Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, but a new book by the late conservative commentator and activist has just been released.
This excerpt from “Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Transform Your Life” is a deeply personal confession and call to arms.
“I am humbled by and grateful for the incredible support for my husband’s final book. Charlie was so proud of this book and finished it only one month before he was taken away from us. I wanted to make sure we honored him, and I feel so tremendously blessed to share his final words with you,” his widow, Erika Kirk, tells The Post.
It was summer 2021. By all objective measures, my life was in perfect order: I had just married that May; I was traveling the country with my new, beautiful wife, Erika; I was running Turning Point USA. Life on the outside was as good as it gets.
But, inside, there was a battle brewing. I was fatigued, tired and spiritually confused.
Since spring 2020, I was in nonstop hyperaggressive fight mode. The lockdowns (which I spoke out about from the very beginning) only intensified after Joe Biden became president. I found myself in the trenches in summer 2021 looking for a respite, a lifeline.
I found myself at the Baccarat Hotel in New York City just a few days before the Fourth of July. My mental clarity was dulled, and I was physically exhausted and seeking advice. After a long day of TV interviews and donor meetings, I had a late lunch with a dear friend and Turning Point USA board member, David Engelhardt.
David is a very wise man, pastor of Kings’ Church in New York City and someone I am able to confide in when things get tough.
I told him I was hitting a wall, I had more obligations than time, and I was drinking eight cups of coffee a day just to stay afloat. I went to him looking for a sympathetic ear and more hopefully a piece of advice that could get me out of the rut I was in.
David heard all my concerns and listened intently, internalized it all and plainly said, “Are you honoring the Sabbath?”
I laughed. I am a close friend and student of Dennis Prager, and for years I heard him brag about how he honors the Sabbath and how it’s the best part of his week. At times I found myself almost jealous of Dennis while listening to his Fireside Chats. “I am too busy for that!” I would say to myself when Dennis would air his monologues touting the biblical and moral importance of honoring the Sabbath. Over time, I secretly had “Shabbat Envy.”
I replied to David, “No, I really don’t have time for that. I am running three different companies and have 300 people on payroll. I have to raise $50 million a year and do three hours of radio a day. I will honor God by working harder, not by resting for a day.”
David then paused and rebutted, “I think you need to drop everything for a day. God will honor that. Look at it as a test of your faith.”
I continued to argue with him, but deep down I felt a strong conviction of the Holy Spirit. I knew he had struck a chord. I knew he had a special word for me and that it was my flesh resisting it.
“Do you mean just stopping?” I muttered.
“Try it for a month. See what it does for your life. Jesus told us if we love him to follow his commands.”
We changed the subject, but looking back many years ago, I couldn’t tell you a single other thing we spoke about that night. I went up to my hotel room and started finding every single Bible verse that mentioned the Sabbath. I grew obsessed with the idea of stopping everything for a day and challenging myself to live by it.
The first Saturday was extremely challenging. The Bible is very clear: For six days you shall work, and on the seventh day you shall rest. Six days for work — that is it. Get everything you need in six days, because the seventh day is for God and to rest.
Therefore, right then I decided to begin shutting off my phone on Friday night (why Friday, I will explain later in this book).
The first Saturday I woke up around 7:30 a.m. scrambling to check my text messages, frenetic and worried that I might be missing someone or something critical. “What if President Trump calls me and my phone is off?” “What if my parents need to call me about an emergency?” “What if something of high importance happens at Turning Point and I can’t be reached?” These questions started swirling in my head, creating a sense of heightened anxiety and dread. Finally, sundown came, and I sprinted to turn my phone back on — just to see I had only a few texts from people that could easily have waited ’til Sunday.
The first month was a grind, but eventually I released myself from the death grip that modernity commands you hold over your time. The lessons I have derived from honoring the Sabbath are limitless, the most profound of which started me on this journey to write this book.
The more I started to appreciate the Sabbath, the more I realized the great need to share its wondrous beauty with the world. I hold this belief very clearly: If the Sabbath can change my life, it can change everyone’s life.
