Salt and Light

Words are swirling through my mind at the thought of the violent and chaotic events of this past week. Words of anger and outrage, words of heartache and loss. Words that I have to temper knowing that they could offend. Days go by, time moves on, and yet these words have not yet died unspoken but rather grow stronger. My mind feels fit to burst with these words, and I refuse to sit in silence any longer. These words must be spoken. 

Charlie Kirk’s death has set the world on edge; more than that, it has set young hearts aflame. He was the voice of the young generation. He spoke passionately about values which many young Americans hold. The difference, though, is that he was open and bold. Many of us younger people have sat alone in university classrooms or public schools silent while we allowed our beliefs and convictions to be slandered and ridiculed by teachers and students alike. If you’ve been in that setting, you understand the loneliness of being in that position, and if you’ve ever made the decision to stand openly for your beliefs and defend them, you also understand how a room of supposed “openminded” individuals can turn on a dime, and with an anger that seems unreal, criticize and attack you. 

Kirk’s boldness and passion for his beliefs became a lifeline for us Christian and conservative young people. He taught us how to defend our beliefs with logic and facts, but also with a respect that we, as conservatives, are never shown ourselves. If you wonder why his death has hit the young people so hard, it is because Kirk became a big brother figure for many of us. The loneliness that we felt was lessened by watching him. He empowered us to stand for our beliefs, and his sudden loss created a hole that cannot be easily filled. 

Political commentators are a dime a dozen. There are plenty of men and women who openly and vocally adhere to his political beliefs. Any of them could attempt to fill his place, but why is it that none of them can truly muster the same presence he had? I’ll let his own words speak for him, 

“I mean, I’m nothing without Jesus. I’m a sinner. I fall incredible short of the glory of God. We all do. I gave my life to the Lord in fifth grade, and it’s the most important decision I’ve ever made, and everything I do incorporates Jesus Christ.”

If you were to explain the impact of Charlie Kirk’s life, it would not be possible to do so without speaking of Jesus Christ. Kirk’s faith was truly the foundation of every step he took. He was not only a political commentator, but he was a voice for Christians. Though we are meant to be more than conquerers, modern Christians live small. Kirk embodied the boldness, faith, and power that we only ever see in the Bible. Christianity used to have a power and vitality. That has all but died. Kirk seemed to possess a boldness on a Biblical level that every Christian wished they possessed, and he encouraged us in our pursuit of that. For Kirk, it wasn’t just a political struggle, but also spiritual. He taught young people to “…live by the faith of the Son of God who loved [us] and gave himself for [us]” (Gal. 2:20). That was Kirk’s power, or rather Christ’s power filling and empowering Kirk’s life and ministry. 

Knowing this, that his faith connected and encouraged so many Christian young people, how are we to react now, after his death? How are Christians to respond to hate and violence towards our own? Any Christian knows that we are taught to love our enemies as ourselves, to be forgiving, and to turn the other cheek, but to what extent? Are we supposed to just let this go? How do we move forward?

Simply put, we look to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Christ is our example in everything. We live by his teachings, follow his example, and look for his return. Our life, like Charlie’s, should revolve around Jesus Christ. 

Read the accounts in the Gospels of Jesus’ life. Christ was God, but he was also human, and he dealt with the same emotions we have. In Mark chapter 3, it is recorded that Jesus healed a man at the synagogue, but the religious and political leaders of his day condemned him for it because he was healing on a holy day. The verse reads, 

“And when he [Christ] had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts…” (Mark 3:5). 

Pay attention to the two emotions listed here in this verse; anger and grief. Christ was angry at the hardness of the religious leaders who didn’t have compassion for the sick, poor, and needy, but Christ was also grieved. He was pained for them and felt sorrow for them. Two opposing emotions at the same time. 

When we look at social media and see the lack of compassion and hardness of liberals in regard to Charlie Kirk’s death, we are to respond like Christ. Anger is not inherently sinful, although is can very easily become so, but anger tempered with grief is the reaction of someone who follows Christ. The Scriptures command Christians to love our enemies. This is not some passive attempt at being good or trying to do what is right. This is a hard commandment that is difficult to follow but necessary for Christians. If you believe John 3:16, then you must also believe in loving our enemies. Not that it’s easy, because it’s not; Christ never said it would be, but just because something is hard doesn’t make it any less true. If you believe that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” then you must also believe that Christ died for the man who murdered Charlie Kirk. This is the decision we must make. Christianity in America is easy. We experience no persecution or hardships, but here is a real test of faith and loyalty to Christ. Do we believe what he said, and will we obey? Christ commands us to love our enemies. Is it easy? Absolutely not, but it must be followed nonetheless. 

How do we follow it then? We must go back to Jesus and what he taught us. Famously, Matthew chapter 5 is Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. In it, we are clearly taught what to do. Christ says, 

“But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). 

This is the blueprint of the Christian response. How do we love our enemies? We bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. We could go out and protest or riot, but this is what takes real courage. To actually sit down and pray for Charlie Kirk’s murderer takes a courage that is not easily found. Just try it. It’s hard, but it’s necessary. You may not feel compassionate, and you may even feel hypocritical for praying something that you don’t even believe, but we must reach out in faith to Christ. He understands how we feel because he felt it all himself. Feelings are valid, but they do not affect our actions. I don’t feel like praying for my enemies, whether that’s Kirk’s murderer or the people on social media who are celebrating his death, but I am determined to step out in faith and obey my Lord. That is what Charlie would want anyway. He said, 

“We shouldn’t be tolerant of sin. We shouldn’t be tolerant of rebellion from God. We should have compassion. We have kindness, sympathy, and love. But love without truth is not love.” 

Be angry, feel all the feelings. God made us human after all. He created us in his own image, he gave us our feelings, but don’t let them control you. Act in faith and obey Christ’s command. I challenge you to pray regularly for your enemies. Let’s get more specific. Pray for Tyler Robinson, Kirk’s murderer. Wouldn’t it be powerful if Robinson came to faith in Christ? What impact do you think that would have on the world? What would it do if a hateful, violent, and evil person’s life was changed and transformed while the public watches? How much glory would that bring to God? Let’s all pray for our enemies. Let’s obey God, and honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy in so doing.