As I write this, it has been two days since the murder of Charlie Kirk. The news just broke that the authorities identified the suspected shooter as Tyler Robinson of Washington, Utah. The rifle and shell casings discovered in the woods near the campus of Utah Valley University where the shooting occurred allegedly provides evidence of the shooter’s motivation. While we do not want to enter into speculation, what I believe is clear to everyone is that once again this appears to be an act of premeditated violence sparked not by physical altercation or provocation, but by the clash of worldviews. Make no mistake, Charlie Kirk was murdered because of his beliefs.
In the aftermath, our country (and many parts of the world) finds itself divided over how to think about or respond to this morally heinous, evil, and repulsive act. Two main reactions are most apparent. Many are outraged, recognizing this as an atrocity, and are calling for government authorities to execute justice to the fullest extent of the law. Their cry is filled with a deep sense of mourning over Charlie’s death and grief for his widow and two children.
However, there are others whose responses are extremely alarming. Many political (even some evangelical) “leaders” are shamefully interpreting this incident through the lens of moral equivocation (comparing the killing of Charlie to the death of others such as George Floyd, Michael Brown, I have even seen Saddam Hussein). They insinuate (and even level outright accusations) that those who are so outraged over Charlie’s murder are hypocrites for not showing the same outrage when these others died. Any person evaluating these situations with a clear mind will discern immediately that this is comparing “apples and oranges.” The circumstances do not equate in the slightest.
Others are so bold as to rationalize Charlie’s murder, as is apparent in the coverage of some news anchors and journalist who attribute Kirk’s assassination to his “inciting” or “hateful” rhetoric. Horrendously, some (many more than you might realize) are simply responding with mockery, rejoicing that one with such Christian and historically American convictions has been silenced. For over 20,000 (and counting) illustrations of this claim, see charliesmurderers.com.
This week’s tragic events (including the brutal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska) and the responses to them magnify a stark reality about the nation in which we live. Whatever else the response of the American populace might reveal, this fact certainly is made plain: we are not one united people, but a people deeply divided over (at least) two mutually exclusive worldviews. And one of these worldviews will never accept living peaceably with the other. In light of what we see playing out in society around us, more and more Christians are coming to a concerning realization: if there is such a large segment of people in our country who can justify and celebrate Charlie’s murder on the basis of his beliefs, what would keep them from rejoicing over the killing of any one (or all) of the rest who believe the same things? Christians in America cannot ignore what this tragic event reveals concerning the state of the society in which we live. How should we process what we are seeing? How should we interpret what happened to Charlie, and how should we respond in its aftermath? I'll try to give a biblical answer along a couple lines of thought.
1. How should we interpret what happened to Charlie Kirk?
A. We should realize that Charlie is a martyr.
He is a political martyr, yes. Proof of this is scratched onto one of the bullet casings in the rifle that was used to kill him: “Hey fascists! Catch”. However, Charlie is more than a political martyr. He is a martyr for Christ. Not to recognize this does injustice to his memory, and also shows deep ignorance of the nature of the warfare in which he was engaging. Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggle is not a physical or fleshly struggle, but an intensely spiritual one. The political opposition Charlie faced was nothing less than the unbelieving world’s response to his God-centered worldview (as this reaction to his death from 
charliesmurderers.com illustrates). His faith in Jesus Christ was the underpinning of all his convictions—including those which were political. As I think of what happened to Charlie, I am reminded of Jesus’ promises and encouragement to His disciple,
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:10–12 NAS95)
Charlie was persecuted and murdered for the same reasons the prophets of God who have gone before us were—for speaking the truth to a society of people who did not want to hear it. We should honor his memory by remembering the reason he ultimately died.
B. we should see Charlie as an example to follow.
“Follow me as I follow Christ,” Paul said (1 Cor. 11:1). In a similar way, we ought to follow the example that Charlie left behind as an unashamed follower of Christ. I am not saying we should all start a political-action movement, or do “prove me wrong” open mic debates on college campuses. But when it comes to courageously engaging people who are enslaved to a deluded, godless mindset, there is a lot we can learn from Charlie. He sought to reach people with truth, but always with care, compassion, logic, wisdom and reason. He was prepared to “give a defense for the hope” that was in him (1 Peter 3:15), no matter who he was speaking to. Disciples cannot be ashamed of Christ and His words, even in the midst of an “adulterous and sinful generation” (Mark 8:38). Charlie gave us an example of what it looks like to do this with a courageous faith in Christ, an example that all Christians should emulate.
