A year after Charlie Kirk’s murder, I still feel the weight of what happened. The taking of a human life because of hatred is evil, and the celebration or mockery of murder should trouble us deeply, regardless of whose name, politics, or beliefs are involved. Scripture leaves no room for rejoicing over another person’s destruction: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls” (Proverbs 24:17).
But as Christians, we must be careful that grief over evil does not produce hatred within us. Charlie often spoke publicly about his Christian faith, and his influence was particularly strong among young Christian conservatives. His death remains deeply significant to many who followed his work. Yet our ultimate allegiance is not to Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump, conservatism, liberalism, or any political movement. It is to Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave us the harder command: love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). Paul tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). That does not mean calling evil good, abandoning truth, or refusing to seek justice. It means refusing to allow another person’s hatred to determine what grows in our own hearts.
So today I mourn Charlie. I mourn for his family. I mourn a culture in which political disagreement can become dehumanization, hatred, and ultimately violence. And I mourn when anyone celebrates the death of another human being made in the image of God.
Lord, guard us from becoming what we condemn.
Give us courage to speak truth without hatred, conviction without contempt, and strength without vengeance. Teach us to contend earnestly for what is true while remembering that the person standing against us is still someone for whom Christ died.
Where anger is consuming us, give us self-control.
Where fear is overtaking us, give us faith.
Where hatred is growing, teach us to love.
Where lies flourish, give us courage to speak truth.
Where violence threatens, make us peacemakers.
And when this world seems increasingly divided into enemies and camps, remind us that our hope was never ultimately in the world getting itself right.
Our hope is in Christ.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” — Matthew 5:9
