I’ve felt sick over the murder of Charlie Kirk—and to be honest, it has affected me more than I expected.

It grieves me to think of a brother in Christ, a husband, and a father killed so brutally and barbarically. It hits home even more because, from a family standpoint, we were at a very similar stage of life (early 30s, married, two little ones). It brings me to tears to think of his wife and children.

And yet, in the sadness, we must consider the Christian way forward. To that end, I offer these encouragements for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Mourning is Needed

Death is always difficult, but Charlie’s murder was a wicked, grotesque act of barbarism that is hard to comprehend.

A man sitting in a chair, peacefully articulating his beliefs while inviting a respectful exchange of ideas, was gunned down in cold blood. To add to this, Charlie was (and still is) a Christian. It is undeniable that he was murdered for his beliefs rooted in his outspoken faith in Jesus Christ.

This kind of tragedy is certainly a cause for mourning among God’s people. And yet, because of Christ’s work on the cross—His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection that grants new life to all who believe—we mourn for Charlie, but not as those who have no hope:

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
(1 Thessalonians 4:13)

Prayer is Critical

Prayer is always central to the Christian life, but even more so in moments like this. In times of tragedy, prayer is often reduced to asking God to comfort the grieving family. While that is absolutely needed for the Kirks, our prayers must go further.

1. Pray for Justice

We must pray for swift justice to be brought to Charlie’s killer. Christ commands us to pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44).

So while we pray for him to repent and believe in Christ, that does not negate the need for him to face justice. If civil authorities—instituted by God to punish the evildoer—delay justice, they leave the door open for more wicked acts (Romans 13:4; Ecclesiastes 8:11).

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.”
(Genesis 9:6)

2. Pray for National Repentance

We live in a nation that has called evil good and good evil for far too long, and now we are reaping the rotten fruit.

The issue is not the weapon used (if you think getting rid of guns will solve the problem, consider Iryna Zarutska’s killer). The issue is the corrupt human heart that hates God and is enslaved to sin.

Many unbelievers grieve Charlie’s death but don’t know the solution. As Christians, we do. Christ is and always has been the answer.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…”
(Romans 1:16)

Lasting change comes from the inside out, not the outside in. We must pray for God to grant repentance to our nation so that many more would turn to Christ. When this happens, the kingdom of God grows like a mustard seed into a tree.

3. Pray with Thanksgiving

Finally, we must pray and give thanks to our God who still sits on the throne and does not change.

Though it may feel like the world is spinning out of control, He is steady. Giving thanks even in dark days reminds us of His sovereignty, breathes new life into our souls, gives us peace, and helps us press on in faith.

Hope is in Christ

In times like this, it can be tempting to throw in the towel—to be so discouraged that you just want to hide in a cave.

But we must remember that Jesus is the risen Savior and reigning King. Because of Christ, believers have an inheritance that never perishes, never spoils, and never fades (1 Peter 1:4). This hope enables us to endure suffering with patience and to overcome evil with good.

Don’t forget that even in the darkest hour, the light of Christ shines forth. The darkness tries and tries, but it simply cannot overcome it.

Lift up your eyes, wait for the Lord, and rejoice in the hope that is yours in Christ.

Fight as a Christian

This is the step that makes many believers uneasy. But if we are holding fast to God’s Word, it shouldn’t.

Scripture is clear: we are in a spiritual war (Ephesians 6:10–20). We have an enemy who hates us, and we ought to hate him. Charlie’s murder stirred up anger in myself and many others, but for some reason, we’ve been taught—even in churches—that all anger is bad. That is unbiblical and untrue. We are commanded to be angry, but without sin (Ephesians 4:26).

We know the beautiful verse from Psalm 139 where David says he was fearfully and wonderfully made (v. 14). But just five verses later, he calls on the Lord to slay the wicked (v. 19).

It is right to feel indignation; we just must not give ourselves over to sin in the process. That anger must be channeled into righteous action that pleases God.

What Does Righteous Action Look Like?

It looks like waging war.

But our war is not against flesh and blood, and therefore we do not wage it according to the flesh (Ephesians 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3–4).

Much of modern preaching has done God’s people a disservice by failing to remind us that we are at war—that the world will hate us for our allegiance to Christ (John 15:19), and that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12).

If you are a Christian, you did not sign up for a life of mere moral uprightness and ease. You signed up to be a good soldier of Christ Jesus and to fight accordingly (2 Timothy 2:3).

Yes, there is a crown of eternal life when you die, but there is also a cross to bear in the present. You cannot have one without the other. You must fight.

How to Fight as a Christian

  • Put on the whole armor of God.
  • Pray without ceasing.
  • Join and serve faithfully in a local church that preaches God’s Word without compromise.
  • Refuse to wink at our culture of death.
  • Get married and have children.
  • Men: love your wives as Christ loved the Church and laid down His life for her.
  • Women: place yourselves under the loving care of your husbands, as you do under the Lord.
  • Raise your children to know and love Christ.
  • Say men are men and women are women.
  • Affirm that God defines marriage. Not mankind.
  • Work to change the culture and the state to understand that God’s ways are always good and right.
  • Pray for and talk to your legislators.
  • Speak the truth of the gospel in love—without apologizing for it afterward.
  • Worship the one true God and boldly proclaim that Jesus is King.

And to fight effectively, you must be willing—as Charlie was—to die for these things.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, may God help us to mourn well, pray well, hope well, and fight well.

While we do, let us remember the great truth from the lips of our King:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)