C. We should also understand something about God’s will to bring Charlie to glory at such a time as this.
When the LORD removes spiritually strong and clear minded people like Charlie from this world, it is something worth taking note of. Whatever else it may be, it is surely an act of the Lord's mercy toward the individual, and a sign of judgment upon the world out of which that person has been taken. Isaiah 57:1-2 speaks for itself:
The righteous man perishes, and no man takes it to heart; And devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, Each one who walked in his upright way. (Isaiah 57:1–2 NASB)
2. How should we respond moving forward?
A. First, as Ephesians 4:26 encourages us, we should be angry, but we should not sin in our anger.
It is right to be angry when such an evil act is committed. Be outraged, Christian! It is absolutely proper to demonstrate a conviction that this reprehensible act will never be acceptable or passively tolerated by the people of Christ! But let this outrage be expressed with self-control and in appropriate ways. Cry out to the God of heaven, that He would do justice in this situation (the imprecatory Psalms are appropriate aids for prayer here). Appeal to civil magistrates to do their God-appointed job— to uphold good and punish evil (Romans 13:4). But, remember Romans 12:17-21: we must leave room for the wrath of God; and even in the midst of such a heart-wrenching, repulsive display of evil, we are to seek to overcome evil by doing good.
B. Pray for Charlie’s wife and children.
There is no more tangible way for most of us to fulfill the instructions of James 1:27 than to do this. We may not be able to weep with these who are weeping or to visit this new widow and these now fatherless children in the midst of their affliction in person. But in prayer, before the presence of God, we can intercede for them in the name of Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We can appeal to the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3-5) to give comfort and support to their hearts through Christ in the midst of their terrible loss as only He can.
C. Pray earnestly and sincerely to God for the salvation of Tyler Robinson (and all his sympathizers).
As those who “are what we are” only by the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10), we must remember that “there, but for the grace of God, go I.” The only difference between ourselves and Tyler and those who rejoice at the murder of Charlie is that the saving power of God in Christ has delivered us from the domain of darkness in which we once were enslaved (Col. 1:13-14). Do not become arrogant against those who are still lost in darkness, as if you did something to distinguish yourself from them. YOU didn’t; GOD did (Ephesians 2:1-10). What a joy and comfort it is to remember that this horrific situation and the evil man responsible for it are not beyond the saving power Christ’s redeeming blood! Christ has saved the worst of sinners! The most rage-filled and hostile murderers of His people have been “conquered” by His saving-grace in the past (Paul! 1 Timothy 1:12-17). And He did so in order to prove His ability and willingness to do so even now in the present. Don’t doubt, Christian, whether Christ can save Tyler Robinson. His heinous sin against God and man is not a hindrance to the saving power revealed in the “word of the cross”. Yes, right now, he is an enemy of the people of God and of His saving gospel. But, how are you and I to respond to our enemies? Jesus says, “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44-48). Let’s guard against any prideful disdain that would keep us from desiring his salvation. Let’s be like our Father who is in heaven and pray even for those who are “unjust”. What a joy it would be one day to behold Charlie and Tyler embracing one another in sorrow and forgiveness, in repentance and grace, in the glorious kingdom of our great Redeemer.
D. We must Be unashamed and unafraid to live Like this world is not our home and this age is not the age that is coming.
We should seek for justice to be done with every opportunity we have (Micah 6:8)—and justice to the full. But, we should also remember that this age will always leave us longing for societal righteousness that will only be realized in the age to come. 2 Peter 3:13, “according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, a place where righteousness dwells.” Until Christ returns, and that new heavens and earth arrive, we will have to live with the dissatisfaction and bitterness of injustice in the world that is now. Even as we seek justice in this situation, we must be setting our hope fully on the grace that is to be revealed on the day of Christ’s appearing (1 Peter 1:13) when justice will be perfectly administered, and all wrongs will be made right.
D. Finally, we should respond to this display of wickedness with a renewed resolve to confront it.
We must take up our own crosses and follow Christ into the fray. Our Shepherd will not abandon us to the wolves, or suffer one hair of our heads to perish (Luke 21:12-19). Oh, we will be called (and privileged) to suffer! No one who strives to live a godly life for Christ’s sake gets out of being persecuted for it (2 Tim. 3:12). But in our suffering, we will find the greater joy of knowing an incomparable fellowship with the Christ who suffered for us. We will know in greater measure the unconquerable power His resurrection from the dead at work within us (Phil. 3:10)! So, as our brother Charlie has exemplified, let us embrace that call. Let us be dead to the world and to all the world has to offer. Let us not labor for their smiles, or be afraid of their frowns (or bullets). Let us with labor courageously for Christ our King and for His Kingdom, unafraid of what the kingdom of darkness might do. Now is not a time to be intimidated by evil into inaction or silence. Now is the time to meet the darkness of evil head-on with the light of the Gospel! Encourage your hearts in the greatness of your Savior and in the fullness of your salvation, beloved. No amount of persecution, suffering, or maligning that the world can throw at you can separate you from His love (Rom. 8:35-39). Though it may often mean greater experiences of suffering at the hands of godless people, the promise of Christ remains, “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it” (Mark 8:35). Let’s be unafraid to lose our lives in service of so great a King! As Charlie knows now more than any of us here do, those who embrace Christ's call, and follow Him in faith, will never be put to shame!