Charlie Kirk was just 31 years old. A speaker about faith in God, a passionate advocate for what he believed, and—beyond all titles—a human being. Like every one of us, he was a unique creation, fashioned in the image of God. That truth alone makes his death tragic.
I am deeply saddened that someone felt motivated to murder him instead of speaking to him, listening, or even debating with him. Words may cut, but they can also build bridges. To bypass dialogue and take a life is to step into the place of God—as judge and executioner for the universe. That is a role none of us are worthy to assume.
This act is more than political. It is a wound in the fabric of our humanity. Violence against any person—friend, foe, or stranger—reveals how far we fall when we stop seeing each other as God’s handiwork. Every life is sacred, and when one is taken unjustly, we are all diminished.
As Christians, we are called to something higher. We are reminded:
“Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” (Romans 12:19)
Judgment belongs to God. Our call is to love, to bear witness to truth with grace, and to pray for those we disagree with—even when it feels impossible.
So let us grieve. Let us pray for Charlie’s family, friends, and the countless young people who looked to him for guidance. Let us also pray for our nation, that words might replace weapons, and conversations might replace condemnation.
And let us remember: in God’s eyes, no person is disposable. Each of us carries eternal worth. May that truth shape how we speak, how we act, and how we disagree.
John Hargrove Seeking Truth and Reality 