Why The Murder of Charlie Kirk Hits Us Differently
One thing I've noticed from opponents of Charlie Kirk since his tragic assassination is a kind of righteous indignation over the level of our grief. For example, we didn't grieve in the same way when Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman was assassinated back in June. And Mr. Kirk's death has received way more attention than the most recent school shooting in Evergreen, Colorado.
It is fair to say that my liberal friends are not imagining things when they notice that many are more shaken by what happened to Charlie Kirk. While all of these things are nightmarish tragedies, Charlie Kirk's assassination hits us differently. This is my attempt to identify some reasons for this. To clarify, this is not an attempt to pretend that the other tragedies are not horrific. Rather, I want to process and identify the unique kind of tragedy we witnessed in Utah on September 10th, 2025 and why it feels like a real tipping point in our time.
1. We saw it.
I did not personally see the video of Kirk being shot. I'm told it's very graphic and, at this point, I don't want to see it. Maybe there will be a time when I am convinced that there's a good purpose in seeing it, but right now, I don't know what that would be. In any case, my point is that millions of people did see it. In the past "we" were not the witnesses. We're told about the violence and, maybe, we see the aftermath but we are rarely the witnesses. This one we witnessed in all its graphic detail. If you personally knew someone who witnessed a murder you would not blame them for being more shaken by it than by the news of another murder that they did not. As humans we are grieved by both but more shaken by the one we witnessed in broad daylight.
2. He was a brother in Christ.
As Christians we are part of a spiritual body. Christians are told in the Scriptures that we are "members of the body of Christ" and that if "one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together" (1 Corinthians 12:26). So, because Charlie was a member of Christ's body that body feels a profound loss - the severing of one of our members. This hits harder because: We. Can't. Help. It. It's like the loss of a body part.
3. His death wasn't strictly political
When was the last time we witnessed someone get martyred in the United States? I've seen a lot of people on both sides of the political aisle denouncing "political violence". This is entirely appropriate. This does remind me of what I've read about the political violence of the 1960s. Stephen Colbert drew this comparison himself in a recent statement. But Charlie Kirk's death was not strictly political. He was not running for office like Donald Trump was in 2024 or have the power of an elected official like John F. Kennedy in 1963. In fact, if you listened to Kirk speak you would find that it didn't take long for him to bring Jesus into the conversation. For Kirk, politics was the starting point of a conversation meant to lead to Jesus. Which, I personally believe, makes Charlie Kirk a 21st Century American martyr for Jesus Christ.
4. His death was celebrated
One reason Charlie Kirk's death is hitting us differently is that people are celebrating it. I didn't hear about anyone celebrating Melissa Hortman's death. I don't hear about anyone celebrating school shootings. But we do see this with Charlie Kirk's death. Reportedly, there was a man in the crowd in Utah who was fist pumping and celebrating when Kirk was initially shot. There are videos online of trans-activists celebrating the advancement of their revolution because of Kirk's murder (you can check out the 12:21 mark HERE if you have a strong stomach). There are university professors expressing a "no big deal" kind of attitude about the slaying of a young husband and father in cold blood. When even someone as liberal as Bill Maher is mourning this kind of intolerance and hate then we know Charlie's death is the mark of a shift in our country. Charlie himself said, essentially, that when we stop talking, when we stop being able to have the conversation, that's when things get violent and scary.
Some Exhortations for my Christian Brothers and Sisters:
1. God has ordained all this for our time.
I have not heard anyone say this yet. This tragedy and the tragedies of this time are not a mess that God is scrambling to clean up or that he has to figure out how to manage. All of this is ordained by God for good.
It is meant by men for evil but God "intends it for good" that will be revealed at the right time (Genesis 50:20; Acts 4:27, 28).
The Scriptures teach us that God works "all things according to the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11) and that he has chosen each of us for this particular time (Acts 17:26-28).
So, we are meant to use this time well and to use it with confidence that God will have the last word.
2. Study the Word of God.
Care about doctrine. Care about careful and intentional Bible reading. Let it shape your faith and practice. Don't waste this time that you've been given by God.
3. Orient your life around weekly worship
Make worship the focus and center of your week. Worship with other believers on a weekly basis. Do it under shepherds who are committed to your spiritual care. Do it with believers that will challenge and encourage you. Do it to serve. Do it to get out of your self. Do it to sit under the word of God regularly. Do it to magnify Jesus and proclaim to the world that God is worthy.
4. Worship in your home. Disciple your kids.
Spend time with your family in the word of God. Don't just be a Sunday Christian. Disciple your children. It's your main job.
5. Speak faithfully boldly where you have opportunity
Each of us have opportunities to speak openly about Jesus. Even the Apostle Paul prayed that his eyes would be open to all the opportunities he might be given. And he prayed that God would give him the words in those moments (Colossians 4:3-4, Ephesians 6:19-20). We should pray the same way and speak the same way. A blessing is promised to us if we are persecuted for this (Matthew 5:11-12).
