As a Conservative, I cannot let pass without comment, the passing of Charlie Kirk. It was a most tragic and horrendous murder seen before a crowd of three thousand and recorded on video. My shock and dismay were similar to when we heard that Princess Diana died in a car accident, or the horror of watching the Islamist airplane attack in New York.
Charles James Kirk
(Oct. 14, 1993 – Sept. 10, 2025) was an American conservative political
activist, author, and media personality. On Wednesday, Charlie was assassinated during his
speaking event at Utah Valley University.
He was speaking outdoors for his American Comeback Tour, when he was
shot in the neck by the assailant from the roof of a building about 200 yards
away. Kirk is survived by his wife and
two children who are both under the age of 3.
Kirk co-founded the
student organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and was its executive director. He was the chief executive officer of Turning
Point Action and a member of the Council for National Policy. In his recent years, he was a prominent voice on
university campuses for the political MAGA movement of the Republican Party.
Those are the traditional
credentials ascribed by the media, but increasingly he developed into a Christian
apologist and persuader in his public appearances. He was a populist social commentator who was
bold and deliberately provocative. He made
declarations, that when reported out of context, enraged the political left.
Although he made no
claim for academic credentials, in debate he often embarrassed those who presented
themselves as such when verbally challenging him. He would respond with real data which discredited
his challengers, while he posed irreconcilable questions to his verbal opponents.
His Christian theology
was traditional American evangelical. Kirk’s
pastor, Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park, California said, “My
friend Charlie Kirk was murdered today by a coward.” “Charlie’s life will be remembered for many
wonderful things.” “This truth allowed
Charlie to face every threat with courage because he didn’t fear death,” McCoy
added. “All evil knows is death and they
derive power from death. “Charlie lived
for life and will be remembered for this.” “My heart is broken for his family; his wife
Erika and his two precious children.” “Evil
has not prevailed and it will not win,” concluded McCoy.
Charles Kirk built an
organization and movement, all with the power of the spoken word. He never alluded to violence against his
harsh critics, even though he was threatened every day with violence by those
who couldn’t contend with logic and truth.
His enemies have done what evil always does; it takes away life.
Despite his
evangelical Christian leanings, Charlie Kirk maintained a sympathy with
Catholicism. He participated in
discussions about Catholic theology, though he expressed reservation about some
Church doctrines. He was generally uncomfortable
with denominational distinctives.
He reflected a common evangelical perspective that
prioritizes individual spiritual relationship with Jesus, over institutional and
denominational authority.
Kirk’s work through Turning Point Faith brought him into contact
with varied religious communities. His
organization collaborated with more than 3,700 congregations to encourage what
it termed “biblical citizenship.”
His organization also had sympathies for the young people
from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reportedly, many of the well-dressed Gen Z
employees at Turning Point’s Phoenix campus were Latter-day Saints. This diversity of religious influences in his
immediate circle contributed to his ecumenical non-denominational approach to
conservative politics.
Charlie Kirk’s religious views evolved over the years. In his earlier years, he advocated for the
separation of church and state, but his rhetoric increasingly embraced
religious themes as his career progressed. He came to describe political contests as
“spiritual battles” and elections as “civilization-defining” events. This framing reflected his growing conviction
that cultural and political transformation required a spiritual foundation. He understood that it takes more than politics
to build a great society.
Turning Point Faith, which he founded in 2021, was dedicated
to recruiting pastors and church leaders to be active in local and national
political issues. Kirk’s religious
perspective ultimately prioritized cultural influence over theological
precision. His approach might best be
described as “theistic nationalism”—a belief that America’s identity is
inherently tied to Judeo-Christian values that need protection from secular
forces. He viewed different Christian
traditions primarily through their utility in advancing conservative political
goals rather than their theological distinctions. This pragmatic approach allowed him to work
across denominational lines while maintaining his own private theological
identity.
Until his death, Charlie Kirk remained a controversial
figure in religious circles, embraced by those who appreciated his defense of
traditional values, but viewed cautiously by those who questioned his
theological depth and motives. His
complex religious legacy reflects the complicated intersection of faith and
politics in contemporary America.
In May 2021, Kirk married Erika Kirk (née Frantzve), a
businesswoman and podcaster who won the Miss Arizona USA pageant competition in
2012. The couple's first child, a
daughter, was born in 2022. Their second
child, a son, was born in May 2024. We
grieve for the family, as he was a son, a husband, a father, and a defender of
the traditional family.
Erika comforted her husband’s thousands of followers with a
courageous talk on national television.
She pledged that Charlie’s work would carry on, perhaps even in greater
form.
The media and cultural world have said Charlie Kirk was a political
assassination victim. My perspective is
that in view of his work in the last year, he was a religious martyr like those
who down through the centuries, were killed not for who they were, but for whom
they proclaimed.
The early persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire left
a lasting impact. It fostered a culture
of martyrdom, with many Christians choosing to die for their faith rather than
renounce it. It also helped establish
Christianity as a counter-cultural movement that challenged the established
order, and that legacy continues.
The public horror for Charlie reminds us of the sacrifice
and courage of those who went before us, and inspires us to uphold the values
of truth, righteousness, and religious freedom today.
Proverbs 14:34 KJV Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a
reproach to any people.
God-devotion makes a country strong; God-avoidance leaves
people weak.
Living according to God’s instructions makes a nation great,
but sin colors those who commit it with disgrace.
1 comment:
I think I understand Charlie's heart. Based on the many videos I have seen, Charlie would be praying for the shooter, trusting he would seek God’s forgiveness for his life of sin, and that one day he would join Charlie in heaven. That was the character of Charlie’s central message. When so called heroes of the “leftie-woke-progressive” culture were hurt, they became violently enraged by the event. We saw the riots in the streets, arson fires, vandalism and looting everywhere. In stark contrast, when a Christian Conservate was murdered, there was only prayer, called moments of silent commemoration, flags at half mast, emotional songs written, and group huddles of prayerful love. That is the evidence of the underlying driving spirit of the divided camps. Also the media talk given by the widow was astounding.
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