In a Time of Violence, the Church Must Be Different

Hey Guys,

Yesterday, our country was jolted by news that Charlie Kirk, political commentator, speaker, husband and father, was assassinated while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University. The act itself—violence aimed at someone exercising free speech—strikes at the heart of what it means to live in a society that values liberty and dialogue. And for many, it is a deeply personal wound: fear has been stoked, sorrow is heavy, anger raw.

As pastors, believers, and citizens, we are called to respond. The church is not exempt from the pain; many are hurting. Many are outraged. Many are afraid. This moment demands more than political commentary—it demands a gospel-shaped response. In Christ, we have resources to heal, to hope, and to speak truth in love.

What Has Happened (Briefly & Truthfully)

• On September 10, 2025, at a public event at Utah Valley University, Charlie Kirk was shot while speaking, in what is being called a political assassination. (AP News)
• He leaves behind a wife and two young children. His death has sparked widespread grief, anger, and national alarm. (AP News)
• Thousands are reacting via social media, public statements, and prayer. Many are deeply hurt, mourning not only one man’s life, but what this says about our culture. (The Guardian)

Many Are Hurting
We need to acknowledge: people are grieving. Hearts are breaking. Some are angry—not just at the shooter, but at the division, the hate, the brokenness behind it. Others are afraid: “Could this happen to me?” “Is our society unraveling?” And yes, there is even despair: wondering whether anything can change.

All of that is real. As Christians, we must mourn with those who mourn (Romans 12:15). We must not minimize the pain. We must not rush to easy answers. To those injured hearts, the church must offer compassion, a listening ear, and the assurance that you are not alone—Christ is with you.

Biblical Grounding: What Scripture Calls Us To
The Scriptures don’t leave us helpless. They point us both to diagnose what is wrong, and to see how God calls His people to behave.

1. Sin is at the root of violence.
   All violence, especially political or ideological violence, is rooted in the fall, human rebellion, pride, wrath. James 4:1-3 reminds us that conflict arises when people lust, covet, or let jealousy lead to sin. Matthew 15:19 says evil actions come from a heart broken from God. Recognizing this doesn’t excuse the sin—it makes clear our deepest problem.
2. Anger is natural, but unrighteous anger is dangerous.
   Ephesians 4:26–27 allows that anger can come, but warns it must not give place to the devil. James 1:19-20 urges us to be slow to anger because human anger does not bring about the righteousness God desires. We may be angry—and there are just reasons—but our anger must be under the Lord, not driving us into sin.
3. Truth must be defended, but with love.
   We are called to speak truth (Ephesians 6:14: “girded with truth”) and to hold fast to what is right. But Jesus also told us to love our enemies, to pray for persecutors, to bless rather than curse. Truth without love becomes harsh judgment; love without truth becomes compromise. The church must embody both.
4. Peace and unity among believers matter.
   Jesus prayed in John 17 that His followers “may all be one.” Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men.” In times like these, the temptation is to tribalism, to lash out, to “us vs them.” But God’s people are called to a different standard—one of unity, forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace, so far as it lies with us.
5. Hope over despair, resurrection over death.
   Even in the darkest moments, the gospel reminds us that death does not have the final word. Jesus rose. He promises justice. He promises a new creation. He promises to hold all wrongs, all sins, and all violence in His hands—even when the world cannot see the end. We live by this hope. Not naïvely, but with confidence that God reigns.

How the Church Should Respond
What does this look like in practice? How should the people of God live in the aftermath, and ongoing, of this tragedy?

1. Prayer and Lament
   • Pray for the family—comfort, peace, provision.
   • Pray for the nation—that God's mercy would bring healing.
   • Lament: allow space in worship or in small groups for people to express sorrow and fear. To weep. To confess that the world is broken and that sometimes evil feels overwhelming.
2. Speak Biblical Truth Publicly
   • As pastors/leaders: preach, teach, and remind people of God’s standards: of sin, of human dignity, of non-violence, of love.
   • Resist using this event as bait for political vengeance or demonization. Alongside righteous indignation, call people to the holiness of Christ.
3. Model Christlike Anger and Restraint
   • Anger over injustice is appropriate, even biblical (e.g. Jesus clearing the temple). But we must never sin in that anger.
   • Be mindful of speech: our words build up or tear down. Social media amplifies damage. We must be slow to post, quick to pause, quick to seek wisdom.
4. Pursue Reconciliation Where Possible
   • Seek to engage with those who disagree without contempt.
   • Practice forgiveness—not to excuse evil, but to free our hearts from ongoing bitterness.
   • Build relationships across political, ideological lines, without compromising truth. Let the church be a place where people see what unity in Christ really looks like.
5. Stand for Justice and Righteousness
   • Encourage civic responsibility: speak up, vote, advocate, but do so in ways consistent with the gospel.
   • Support efforts to protect free speech and peaceful political discourse.
   • Support laws and initiatives that prevent political violence, but also guard the church from becoming co-opted by political partisanship.
6. Care for the Wounded
   • Be pastoral: grief counseling, support groups, listening sessions.
   • Care especially for those close to Charlie Kirk: his family, his community, those traumatized by witnessing.
   • Recognize that these events may trigger latent wounds (personal losses, fears). Be sensitive and compassionate.
7. Keep Christ Central
   • All our responses must flow from our identity in Christ. We are forgiven, reconciled, adopted, commissioned.
   • Our hope is not in any political movement, party, or ideology—even conservative ones—but in Christ alone.
   • Our allegiance is first to His kingdom, His glory, His commands.

Who We Are Called to Be in Christ
In this moment of nation-wide pain, what are we called to be?

• Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16): preserving truth, illuminating darkness.
• Peacemakers (Matthew 5:9): not passive, but active in seeking peace.
• Agents of Justice (Micah 6:8): “act justly,” “love mercy,” “walk humbly with your God.”
• People marked by love (John 13:35): love among believers so that the world will know we follow Christ, not a political tribe.
• Witnesses of Hope (1 Peter 1:3-9): living by hope of resurrection, even in suffering.

Conclusion: A Healthy, Gospel-Shaped Call
Church, please hear this as a clarion call—not to withdraw, not to be silent, not to stoke partisan anger or despair—but to rise with Christ’s courage and compassion.

Charlie Kirk’s death is a tragedy. It belongs neither to the political right nor the political left—it belongs to all of us, because it confronts what has become dangerously broken in our nation: our unwillingness to respect life, even life of those we disagree with; our impatience with others’ convictions; our too-easy habit of dehumanizing.

Let us pray. Let us speak. Let us love. Let us forgive. Let us work for a society where disagreement does not lead to death, where speech is safe, and where respect even in difference is not dismissed as weakness but honored as Christlike.

To those who are hurting and angry—your anger is not wrong in itself. But your anger must be shaped. Grief must be processed. And in Christ there is healing. Let the church not be known by rage, but by redemption. Not by retaliation, but by resurrected hope.
May God have mercy on our souls. May He heal our land. And may we be found faithful, bold, and loving in His Name.

Serving Him,

Pastor Joey