he boldly professed his relationship with Christ.
Based on that profession of Charlie Kirk's faith in the perfect work of the Messiah, Christians, though saddened, can rejoice in full expectation that he is alongside his Savior. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord."
How should Christians react to this tragedy?
Understandably, there have been many strong reactions to Kirk's killing.
The political assassination has left many Christians feeling gutted and angry. Others are saddened and confused. Still more have a rotten combination of all of those emotions gnawing at their stomachs.
Most public reactions to what happened on Wednesday have been appropriate; they have expressed sadness over Kirk's untimely death and fearful disappointment at yet another example of political violence in America.
Unfortunately, though, because Kirk was a political figure, there have been plenty of reactions across America–from both sides of the political aisle–that are completely devoid of empathetic thought or Christ-like morality.
There have been some liberal voters in this country who have celebrated this murder because they didn't like Kirk or his stances. Simply put, that is utterly wicked and shows the reality that this world is fallen. Thankfully, many in this camp have faced social or even employment-related consequences due to gross public comments.
There have also been some conservatives who have responded with calls for vengeance. Not only is that something that can snowball into a continuous cycle of violence and other conflicts, but it is also unacceptable for Christians; that is noteworthy, as many who identify politically as conservatives also claim to be believers. Paul gives a very clear command in Romans 12:19 (via a quote from Deuteronomy 32:35), "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord."
Below are 10 realities clearly laid out in Scripture that Christians must remember as they work to process their thoughts and manage their reactions following Charlie Kirk's murder. These won't come with additional personal commentary. Instead, God's Word will stand on its own.
- This world is wicked and full of sin.
Romans 5:12- "...just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned..."
Mark 7:21-23- "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." - Loss of life matters to God.
Psalm 116:15- "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
Ezekiel 18:32- "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live." - The Lord provides comfort in times of mourning and sadness.
Psalm 34:18- "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
Matthew 5:4- "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." - God remains in control, and nothing happens outside of His divine sovereignty.
Job 42:2- "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
Jeremiah 32:17- "‘Ah, Lord God! It is You who has made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You." - Righteous anger is justified; retaliation is not.
Ephesians 4:26-27- "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil."
1 Peter 3:9- "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing." - Celebrating wickedness of any kind is morally abhorrent.
Isaiah 5:20- "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"
Proverbs 17:5- "Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished." - Jesus taught that a lost world would hate Him and His people.
John 15:18-20- "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
2 Timothy 3:12- "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." - Christians must pray. They must pray that events like this don't happen in the future, pray that the United States (and the rest of the world) can flee from its wicked ways and embrace Christ, and pray for Charlie Kirk's wife, Erika, and their children.
1 Thessalonians 5:17- "Pray without ceasing."
Ephesians 6:18- "...praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints." - Death is not the end.
John 3:16-17- "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
Philippians 3:20-21- "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." - Eternity with the Lord is the ultimate reward for Christians.
1 Thessalonians 4:14- "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
Luke 23:43- "And He said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"
