Charlie Kirk Assassinated
Charlie Kirk, 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was assassinated while speaking at an event on the campus of Utah Valley University last Wednesday. Kirk leaves behind a wife and two young children. The alleged shooter, identified by authorities as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, turned himself in late Thursday evening after his father recognized his son in photos of the suspect released by the FBI.
Analysis and eternal perspective: This horrific story very likely rocked your world. It was a plainly evil act in broad daylight, witnessed by thousands and recorded by many. It was senseless in the mind of any rational human being, and yet also the latest escalation in a world of politics that has become increasingly violent. It is one of those stories for which there are endless angles that could be analyzed, but in our effort to view all things through Truth and beauty, and in accordance with Charlie’s regular encouragement to make a relationship with Jesus your highest priority, we will confine ourselves to two topline considerations in this space:
1) Jesus is the answer: Four days before he was killed, Charlie posted on X, “Jesus defeated death so you can live.” He also made a regular practice of answering political questions with spiritual answers, and was increasingly focused on encouraging college students to aim for a life marked by faithfulness to Jesus and family.
This is the most important takeaway from this horrible and tragic story: Jesus is the answer. Sound public policy—especially in the world’s superpower nation—matters. It does. It carries with it the power of physical life and death around the world. But it does not dictate your eternal destiny—your relationship with Jesus does. Politics was important to Charlie, and it may be important to you. But it will not save you, and on this point, Charlie was adamant. In recent years, when asked what was most important to him or what should be most important to anyone else, his answer was always the same: Jesus is the most important thing.
Do you know Jesus today? If not, and you want to begin a relationship with Him or have questions, email theequippednewsletter@gmail.com. We would love to introduce you to Jesus. He is the answer, and he defeated death so you can live.
2) Debate and disagreement are essential: There has understandably been a lot of ink spilled the last few days about how to best mend the obvious fissures in society. There is a lot of finger-pointing and countless proposed solutions. Here at The Equipped, we regularly advocate for the idea that freedom to debate and even disagree is essential to a free republic. The absence of this freedom is evident in places around the world where oppression reigns.
Charlie echoed these sentiments when he said: “When people stop talking, that’s when you get violence. That’s when civil war happens because you start to think the other side is so evil and they lose their humanity.” Charlie was killed while walking out this belief. He was engaging with those with whom he disagreed. Quite honestly, it is a counter-cultural act, even in America. But if the republic is to survive, it is essential. You may agree with Charlie’s politics, or you may disagree. Either way, don’t lose sight of the humanity in your political ally or opponent. That person is made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27), is loved deeply by God (Jer. 31:3), and is invited by God into an everlasting relationship with Him (Jn. 3:16).
And you, my friend, are the way in which that lifesaving message is intended to reach both your political ally and your political opponent. Keep talking.
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.