Reflections on Charlie Kirk

It has been a little over two months since the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk. I have been asked several times to comment on this stunning event. Thus, without further ado …  

Rhetoric. When I heard about Charlie Kirk that fateful day, my first thought was that our national rhetoric needs to be toned down. Specifically, this incessant drumming by the American Left that Donald Trump is the second coming of Adolf Hitler and that all those who voted for and support President Trump are full-fledged Nazis simply must stop. I’m convinced that this hyperbolic rhetoric was a direct contributor to Kirk’s assassination. 

For the record, I don’t believe that the political leaders and media individuals parroting this talking point accept the notion that Trump is Hitler. Rather, they are speaking in such to advance their political ambitions. The problem, however, is that in a country with over 100 million left-of-center voters, someone out there will listen to and act upon this unconscionable assertion. 

About a dozen years ago, the American philosopher J. Budziszewski predicted that it was only a matter of time before character assassination would be replaced by real assassination. Lo and behold, that is exactly what happened. We are long past the time when the powers to be of the American Left must tone down their unhinged rhetoric. 

Release. This may sound surprising, but one of the first Bible passages that came to my mind was Romans 1. Paul introduces here the noteworthy concept of God giving men over to certain despicable behaviors. In Romans 1:28, Paul writes, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” The word “gave over” means ‘to hand over, deliver up, to abandon,’ and the word “debased” means ‘not standing the test, unqualified, worthless, incapable of moral judgment.’ It was used to describe coins that were substandard. 

What Paul is teaching here is that God withdrew His protection and allowed them—released them—to pursue the degradation they desired. Jack Cottrell states, “In the working of His providence, He ceases to restrain them from evil or protect them against it.” 

This idea of God giving over has roots in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 7:23, God promises to “deliver over” those nations occupying the promised land. God assures Israel that a direct result of His handing over of the people inhabiting the land would be that “no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.” 

One of the most fascinating promises of God is found in Exodus 34:23-24. Here God commands that three times a year, all Israelite men are to appear before the Lord by attending the three annual feasts. Then in verse 24 God promises, “neither will any man covet your land when you go up to appear before the Lord your God three times in the year.” It’s easy to visualize the scenario where the surrounding enemy nations observed that on multiple occasions, all the men left their cities, towns, and villages for up to two weeks, essentially leaving the women and children without defense. Yet not one time in the Old Testament do we read where anyone ever attacked one of these undefended communities. Obviously, God in His providence could and did protect them. 

I am deeply concerned that God has taken the same Romans 1 action here in America that He did in Paul’s day. Namely, He has given America over—released us—to the despicable behaviors so many of our fellow citizens crave. The thought that God has withdrawn His protective hand to shield us from such ungodliness and has, in effect, turned us loose to plunge headlong into such debauchery is to me a scary proposition. I fear we have arrived in just such a state. 

Revival. This leads me to the need for a national revival. If there was ever a time when our society needs to reestablish itself upon the principles of God’s Word, it is now. We are living in a Proverbs 29:18 world: “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.” Without the clear guidance and direction of Scripture, citizens will become unmoored from any sensible moral foundation and run wild, doing whatever is right in their own eyes. Society simply becomes unglued. As a society, our moral foundations must return to and be reestablished upon God’s Word. Only the Word can provide the light we so desperately need. As the Psalmist exclaims, “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). This, quite obviously, necessitates a national revival or, if you will, another great awakening. 

December is the month we traditionally celebrate the birth of Jesus, the true light of the world. As we meditate upon the birth of our Savior, may we resolve to share the wonderful news of the gift of God’s Son. Now more than ever, it’s a message our fellow citizens need to hear.