The Assassination of Charlie Kirk

This past Wednesday, just past noon local time at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, Charlie Kirk was killed by an assassin’s bullet. It appears the killer was a 22-year old young man, Tyler Robinson. Kirk was speaking at the time to several thousand college students. He was seated, composed, answering questions put to him by a diverse group of people with opinions that often differed strongly from him. Over the last several years Kirk went from a secular Libertarian to a Christian Conservative. In one of his last posts, he wrote, “Jesus defeated death, so you can live.” I never met him, and I certainly can’t say I know Charlie Kirk. But the death of this husband and father of a 1-year old boy and 3-year old girl is clearly a great tragedy. Al Mohler feels this will be a generational event for many of us. It’s always hard to predict the historical impact of specific events, but this one feels like it will be significant.

How do we as Christians process such a tragedy?

First there is the sheer sadness of it. At a very basic level a woman was made a widow, and two very young children are now fatherless. Their lives will be etched with a sorrow that will never heal, even if Christ can still bring grace and good and blessing in this darkest of places. Jesus promised, “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matt 5:4), and Kirk’s family and friends will certainly experience weeks and months and years of mourning. May the God of all comfort be with them and provide a constant stream of their brothers and sisters in Christ to help them.

Then in this event is a vivid reminder that our world is fallen and so far from where it should be. A death like this, which was a premeditated killing and unprovoked murder, is an undeniable proclamation that sin and evil remain with us—and in us. The spirit of Cain lives on. Enemies of Christ and his cross endure. This won’t last forever, but such fallenness will be with us until Jesus returns and makes everything what it was made to be.

Earthly Justice

The governor of Utah spoke to another side of it. In his press conference Wednesday night, he reminded his audience in measured, direct words, that “Utah still has the death penalty.” His meaning was unmistakable. Though earthly justice can often misfire and lead to unsatisfying outcomes, God has raised up earthly authorities as his servants for just such a reason.

Paul speaks of governing officials as his “deacons” who “bear the sword” to “carry out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom 13:4). Peter spoke of “governors” as “sent by him [i.e., the Lord] to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good” (1 Peter 2:14). This “sword” of government reminds us that our God of justice intends for earthly authorities to reflect, and at times even execute, his justice. In fact, God threatens terrible things to leaders who withhold justice from the vulnerable. Earthly justice is God’s grace to societies. May God bring a just end for this criminal act.

This is not personal vengeance, which is forbidden (Rom 12:19). This is an extension of a moral code meant to be written into the fabric of every human society, dating all the way back to the first generations of humanity: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Gen 9:6). God was not creating a rule for vigilante justice here. He was establishing a fundamental concern of societies, precisely because “God made man in his own image.” To fail to treat murder with the utmost seriousness is to reject that we are each made in God’s image.

Good Gets the Last Word

Another facet of the heartache is Romans 8:28. This promise at such times is no pat answer, though it can obviously be spoken in ill-timed ways. It is a reassuring truth that chaos and darkness and tragedy don’t have the last word. For those loved by God, good will prevail: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We wish it said that God only brings good to us. It doesn’t. It says that when “all things” come our way—in whatever mix of light and dark, good and bad, welcome and unwelcome—God will make sure that these will all converge for us in such a way that good will result and his purposes will be accomplished. Evil things don’t suddenly become good in such a metamorphosis. But God is a master at bringing good out of things in ways we could never imagine. May God bring good out of the death of Charlie Kirk, in ten thousand big and small ways.

"Seek First the Kingdom of God"

One of the reasons Al Mohler felt this would be a generational event is because of Charlie Kirk’s unique voice among the youth of our country. He communicated to them that he cared about them, and that they could accomplish great things if they gave themselves to what was important. He communicated compelling values in a way that resonated with them. He was a visible, influential Christian in a strong and helpful manner. Having a leader like that assassinated in such a public manner will not soon be forgotten by his followers. If you were one of those he really spoke to, I hope you will not lose heart in your zeal to play your part in transforming our world. There is much work left to be done.

Charlie Kirk’s life ended tragically, but he trusted in a Christ who defeated death, who will reign forever as king, and who promises the greatest blessings for those who follow him. Kirk is receiving his reward. May his life inspire you to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,” so that “all these things will be added to you” (Matt 6:33).

Daniel 

*Charlie Kirk photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore