My Response to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk
#1 The Message of the Cross
“Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.””
Oh my goodness, this is gut-wrenching. It feels like we lost a little brother or a friend…maybe even a prophet. Charlie is one of the most effective people we’ve ever seen at reaching young people with the conservative message, and MORE IMPORTANTLY, the Gospel.
Charlie said in an interview that he was told early on not to talk too much about Jesus, to keep it about politics. As his influence grew, he realized that college students needed to hear the Gospel more than they needed to hear conservative ideas. That what makes our nation great is our Biblical values.
In the last few years, we’ve all watched him become one of the most effective evangelists we’ve seen in generations. And now in death, millions of people are picking up their Bibles and going to church for the first time because of his murder.
It’s hard to put into words why, but the fruit is undeniable. People all over the world are responding to this injustice by seeking God. We are seeing record attendance in churches, public prayer vigils where people are coming together, politicians proclaiming the Gospel, and businesses unashamedly displaying their faith in Jesus.
Why?
Not necessarily because of Charlie’s direct influence, but because when our nation witnessed a young man murdered in front of thousands of college students for sharing his ideas, it shook us. And what came out was a hunger for God.
It doesn’t really matter to me why the nation and the world are responding this way, what matters is that we are.
This is a time for the church (all believers) to shine. We have the answer they’re looking for, we have Jesus. I pray you are ready to be salt and light for the hungry and the hurting. I pray that you are confident in praying for others and sharing the simple Gospel message with people, leading them to faith in Christ. I pray you are provoked to be more vocal about your faith in everywhere you find yourself.
People need you now, they need you to stand up and show them who God really is. People need you to point them to Jesus and help them know that God is a loving God who sent his son to die on a cross so they can break free from the darkness within them and be set free from sin and death. If you need good resources for equippingyourself to share the Gospel, you can go to this page (https://forward.church/goodnews).
Here’s a summary of my message from Sunday where I further discuss these ideas and more…
Our nation and the world feel unsettled right now. Many of us are still processing recent events, asking, What can I do? Where’s my place in all this? That question is important, but before we rush into action, we need to return to the foundation of who we are in Christ.
Each of us lives out of the image we hold of ourselves. People who carry trauma or pain often make choices shaped by that hurt. Others build their identity on career, politics, or family. But the deeper questions never change: Who am I? Who is God? What am I supposed to do? The gospel gives us the answer. God is good. He is not the author of darkness or confusion. He is the author of freedom. He revealed His love by giving us the choice to follow Him, and in Christ He has made a way for us to be accepted apart from our performance. Paul wrote that it is the goodness of God that leads to repentance, and that is where we must root our lives.
The challenge is that the world around us constantly pulls us into its battles. The media thrives on outrage. Political parties prosper by keeping us divided. If we’re not careful, we end up fighting the wrong fights and forgetting who we are. Our identity is not in winning debates or elections. Our first confession must be: I am a child of God, redeemed by Christ, representing His kingdom in this world.
Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would be one, just as He and the Father are one, and that our unity would lead the world to believe He was sent by God. He said again in John 13:34–35 that all would know we are His disciples if we love one another. This is not theoretical—it is what the world is watching right now. When believers unite in love, when we mourn together, when we pray together, it is profoundly attractive to a world searching for meaning. Unity is our strategy. Love is our weapon. The cross is our message.
So what do we do when we don’t know what to do? Scripture gives us a simple, powerful answer in Psalm 37: “Do not fret because of evildoers… Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness.” That is where we begin. Don’t let fear or anger consume you. Don’t let fretting drive your decisions. Trust God. Do good. Doing good doesn’t earn your righteousness—Christ’s blood has already secured that. Doing good is how we live out our identity in Him. As you step forward in faith, wisdom comes. Purpose doesn’t flow from external signs or circumstances; it flows from intimacy with the Lord.
Psalm 37 goes on to say, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass… Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him… Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” This is God’s word of comfort and direction for us in times like these.
So here’s the challenge: take time this week to meditate slowly through Psalm 37. Don’t just skim the words—pause at each phrase. Ask, How do I actually live this out? How do I feed on His faithfulness? Give the Word the opportunity to read you. Let it sink deep enough that when crisis comes, your first instinct is not panic or outrage, but confidence in God’s faithfulness.
We are not powerless. We are not at the mercy of politics or headlines. We are children of God, united in Christ, empowered by His Spirit, called to be light in the darkness. When you don’t know what to do, remember this: trust in the Lord, and do good.
Homework
1. Meditate slowly through Psalm 37
Goal: Let the Word “read you,” then translate it into concrete action.
Time: 15–30 minutes per sitting, 3–5 days this week.
Pray briefly: “Holy Spirit, illuminate this to my heart.”
Read aloud Psalm 37, but pause at each phrase. After each phrase ask:
What does this reveal about God?
What does this invite me to believe or do today?
Journal one line per phrase: write a belief and a behavior.
Example: “Trust in the Lord and do good” → Belief: God is faithful to lead me. Behavior: Text my coworker and offer help with their project.
Count the “Do not fret” lines you find and write the final number at the top of your page. (You’ll notice how often God addresses anxiety here.)
Choose one “carry verse” for the day (e.g., “Commit your way to the Lord… and He shall bring it to pass” [Psalm 37:5]) and repeat it at lunch and bedtime.
Close in prayer: thank God for one specific insight and one step you’ll take today.
2. Feed on His faithfulness
Goal: Train your heart to draw strength from God’s proven track record.
Time: 10–15 minutes daily, 5 days.
List three memories of God’s faithfulness (provision, guidance, protection). Put a one-word title by each (e.g., “Rent,” “Healing,” “Open Door”).
Add a fresh item each day this week—big or small.
Speak it back to Him: “Father, You were faithful when ____. You are faithful now.”
Anchor with Scripture: pick one line from Psalm 37 that matches your list (e.g., “Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness” [Psalm 37:3]) and say it after your list.
Apply immediately: ask, “Because You were faithful then, what bold, good thing can I do today?”
