“Always forgive your
enemies, nothing annoys them so much.”
~ Charlie Kirk
First,
I want to ask everyone who loved, or even liked Charlie Kirk to continue to remain
calm, and don’t get caught up in responding to the feebleminded narrative that
Charlie (and all Christians) have somehow done something to deserve being the
victims of unspeakable violence. We’re 2 weeks out from the assassination of
CJK, and I’m still seeing terrible back and forth debates, with insults flying
from both sides. Christians, watch how you post or speak on the Socials, in
emails, texts, or even face-to-face. We’re called to a higher standard of
conduct, and our words must be reflective of Jesus, and not just a gut reaction
to the crimes committed against our brothers and sisters. We can be angry, but
we should NOT react in anger. If you need to, type out your posts in Word or
another app before posting, this is one way to protect yourself from sending
anything that would bring shame on the name of Christ. In fact, it’s what I’ve
done here. Paul tells us: “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down
on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Eph 4:26-27 (ESV) In essence, don’t allow anything to infuriate
you to the point of lashing out in any way, verbal, or physical, or some people’s most popular weapon these days, as cowardly ghosts on the internet. Always
make things right, and don’t let them simmer. The Apostle goes on to say: “Let
no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for
building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Eph 4:29 (ESV) Jesus was always all
about grace, as was Charlie, and to be anything but gracious in situations like
this, is to bring shame and reproach on the name of the very savior that
Charlie, and all Born-again, blood bought saints of the living God proclaim.
Paul concludes with these words: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and
clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Eph 4:31-32 (ESV) Again, we must forgo
any overly zealous attempts to gain the upper hand in discussions (wherever
they occur), just for the sake of winning. Trust me when I say that I know all
about this from experience, being so ridiculously competitive that I ruined
some very good friendships over it, much to my own shame and regret. When Paul
says put away bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander, and all malice, he means we
must literally give up our right to even feel these things, regardless of how
justified we might think we are. Ask God to help you to continue to walk in
graciousness, no matter how much your flesh says otherwise. Pray for the
strength to go to those who have offended you, with a tender heart, and be
forgiving, in all things. Don’t let bitterness gain a foothold in your life by
holding on to your anger; you’ll only end up being the main recipient of the
consequences.
This
post was started on the night of September 10th, and at this point, it has been
edited and redacted more times than the Ep$te!n files. (Not intended as a joke)
The bulk of this post is to anyone who thinks that what happened to Charlie
Kirk on 9-10 is funny, or something to be celebrated. Your hearts must be so
dark, and your consciences so seared, that I can’t imagine how you make it from
day to day without imploding from harboring that much evil and hatred inside
yourselves. I am not going to waste one more second worrying about what
Charlie’s detractors had or have to say about him. Instead I’m going to continue
to pray, first for his family, friends and co-workers, but then also for all
who think that he got what he deserved, or deserved what he got. As Jesus
Himself said in the Gospel of Matthew - “You have heard that it was said, ‘You
shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your
Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matt 5:43-45 (ESV) That said, nobody, no matter how far their
hearts and minds are from God, is beyond the reach of His grace. As long as
they have breath in their lungs and a heartbeat in their chests, they have the
ability to repent, and call on His name for forgiveness. They are not yet lost,
and I won’t allow anger or hatred to prevent me from continuing to share the
truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with Everyone, just as many others did
with me! I’ve often thought how glad I was that my kids were either not yet
born, or too young to remember 9/11, but now with Charlie’s murder, they have
their JFK or 9/11 moment, and it’s a terrible shame.
“The blood of the
martyrs is the seed of the church.”
