“We honor Charlie best not by retreating into fear, but by carrying his torch and renewing our obedience to Christ by standing in and for the truth. His life calls us to love the truth more than we fear death.”
Isaiah 57:1, “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.”
Friends,
Today, we stand under the shadow of sorrow, reminded that our world is still under the sway of the wicked one. Yet our hearts are also full of hope and gratitude for the life and legacy of a man God raised up for such a time as this—Charlie Kirk. His life was tragically cut short by a senseless and demonic act of violence. It was not just an attack on a man, but on truth itself. And though his voice has been silenced on earth, the echoes of his courage and conviction will continue to shape our generation.
Charlie was a once-in-a-generation leader. God, in His sovereign wisdom, chose to use him mightily in his short time among us. Through his passion, his clarity, and his unwavering faith, Charlie inspired an entire generation to stand for righteousness, to love truth, and to boldly defend the foundations of our nation under God—while looking forward to a future of goodness and blessing. His words carried weight because they were rooted not only in political and historical wisdom regarding our nation, but also in his passionate defense of his Christian faith.
My personal time with Charlie was limited—only a matter of a couple of hours backstage at an event. But what I saw inspired me. He was the same man offstage as he was on stage, with the same passion and integrity. He was kind, personable, encouraging, and inspiring, even in a short personal conversation. That brief encounter confirmed what so many already knew: Charlie’s influence was not a performance, but the overflow of a life surrendered to Christ and committed to truth.
Let us not forget: Charlie was targeted because of the wisdom that proceeded from his lips. He effectively disarmed foolish arguments and exposed deception. When evil is unmasked, it responds with jealous vengeance. We could see Charlie as a victim of evil, but I would rather remember him as a victor over lies. Now he stands in the ultimate victory over death because of Jesus, his Savior.
Scripture reminds us that this kind of Spirit-filled wisdom has always provoked opposition. Luke records in Acts 6:10 that Stephen’s enemies “were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Later, they stoned him for that very wisdom (Acts 7). Jesus Himself told His disciples in Luke 21:15–17, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake.” Charlie carried that same characteristic—a wisdom from above that his opponents could not answer, and therefore hated.
Regarding those who perpetrated this evil, we must remember two things: First, we are to pray for our enemies. While they still have breath, it is our sincere hope that they can find the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Christ for this atrocity. But secondly, we recognize that on this side of eternity, swift and severe justice is needed and required against such actions. May the Lord grant that these criminals be found and receive their due punishment through the rule of law.
We often ask why such a leader would be taken at such a young age, in the prime of his life and calling. Scripture reminds us in Isaiah 57:1, “The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.” We struggle to make sense of this devastating loss, but we rest knowing God has received His servant into glory, sparing him from the increasing tide of evil he so faithfully warned us about.
Charlie dared to speak truth into a world that despises it. He dared to challenge the lies of our culture with the unshakable reality of God’s Word. And because of that, the forces of darkness sought to silence him. Yet even in death, they have failed—for the truth cannot be silenced. We honor Charlie best not by retreating into fear, but by carrying his torch and renewing our obedience to Christ by standing in and for the truth. His life calls us to love the truth more than we fear death. His courage reminds us that silence in the face of evil is not an option. His legacy urges us to stand unashamed of the gospel, unafraid of the cost, and unrelenting in our pursuit of righteousness.
Charlie’s life was marked by impact—through Turning Point USA, he mobilized young men and women across this nation to value freedom, faith, and responsibility. He helped countless believers realize that their faith was not meant to be hidden, but lived boldly in every arena of life. His death must now serve as a catalyst, a “Turning Point” for our nation—not merely to awaken politically, but to return wholeheartedly to God.
May we carry forward the flame of conviction Charlie lit in us. May his life remind us that God uses ordinary men to accomplish extraordinary things when they yield fully to Him. And may his death galvanize us not into despair, but into deeper devotion.
Today we grieve, but we also resolve. For as Charlie himself believed, our hope is not in the rise or fall of nations, but in the unshakable Kingdom of God. And it is in that hope that we declare: his race is finished, his faith has been kept, and his crown of righteousness awaits him in the presence of his Savior.
Let us rise to the challenge. Let us be a people who, like Charlie, are unafraid to speak truth, to defend life, to stand for faith, and to point this broken world back to Christ. And may God, in His mercy, use this moment of loss as the very spark of revival that our nation so desperately needs.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11, NKJV)
Pastor Josh