What I have grown to learn is the Sabbath is the key that unlocks a civil society and a free people, and it could be the secret answer to restore self-government in America.
In this book I will further explain my personal journey, where the Sabbath came from, whether we are still tied to it as Christians, the transformational importance of Genesis 1:1, why tyrants hate the Sabbath, the beauty of stopping when everyone tells you to keep going and so much more.
Throughout these pages I frequently appeal to and quote Scripture from the Holy Bible. In my life, I hold the Bible as the ultimate authority, drawing from its wisdom to guide my thoughts and actions. I recognize that not everyone who reads this book shares this belief, and I deeply respect that. However, I invite you to pause and reflect on a question I pose to you personally: By what moral standard — whether it be a book, creed, song or philosophy — do you live your life? Every person lives by some guiding principle, and for me, it is the Bible and the truths it imparts.
The Bible is not merely a collection of ancient writings; it is the most authenticated piece of literature in history. No archaeological discovery has ever contradicted the truths found within its pages. The wisdom contained in the Bible remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written, if not more so.
Its history, with its vivid portrayal of past events and its prophecies about the future, has shaped the foundation of Western civilization. Indeed, it is the Bible that has built the West, and it is the Bible that will ultimately guide and restore it.
Its message is timeless, offering principles of justice, morality and grace that transcend cultural and historical boundaries. For those who seek truth, guidance and purpose, the Bible stands as a beacon — a guide that continues to illuminate the path for those willing to follow it.
The Bible is more than a sacred text; it is a living testament to the divine truth that transcends time and culture. Throughout history, it has withstood countless challenges — from persecutions and translations to skepticism and secularism — yet it remains unchanged in its essence. Its teachings have molded societies, inspired movements and provided solace to the weary.
The Bible’s ability to speak to the human condition, with all its struggles and triumphs, is unparalleled. It offers answers to the deepest questions of life: Who are we? Why are we here? What is our purpose? The moral framework it provides is not bound by the limitations of human ideology or fleeting trends; it is rooted in a higher order of justice, love and truth, serving as both a mirror to reflect our imperfections and a guide to help us overcome them.
Moreover, the Bible’s influence on the Western world cannot be overstated. It has shaped the laws, ethics and cultural norms that define modern society.
Concepts such as individual rights, justice, mercy and the inherent dignity of all people find their foundations in biblical principles. Even in a world that often turns away from faith, the echoes of biblical wisdom are woven into the very fabric of our legal systems and moral compass. As civilization faces growing challenges, it is not merely political or philosophical ideologies that will save us but a return to the timeless truths found in the Bible. Its message offers a pathway to renewal, not only for individuals but for entire societies, calling us back to a moral order that can heal the divisions of our age and restore meaning to a world desperately in need of it.
Even if you believe you already know what is contained in the Bible, I encourage you to continue reading. I can guarantee that as you delve deeper into its pages, you will encounter something that causes you to pause, reflect and walk away with a newfound reverence and respect for those of us who submit to its teachings as the ultimate authority.
The Bible is not merely a collection of ancient writings; it is a living, breathing testament to divine truth that offers new insights with every reading. Whether you are familiar with its stories or just beginning your exploration, there is always more to uncover — layers of wisdom, depth and understanding that are often revealed only through continued study and reflection. For those who live by Scripture, it is not just a guide for moral living but a transformative force that shapes our worldview, strengthens our faith and grounds us in timeless truth.
One of this book’s core contentions is that all around us we are promised “NEW!” And yet “NEW” doesn’t make us happier, more joyful, closer to God or more connected. Instead of looking for a NEW cryptocurrency or car to make us happy, maybe we need to look at things that have lasted, that have staying power.
How often do you have something in front of you that is 5,000 years old, cherished by those who practice it, God-given free of charge and has unlimited upsides and virtually ZERO downsides?
We all see and are observing the issues with modernity. The crisis is clear, and the danger is present in front of us. The way forward for us as a people might be to take a long step backward, to creation. In the beginning is where we should begin.
The post Charlie Kirk rallies for a day of rest and reconnection in his closing argument appeared first on New York Post.