~ Tertullian
Charlie
was martyred, so please don’t be deceived by the MSM narrative, as this was not
political violence, or even random gun violence as some (who shall remain
nameless) have rather injudiciously suggested. This was the well planned
assassination of a conservative Christian leader in order to send a signal that
we all need to shut up, or someday face the same consequence. Look at history,
and watch what is happening even now in various places around the world;
Christians are dying for their faith in Jesus, every single day, and they do it
willingly, and the world who hates them anyway, turns away in complete ambivalence. How foolish it
is to think that you can silence Christian believers if you kill some of their
leaders, or even larger groups of His followers. Again, take a look at history
and you’ll see people dying for Jesus ever since shortly after his crucifixion.
You know what? It drives the devil and his minions insane to think that they
cannot win, and in their anger, they’re sewing discord any and every way possible, to drag as
many people to hell as they can, in the short time they have left. The plan of
the Christian is simple; to share the gospel, lead people to Jesus, and take as
many them to heaven as possible and this too drives Satan and his followers
crazy. You know what? Good!!! So, as Charlie liked to say: “Let’s make Heaven
crowded.” Let's Go!!!!
I
would say that most of the people who hated Charlie probably never took the
time to listen to how he interacted with people. He was a debater yes, but he
always respectful and asked for others to be the same. They claim to have the
suspect in custody, and I truly hope that Tyler Robinson is the one and only
perpetrator. I will go out on a limb here, and say that if Charlie could, he
would be the first one to share the gospel with, and hopefully lead that
misguided young man to the same savior that he is now in the presence of. That was
just Charlie; he may have had strong opinions on many so-called controversial
subjects, but I would also say that he was murdered because of his deep and unwavering
faith in Christ, period! We know that his faith fashioned his worldview, and is
the main driver behind how he treated people. He applied the Golden Rule to his
life, all day, every day. “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do
also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matt 7:12 (ESV) He loved, not hated people of all faiths,
sexual orientations, political beliefs, gender ideologies, educational and
socioeconomic backgrounds, and the list could go on and on. Charlie didn’t sit
in judgement, because he understood correctly that if he did, that the same
standard would be applied to him. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with
the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it
will be measured to you.” Matt 7:1-2 (ESV)
I am so grateful for the people on both sides of the political spectrum
who have seen through the nonsense, and just gone over and above in being
respectful and loving to Charlie’s family, regardless of their personal
stances. That’s how we in America should always be! When did we decide it was
ok to kill people with whom we disagree? How does silencing one person bring a
movement down? It doesn’t! It can’t and it never will! It only makes it
stronger! I say again, look at history, then circle back and try to “Prove me
wrong!” J
A few words from people
who knew Charlie ……
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGyPIMKBnUM&ab_channel=RealLifewithJackHibbs
Jack Hibbs, Pastor at
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, CA, has a lot to say about his good, good friend
Charlie….(Jack begins right after a few seconds of music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoSr4NYPaBM&ab_channel=AllieBethStuckey
“May we all, when we
die, make the demons rejoice.” ~ Allie
Beth Stuckey
To be fair and
balanced, I’m including this spot from someone you might not expect:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcgFH4xJHxU&ab_channel=NewsNation
“He was murdered at one
of the events that he thought was part of the solution, and I agree with him….” ~ Chris Cuomo
I believe this clip is
much more than just a convenient sound bite! Please listen! (Van was obviously
touched by Charlie’s directness and humility.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WquMr6mBCs
“This guy (Charlie) is
reaching out to his mortal enemy, and saying we need to be gentlemen, and sit
down together, and disagree agreeably.”
~ Van Jones
In Matthew 24:12, the gospel
writer states regarding the last days; “And because lawlessness will be
increased, the love of many will grow cold.” So, where are the simple virtues
of empathy and love in today’s culture? Why has our society become so
unbelievably lawless? I’ll give you one guess. We as a nation have turned our
backs on God, and this is not just a punishment, but the consequences of what
happens when God follows through and judges a nation. I may be losing some
readers at this point, and I apologize, but I have to say these things because
they are true, and they need to be said, and repeated constantly!
