I’ve heard it over and over again from people across the country: “I can’t believe how much Charlie Kirk’s death has impacted me. I’ve never been this shaken by the death of someone I didn’t personally know.”
Grief and righteous anger over his brutal assassination have resonated with millions, creating a palpable sense of shock and loss unlike anything we’ve experienced in our lifetimes. Charlie Kirk wasn’t just another influencer, and his death wasn’t just another senseless crime.
Charlie stood for truth, and the father of lies hates truth-tellers. Jesus made it clear that spiritual neutrality isn’t possible.
There’s a deeper and more spiritual reason why we’ve been shaken by this tragedy.
1. You’re more connected to Charlie than you might think
Many of us felt a deep, personal connection to Charlie. We listened to his voice or watched his videos for hours on end, and over time, you really do develop a personal connection whether you’ve met in real life or not.
Especially because Charlie was so likable, it’s easy to think of him as your brother, son, or close friend. That’s not weird or unearned. It’s natural.
But there’s also a supernatural reason you feel this loss. We feel connected to Charlie as a reflection of our spiritual unity. The apostle Paul wrote, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. … But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:12–13).
The same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Charlie is in all who’ve received Jesus as Lord. For Christians, Charlie is our brother in Christ, and when he was wounded, we all felt the pain. Further, his murder grieves the Holy Spirit in us. Our collective grief is a sign of our shared faith and unbreakable bond as Christians. When one part suffers, we all suffer.
2. We’re in a spiritual war
Charlie’s assassination wasn’t just a political act. It was a demonic attack.
The same evil spirit that killed the prophets, crucified Christ, and martyred Stephen has now manifested itself in our day against Charlie Kirk. And it’s jarring to realize you’re smack dab in the middle of a spiritual war.
RELATED: Spiritual warfare 101: What every Christian needs to know
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Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our true enemy is spiritual, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” Charlie stood for truth, and the father of lies hates truth-tellers. Jesus made it clear that spiritual neutrality isn’t possible. He said, “He who is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30).
For the children of God, we will overcome the enemy, not with bullets, but with our Bibles and the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. We mourn with his family
While we all feel the loss, our hearts break for his family — his brave wife, Erika, and his young children who will grow up knowing their father was great without the blessing of enjoying him personally. The sadness we feel for them is biblical compassion.
Romans 12:15 commands us to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Our grief for the Kirk family is a righteous and compassionate response to a pain that grieves the heart of God. We must continue to pray for them, knowing that the Lord loves Charlie’s family even more than Charlie, and He will take care of them as only He can.
This tragedy also serves as a poignant reminder to cherish our own families and not take a single moment for granted.
4. Murder desecrates image-bearers of God
The video of Charlie’s death, widely shared online, made us witnesses to murder. This marks the human soul in a traumatic way. It’s hard enough to see an animal slaughtered, but destroying a human being — made in the image of God — with such gruesome malice is the ultimate act of desecration.
Murder is a sin against man and God, and it’s why we should support capital punishment.
Genesis 9:6 states, “If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.” The death penalty assigns the highest punishment to those who commit the highest crime, affirming the sacred value of life.
Charlie’s death reminds us that while our earthly bodies are fragile and easily destroyed, our hope is in Jesus Christ. One day, at the sound of the trumpet, our perishable bodies will be raised imperishable, and death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:52–57).
5. It could have been you
This was not a political assassination. Charlie wasn’t a politician running for office; he was a truth-teller combating lies.
Everything he believed and stood for was based on his faith in Jesus Christ. His entire worldview was shaped by the Bible. Make no mistake, Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr — perhaps the most significant in American history; he was slain on American soil, by an American, fighting to liberate Americans from the bondage of deception.
There will never be another Charlie, but we can honor his legacy by picking up the torch and taking even more ground.
As fellow believers, we stand for the same truths he was murdered for.
This forces us to confront a sober reality: Following Jesus courageously may come at a high cost. Occasionally, we must all look in the mirror and ask, “Am I willing to die for this?” The answer must be, “Yes.”
Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We must not allow fear to silence us. We must become even more committed to our righteous cause.
Be encouraged: The martyrdom of Stephen gave rise to the ministry of the apostle Paul, and Charlie’s martyrdom will give rise to thousands of bold voices who will not shrink back from death.
6. We lament over lost potential
Charlie was a uniquely gifted leader who was helping to change the political and cultural landscape of our nation. Many believed he might one day become president. His sudden death leaves us mourning over the lost potential of what he could have accomplished with so many more years of life ahead.
But we can trust in God’s sovereignty. As Psalm 33:11 reminds us, “The Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” We are shocked by Charlie’s death, but God is not; and this tragedy won’t thwart God’s plan. The Kingdom of God doesn’t advance through the gifting of a single “superman,” but through ordinary men and women empowered by the Spirit of God.
Charlie’s death requires all of us to step up and fill the void. There will never be another Charlie, but we can honor his legacy by picking up the torch and taking even more ground.
7. We can feel helpless
In the face of such a tragedy, we feel helpless. We prayed for a miracle, but God did not heal Charlie or raise him from the dead.
It’s OK to be disappointed with the outcome, but we must never be disappointed in God. He is always good, even when our circumstances are not. Even when we feel helpless, we are not hopeless. We can make a difference by standing for truth, sharing the gospel, raising our families, and doing our civic duty. We will do our parts and trust God to do His.
8. The wicked are celebrating
The evil, celebratory comments from Charlie’s critics reveal the wickedness in their hearts. These are people so blinded by sin that they call good “evil” and evil “good.” They are too hard-hearted to hear reason, and only God can change their hearts.
Our lives on earth are short, but eternity is forever.
Remember what Jesus commanded in Luke 6:27–28, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” The fact that hell is throwing a party over Charlie’s death is a testament to the difference he was making. The demons also cheered when Jesus was crucified, but their celebration was temporary, while our victory is for eternity.
Let’s live our lives so courageously that hell throws a party when we die, too.
9. Earthly justice is incomplete
The news that Charlie’s alleged murderer was caught provides a measure of satisfaction, but it won’t bring him back. Even the swiftest and most severe earthly justice will not provide perfect retribution for this crime. This is why we hold onto the hope of God’s final, complete justice.
The Bible promises that one day Jesus will return to judge the righteous and the unrighteous. For those who have placed their faith in Him, our sins are forgiven, and we will receive eternal reward. For those who reject Christ, there will be eternal punishment.
We can thank God for a justice system that holds murderers accountable, but we find our ultimate peace in knowing that God will settle all accounts perfectly on the final day.
10. Life is short, but eternity is forever
Charlie was only 31 years old — young, healthy, and strong. His life was cut short, a stark reminder that our days are numbered.
As Psalm 39:4–5 says, “Remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered — how fleeting my life is.” This tragedy should be a call to action for all of us. Don’t waste your life on things that don’t matter. Don’t be a spectator.
Our lives on earth are short, but eternity is forever. While we mourn, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. We have the blessed assurance that for Charlie, and all believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
Charlie’s assassination was meant to silence him, but the enemy has made a grave miscalculation. His martyrdom has awakened a sleeping giant. Let our grief be a catalyst for strengthening resolve. We will weep, we will heal, we will fight, and we know that we will win. We’ve read the back of the good book, and it says that in the end, we win.
We will not be silenced, and the truth Charlie died for will not be buried. It will only get bolder, louder, and stronger!
The post Why Charlie Kirk’s murder feels personal — even if you never met him appeared first on TheBlaze.
