The assassination of Charlie Kirk: A call to courage and faith

When I saw the news, I didn’t want to believe it. Absentmindedly, I’d clicked on a video in my DMs sent by a friend,  her comment reading, “Uh oh.” Within seconds I became witness amongst thousands to the shocking image of Christian conservative thought leader, Charlie Kirk’s horrific assassination. Later, talking with my children about the event, I explained they never used to show people dying on tv. They would edit or blur the image, out of respect for the dead and their loved ones. Things move so fast in this digital age, the video was half way round the world before people even knew what they were watching.

Open Doors US reported in 2024, 13 Christians a day die for their faith, nearly one every two hours. 

Perhaps it is fitting. Open Doors US reported in 2024, 13 Christians a day die for their faith, nearly one every two hours. Charlie Kirk being a well known and controversial  media figure, makes his the shot heard (and seen) round the world, but it is hardly an anomaly; it’s merely something we aren’t used to in the West.

My immediate reaction to the news was one of denial. Even after witnessing the violent footage, I steadied myself in faith. He’ll be ok. God can heal him. Later, before I fell asleep, I texted these sentiments: I’m hearing all these reports he is dead, but I’m not going to agree with them. Still praying for a miracle.

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I woke up Thursday to the sad news, doubly confirmed. As an American Christian who’s politically conservative, my Instagram feed was full of photos and videos in memorium to Mr. Kirk. I watched as the usually witty, sharp as a tack news and social commentators I usually enjoy, bowed their heads, grief stricken, most overcome with tears.

Streaming through the accounts, a familiar chain of reactions began to take shape. This was unjust, unbelievable, how could such evil exist? Many of Charlie Kirk’s detractors were captured on video celebrating, who could believe such callousness? I might have reacted with the same bewilderment, had I not been reading these exact words from Jesus in Matthew 24:9-13, earlier that day: ’Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.’

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As western believers, we find it hard to reconcile the well lived Christian life with suffering.

As western believers, we find it hard to reconcile the well lived Christian life with suffering. We live with the unscriptural misunderstanding that sharing Jesus, rejecting the precepts of the world and being lead by the Holy Spirit will keep us safe and accepted. In the arms of our heavenly Father, yes, but in the eyes of the world, Jesus himself taught, “if the world hates you, remember it hated Me first” (John 15:18).

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The public murder of Charlie Kirk is an important reminder for every Christian. GB News reported he was warned by security there was a “100% chance” he would be assassinated while speaking at university campuses, but a viral video shows him sharing if he did die, he would most want to be remembered for courage in sharing his faith. Surely he achieved that aim. The first Sunday after his death, social media was overwhelmed with young people posting their interest in seeking God and going to church, attributing the choice to the influence of Charlie Kirk. Given his example, let us search our hearts before God and ask, are we like the believers in Revelation 12:11? “… they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.”