Again, I bring up the awful
things being said about Charlie, and the celebratory mood which when I think
about it, reminds me of the passage from Revelation where the 2 Witnesses are
murdered, and there is singing and dancing in the streets. The Apostle John
writes; “and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry
and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those
who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 11:10 (ESV)
Not that I am equating Charlie with the 2 witnesses in any way; I’m
merely pointing out the similarity in the behavior of those who are rejoicing
in the death of a young husband and father. I’m not big on shaming, so I’ll let
God’s Word speak for me. Jesus told his disciples, “If the world hates you,
know that it has hated me before it hated you.” John 15:15 (ESV) Charlie was a Christian, and he spoke on many
topics, most of which were considered to be controversial; whatever that truly
means. He understood that the hatred or other ill feelings coming from his
opponents were being driven by spiritual forces, which is why he never took any
attack personally, and why he always tried to be respectful, and end on some
sort of good footing with that individual. Why do things always have to be
blown so far out of proportion when we disagree with each other? Isn’t free
speech still available to all? Isn’t there still a marketplace of ideas and
opinions? Charlie’s view on many subjects was driven by his Christian Worldview,
and he was allowed to have his opinions, as much as he would say that the
farthest left individuals were allowed to have theirs.
If Charlie had survived,
don’t you think he’d be ready to forgive the shooter, and any accomplices? He
would also forgive anyone making the reprehensible statements and jokes, as
well as posting memes about the murder of a helpless, unwitting target of
someone under the control of demonic forces. Charlie would share the gospel
with them all, and pray that they would take him up on the free gift of salvation
that God was extending to each of them. He would implore them to see the
eternal danger of the path they were on, and come to Jesus while they still
have time. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6:2, “For he says, ‘In a favorable
time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold,
now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Here, Paul is
quoting the prophet Isaiah (49:8) when he refers to the favorable or acceptable
time, and the day of salvation. Dear friends, let me tell you that it is always
an acceptable time to come to Jesus for salvation, but time as we know it will end
someday, so come to Him while there is still time. Also, trusting Christ as
savior is more than just getting your fire insurance, or your “get out of Hell
free card.” No, it’s about trusting Him alone for your eternal security, it’s
about a word that has almost become extinct in today’s culture, and the word is
surrender. To give up control of our lives is really the last thing we want to
do, right? Many will say “No way! I’m not gonna let other people tell me how to
run ‘my’ life, and I’m certainly not following the delusionally Utopian
teachings some carpenter from Galilee, who’s been dead for over 2,000 years!”
Those same people will say that Jesus pushed one too many times, and got what
he deserved. Yes, he constantly railed against the establishment (the religious
elites), but it was because of His love for them, even though their hatred for
Him was beyond description. Their utter contempt for Jesus was all about
maintaining power, and control, over the people (much the way things are in
today’s world), and they had the Romans do their dirty work, and crucify Him.
So, why do I personally think
Charlie is a martyr? It’s because he stood for Christ when the chips were down,
but he was so much more than just another smart-alecky know-it-all, he was a
brilliant debater, he was confident, not arrogant in his replies, and he loved
people…period! He wasn’t going to be silenced or controlled by anyone, and I’m
sure that some will respond with, “well, he’s silent for sure now, isn’t he”?
I’ll answer with a resounding “NO”! You see, Charlie is more alive today than
he was (2) Wednesdays ago, or ever was for that matter, because he’s with his
savior, whom he served to the end. Likewise, TPUSA will continue on because
they are fighting for something much bigger than themselves, or Charlie; they’re fighting for the soul of America, and the world! The Kraken has been
released, and cannot be stopped!
One last thought before I
go, and it’s a challenge; if you are not a believer, or you are unsure where
you stand with God, I urge you to dig deeper and you’ll see the whole person
that Charlie was, because of whom he served. JESUS THE CHRIST; KING of KINGS,
and LORD of LORDS!
“Seek
the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near.” Isa
55:6 (ESV)
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock,
and it will be opened to you.” Matt 7:7 (ESV)
Who are you going to serve?
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