Responding to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

AND OTHER EVILS UNDER THE SUN

It’s been almost a week since public Christian figure and political activist, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated. Since then, our pastoral team has been praying, processing, and speaking with many affected by the news. In those conversations, the truths we encounter in Romans 12-13 have come up again and again. We believe this truth from God is the foundation we need to stand upon as we figure out how to think about what’s happening in the world around us and faithfully respond as believers.

Here are 4 ways we should respond to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and other griefs of this present age.

1. Abhor what is evil

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Rom 12:9).

The premeditated murder of an imagebearer of God is an awful, evil, and hateful thing. This is true regardless of who the victim is, what their politics are, or however they might differ from you or me. It’s especially true when a fellow believer who proclaimed the death-defeating gospel of Jesus Christ is killed in cold blood. Something in us rightly revolts against this. And this is okay. In fact, it’s a sign that our spiritual reflexes are working. Because we are made in God’s image, we should feel a godly indignation when the life of another imagebearer is unjustifiably taken.

So we respond by calling evil, “evil.” We recognize that we live in a world that is fallen, groaning, and caught up in a battle “against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” which execute their “schemes” here on the earth below (Eph 6:10-12). And we wait for the day when the Lord “has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Cor 15:25).

2. Weep with those who weep

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Rom 12:15).

We start with a righteous anger poured out to God in prayers of lament. We continue with compassion poured out to those who are grieved. We should weep with Erika Kirk and her two children that are now without their father. We should weep with those around us who are mourning. We should weep with our neighbors who are jarred and affected by this display of violence.

And we should pray. Praying for God’s comfort and peace to fill the hearts of Charlie’s family. Praying that those who grieve would grieve with the gospel hope that even death is not the end, but a bridge to life like we’ve never known it before (1 Thess 4:13). Praying that the Lord would restrain any further wrongdoing, violence, or destruction that might come in response to these events. Praying with the rock-solid confidence that what was meant for evil has ultimately been meant by God for good (Gen 50:20; Rom 8:28) and asking the Lord to glorify his name, advance his gospel, and bring revival out of the ruins of this sin-wrecked situation.

3. Leave room for the wrath of God

“Repay no one evil for evil…but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom 12:17-19).

The Bible tells us “Be angry and do not sin” (Eph 4:25). Meaning, there is a kind of righteous anger that can and should be expressed toward that which dishonors God, harms his imagebearers, tears down his church, or celebrates as “good,” “beautiful,” and “true” the very things he calls “evil,” “corrupted,” and “false.” But, the Bible also tells us there’s another “anger of man” that “does not produce the righteousness of God” (Jas 1:20). There’s a sinful anger that returns evil for evil - either in our hearts or with our hands - that must be confessed, repented of, and crucified afresh every time it wells up within us.

We must not respond to injustice with injustice. Hatred in one’s heart for the man who murdered Charlie Kirk, or for those who celebrate his death, will not achieve any of God’s righteous purposes. Instead, we must make room for God to execute justice and entrust what happens to him. For our part, we are to seek peace, love those who cheer what we mourn, and pray that God would liberate their hearts from hatred through the gospel of his Son.

We don’t wield the sword of judgment, but instead we battle back with the sword of the Spirit: the word of God which alone can pierce the hearts of men and women and conquer the evil within us (Heb 4:12). More than anything, our neighbors and our nation needs the gospel, so we “leave room for the wrath of God,” by doubling down on our efforts to share the message of his grace. Yet, in moments like this, we also do well to remember there is another who bears the sword that God has promised to use as an instrument of justice:

“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom 13:3-4).

In moments like this, we can and should pray that God would work through the governing authorities he has established to execute speedy and sufficient justice upon those who have done wrong in a way that would deter and restrain further acts of violence.

4. Overcome evil with good

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).

Finally, we answer evil by doing good. We abhor, we weep, we make room, and then, we respond to the reality of the embattled world we live in by stepping back into the fight. What does that look like for us? It looks like responding to the unexpected death of a young husband and father by striving with fresh energy to make “the best use of time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:16). Numbering our days (Ps 90:12). Not delaying for a second longer to be faithful to do what God has called us to do. No longer putting off that “no” to sin. Putting our hands to the plow to tend the field God has set before us with renewed urgency. Being reminded, as the poem puts it, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last” (C.T. Studd).

Friends, go even harder after the glory of Christ as you love your spouse, raise your kids, and build up your household. Give yourself even more fervently to the mission of the church. Because, if there’s anything these events teach us, it’s that our nation is in desperate need of revival. We can and should respond to evil by doing the greatest imaginable good: getting the gospel to men and women who are right now far from God. Enslaved by anger. Despairing over the wave after wave of bad news crashing in all around them. Without hope that it means anything at all. That sorrow really can turn to joy. And that one day "Everything sad will come untrue" (J.R.R. Tolkien).

We have the awesome privilege of introducing our neighbors to the One who overcame the evil in us by laying down his life. Who bore the weight of our own violent, hateful, loveless sin upon the cross. Who died so that true justice would be served. Who hates death so much he came to earth to kill it. Who rose victorious over the grave so that death wouldn’t have the last word. Who triumphed over the powers of darkness and put them all to open shame. Jesus Christ.

The Savior who beat the devil at his own game. Who endured the greatest suffering and injustice of all time, in order to achieve the everlasting good of all those who’d call upon his name. The only truly innocent man, who, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (1 Pet 2:23). He entrusted himself to God even to the point of death, and was met with resurrection. Because of this, we can entrust ourselves to God in this moment of darkness and death with the confidence that he’ll use it to bring revival and restoration.

Members of Cross of Grace Church, pray and expect the Lord to work in a time like this to renew his people’s hearts and raise our neighbor’s hearts to life.