The Church And Reacting To The Kirk Assassination

Thursday, September 11, 2025

I have seen pastors “tastefully” remind me of “offensive” things Charlie Kirk said.  I have seen pastors darn near deify him.  I have seen pastors declare (again) culture war.  I have seen pastors call for gun control.  And, perhaps most shamefully, I have seen pastors say nothing at all lest they ignite a “political firestorm” within their congregation.  The assassination of Charlie Kirk is an act of evil – and the church MUST address the evil if it is to remain the church.  For the church, nothing else should matter.

Last Sunday I wrote, “I think the role for Christians in this conservative resurgence is to build bridges, not burn them behind us.  The political divide in this nation from a high enough perspective simply appears a gaping wound that needs healing.  We must try.”  Given the events of this week since, I fear I am prophetic and that gaping wound now is festered.

This morning I wrote, “How do we react to something like this?  The universal regret and condemnation is a good start, but on the whole inadequate.  They must be followed with self-examination and confession.  The time has come for each of us, individually, to clean house in our hearts and souls.”  The church must issue the call to self-examination, confession and the cleansing of our hearts and souls.

The church must lead, and it must lead by example.  This is no time for the church to talk politics one way or the other.  This is a time for the church to talk about good-and-evil.  This is a time for the church to talk about sin and confession.

Our hearts belong first and foremost to Jesus Christ.  We must make that apparent.