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."
- Colossians 4:2-4
It is fair to say that my liberal friends are not imagining things when they notice that many are more shaken by what happened to Charlie Kirk. While all of these things are nightmarish tragedies, Charlie Kirk's assassination hits us differently. This is my attempt to identify some reasons for this. To clarify, this is not an attempt to pretend that the other tragedies are not horrific. Rather, I want to process and identify the unique kind of tragedy we witnessed in Utah on September 10th, 2025 and why it feels like a real tipping point in our time.
1. We saw it.
I did not personally see the video of Kirk being shot. I'm told it's very graphic and, at this point, I don't want to see it. Maybe there will be a time when I am convinced that there's a good purpose in seeing it, but right now, I don't know what that would be. In any case, my point is that millions of people did see it. In the past "we" were not the witnesses. We're told about the violence and, maybe, we see the aftermath but we are rarely the witnesses. This one we witnessed in all its graphic detail. If you personally knew someone who witnessed a murder you would not blame them for being more shaken by it than by the news of another murder that they did not. As humans we are grieved by both but more shaken by the one we witnessed in broad daylight.
2. He was a brother in Christ.
As Christians we are part of a spiritual body. Christians are told in the Scriptures that we are "members of the body of Christ" and that if "one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together" (1 Corinthians 12:26). So, because Charlie was a member of Christ's body that body feels a profound loss - the severing of one of our members. This hits harder because: We. Can't. Help. It. It's like the loss of a body part.
3. His death wasn't strictly political
When was the last time we witnessed someone get martyred in the United States? I've seen a lot of people on both sides of the political aisle denouncing "political violence". This is entirely appropriate. This does remind me of what I've read about the political violence of the 1960s. Stephen Colbert drew this comparison himself in a recent statement. But Charlie Kirk's death was not strictly political. He was not running for office like Donald Trump was in 2024 or have the power of an elected official like John F. Kennedy in 1963. In fact, if you listened to Kirk speak you would find that it didn't take long for him to bring Jesus into the conversation. For Kirk, politics was the starting point of a conversation meant to lead to Jesus. Which, I personally believe, makes Charlie Kirk a 21st Century American martyr for Jesus Christ.
4. His death was celebrated
One reason Charlie Kirk's death is hitting us differently is that people are celebrating it. I didn't hear about anyone celebrating Melissa Hortman's death. I don't hear about anyone celebrating school shootings. But we do see this with Charlie Kirk's death. Reportedly, there was a man in the crowd in Utah who was fist pumping and celebrating when Kirk was initially shot. There are videos online of trans-activists celebrating the advancement of their revolution because of Kirk's murder (you can check out the 12:21 mark HERE if you have a strong stomach). There are university professors expressing a "no big deal" kind of attitude about the slaying of a young husband and father in cold blood. When even someone as liberal as Bill Maher is mourning this kind of intolerance and hate then we know Charlie's death is the mark of a shift in our country. Charlie himself said, essentially, that when we stop talking, when we stop being able to have the conversation, that's when things get violent and scary.
Some Exhortations for my Christian Brothers and Sisters:
1. God has ordained all this for our time.
I have not heard anyone say this yet. This tragedy and the tragedies of this time are not a mess that God is scrambling to clean up or that he has to figure out how to manage. All of this is ordained by God for good.
It is meant by men for evil but God "intends it for good" that will be revealed at the right time (Genesis 50:20; Acts 4:27, 28).
The Scriptures teach us that God works "all things according to the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11) and that he has chosen each of us for this particular time (Acts 17:26-28).
So, we are meant to use this time well and to use it with confidence that God will have the last word.
2. Study the Word of God.
Care about doctrine. Care about careful and intentional Bible reading. Let it shape your faith and practice. Don't waste this time that you've been given by God.
3. Orient your life around weekly worship
Make worship the focus and center of your week. Worship with other believers on a weekly basis. Do it under shepherds who are committed to your spiritual care. Do it with believers that will challenge and encourage you. Do it to serve. Do it to get out of your self. Do it to sit under the word of God regularly. Do it to magnify Jesus and proclaim to the world that God is worthy.
4. Worship in your home. Disciple your kids.
Spend time with your family in the word of God. Don't just be a Sunday Christian. Disciple your children. It's your main job.
5. Speak faithfully boldly where you have opportunity
Each of us have opportunities to speak openly about Jesus. Even the Apostle Paul prayed that his eyes would be open to all the opportunities he might be given. And he prayed that God would give him the words in those moments (Colossians 4:3-4, Ephesians 6:19-20). We should pray the same way and speak the same way. A blessing is promised to us if we are persecuted for this (Matthew 5:11-12).
"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."
- Colossians 4:2-4
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