Trump Calls for Constructive Responses to Death of Charlie Kirk
Elizabeth Delaney
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By Elizabeth Delaney, Crosswalk.com
The assassination of Charlie Kirk was a shock to the nation and left those who knew and followed him feeling deeply wounded. Those who followed him knew exactly what he stood for, and it wasn’t political violence. In fact, the immediate response of those who knew and followed him was prayer – not rioting, not looting, not acts of vandalism and destruction, not even an Occupy Wall Street mentality, but prayer. This nonviolent response is certainly a constructive response to the death of Charlie Kirk, even as President Trump calls for nonviolence.
“He was an advocate of nonviolence. That's the way I'd like to see people respond,” Trump told ABC News of Kirk.
What a beautiful example Trump gave of a “nonviolent” response by awarding Charlie Kirk a Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his birthday on Tuesday, and making it a day of remembrance.
“We’ll never forget what your husband has sacrificed for our country,” Trump told Kirk’s widow, Erica Kirk, during the Rose Garden ceremony according to USA Today. “Today we’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, a beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and highest caliber: the late, great Charlie Kirk.”
Kirk was known for his ability to listen actively to opposing views and then respectfully and reasonably explain why he didn’t agree. He had mastered the art of speaking the truth in love. He didn’t hide his Christian beliefs, much less apologize for them. And he didn’t hide his conservative political views. He loved God, the Bible, the nation’s Christian heritage, and he loved America.
Kirk’s Life Should Inspire Christians Everywhere
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship released a brief tribute on YouTube in which he noted that “there’s a resurgence of young people returning to church right now, especially Gen Z, and without question, Charlie Kirk had their ear and was influencing so many of them.”
He also noted that Kirk’s life is one that should inspire us all to reach out to young people, speak boldly about cultural issues without embarrassment or shame, and lovingly share the Gospel with them. Laurie said he’ll be praying that there’s a spiritual awakening in America, and that this was something Kirk talked about and cared about a lot. Laurie pointed out that after the assassinations of President Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and RFK (the brother of President Kennedy), a great spiritual awakening broke out, known as the Jesus Movement. Laurie credits this movement for helping him and many others in the '60s and '70s to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. He believes that God can use this evil thing that has happened as a springboard for another spiritual awakening in America.
How Jesus Responded to Empty Religion and Politics
Many would argue that Jesus’ death on the cross was a type of political assassination at its roots. The religious establishment of the day took issue with the fact that He called them out for creating man-made rules that they valued more highly than God’s laws. Their man-made rules hindered people from experiencing life the way God intended and blocked people from a personal relationship with Him. One of many examples of this occurred in Matthew 12:10-14 when he healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.
“And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’—that they might accuse Him.
Then He said to them, ‘What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.’ Then He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.”
Later on, in Matthew chapter 23, Jesus pretty much went scorched earth on the scribes and Pharisees, pointing out multiple ways in which they were oppressing the people of Israel with man-made laws, how they were hypocrites, and hindering people from a personal relationship with Jesus.
During his trial, when He stood in front of Pilate in John 19:10, Pilate attempted to intimidate Him into speaking to him, saying, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
Jesus’ response in John 19:11 pretty much put him in his place: “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
Jesus Equipped His Disciples and Prepared Their Hearts to Continue His Work
After Jesus was crucified and appeared before his disciples as the risen Lord, He didn’t tell them to go after the religious establishment and the Roman government and overthrow them, or even to respond with political violence. He told them to go wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, which they had heard about through Jesus. Then after He ascended into Heaven, they went to Jerusalem and hung out in the upper room. They did not plan a revolt or a response of political violence. They prayed (Acts 1). While they were praying, the Lord poured out His Holy Spirit on them (Acts 2:1-4). It was while they were praying that the Lord equipped them and prepared their hearts to pick up where He left off and step into the next phase of His purpose for them.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/KevinDietsch/Staff
Elizabeth Delaney has been a freelance content writer for over 20 years and has enjoyed having her prose published in both the non-fiction and fiction markets. She has written various types of content, including Christian articles, healthy lifestyle, blog posts, business topics, news articles, product descriptions, and some fiction. She is also a singer-songwriter-musician. When she is not busy with writing or music, she enjoys spending time with friends or family and doing fun social activities such as hiking, swing dancing, concerts, and other activities.
