A Time to Mourn … A Time to Act

Many of us have been deeply affected by the news of Charlie Kirk’s death.  It is a story dominating headlines across the globe. How should we think and act about this, and what example should we model for our children during this time?

We must grieve. “For everything there is a season…a time to mourn..” (Eccles. 3:4) When good men die, we feel their loss keenly. Charlie died under a banner that read “Jesus is Lord: prove me wrong.” He was bold in his stance for the gospel and went into the arena of ideas to challenge and push back the darkness. He publicly advocated for parental rights and home education. We mourn his death because he was a kindred spirit with whom we shared a common worldview. It is right and appropriate to grieve.

We must pray. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16) It may be helpful to think in concentric circles. Charlie’s wife, Erika, and their two kids are going through the toughest days of their lives. His friends, family, and the organization he founded, Turning Point USA, are devastated. And those of us who followed him from afar are also hurting. We must pray for the people within America. We must pray for our enemies (I know, that one is not easy). We must pray for swift justice and repentance with regard to his killer. We must pray for the light of the gospel and a pouring out of God’s Spirit to penetrate the spiritual darkness in our land.

Hug your family and loved ones. We never know how short the time may be. Resolve conflicts quickly and don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Demonstrate love tangibly to them daily. Practice this until it is routine.

Be angry and do not sin. (Eph. 4:26) We should be angry at the display of wickedness we witnessed. The murdering of innocent blood cries out for justice. In His Word, God Himself has given us numerous imprecatory prayers (see Psalms 5, 35, and 140 for starters).  Simultaneously, we must not sin. We are not permitted to resort to the tactics of our enemies when they violate God’s law, and we are commanded to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. The mature Christian will hold both justice and grace in high regard because God Himself does.

Discern the times. “Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..” (1 Chron. 12:32) They are perilous. Martyrdom is not confined to history books; it’s trending in current events and becoming more frequent in the U.S. We have not seen this as prevalently in the West, but it’s a daily reality for our brothers and sisters throughout the world. We must be wise as serpents, yet innocent as doves. We must be firm in our faith, grounded in the truth, and teach and raise our children to be the same.

I think we also need to understand that there are a certain number of people with whom we are post-argument; they either don’t want to or are simply incapable of civil political discourse. It will take wisdom to discern the difference between people, and we should pray and ask for wisdom daily. As a Christian, you must always stand ready to graciously speak the truth in love and be ready to give an answer for the hope you have within you. (Eph. 4:15; 1 Pet. 3:15) Charlie himself often demonstrated this.

My fellow Christians: we must recognize that we have a lot of work to do and have largely been too passive in our roles as citizens. That has to change. Politics in 2025 deals with moral issues. That’s our realm because the Bible is the ultimate arbiter of morality. So, opting out is not an option. It is unkind to passively watch our neighbors and countrymen be swept up in destructive deceptions. We need to love them better. We must engage and aggressively pursue Biblical righteousness and justice in public policy. This is a practical way we can and must be salt and light to a culture that desperately needs it. No more hiding our lights under a bushel: we must preach the gospel tirelessly, faithfully disciple within the church, and be advocates for the truth in public policy. We’ve been less effective than we ought to have been; let’s spur one another on to do better. We must run the race before us with endurance. The life of a Christian citizen is not meant to be lived leisurely. Yes, there is a time for rest, but we must work diligently to tend the vineyard God has given each of us, being careful not to squander the talents we’ve been given.

Once again, pray. This is a time for courage, boldness, wisdom, and divine intervention. We don’t just need God’s help; we need God Himself. Let’s diligently seek His face and ask for grace.

P.S. If you are convicted about getting off the sidelines and into the fight, visit our website to see CHAP’s current volunteer needs. If you are interested in joining our new Legislative Action Team, contact us here.