Dear Charlie

Observations from Kirk's Memorial

Yes, I watched it all.

Intrigued by the polarity of our countries response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, I spent about five hours watching the convergence of Christian language and though, converge with political power. Here are 9 observations from Kirk’s memorial that help sum up my observations about Christianity in our time:

1) The Crux of the gospel

Erika Kirk embodied enemy-love and forgiveness—the heartbeat of Christianity. God submits to human violence to reveal the breadth, depth, and height of divine love. Erika’s articulation of forgiving her husband’s killer—and advocating against the death penalty—was the central stuff of Jesus gospel. This is the gospel in action: love where it is hardest, mercy where it is undeserved. From Erika to the community members of Mother Emanuel AME years ago, The forgiveness of the killer, but also advocacy against the death penalty is next level Jesus stuff.

2) Charlie and Redemption

Political violence is heartbreaking. Charlie was 31—a life still capable of transformation. There are so many things at the beginning of my ministry that I wish I had not done or said. But I, like most, have time to contemplate, reflect, and repent the longer my life continues on. Loss can often rob us of redemptive stories, of seeing hearts bend toward mercy instead of rightness. Let us remember this not just for Charlie, but also for his killer: no one is beyond redemption.

3) Clarity from POTUS

President Trump followed, “He (Charlie) did not hate his opponents. He wanted the best for them. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry, Erika” This is the antithesis of Christianity. Pres refuses the way of Jesus on the regular. Thank God for his honesty—it reveals the stark difference between empire and the kingdom. We don’t need to expect our leaders to be christians, but it confuses the watching world when we act like they are.

4) White Supremacy

Steven Millers speech was wild for so many reasons. But this was the most telling line, “Our lineage and our legacy hails back to Athens, to Rome, to Philadelphia, to Monticello. Our ancestors built the cities. They produced the art and architecture. They built the industry.” I don’t know what lineage he is referring to, but Monticello was quite literally built by slaves. So if you were wondering why I’ve continued to talk about white supremacy, this is why. Much of the same stadium that cheered for Erika’s communication of the gospel, cheered for this violent supremacy-fueled language. This is exactly why we must name white supremacy—even when it is dressed up in patriotism and applauded in a “Christian” space.

5) Violence

Violence has no room in the gospel of Jesus. So quotes like “They cannot imagine what they have awakened. They cannot conceive of the army that they have arisen in all of us.” or “You are wickedness… You are nothing”. This is antithetical to gospel of Jesus. And As one pastor says, “beware of any christian movement that demands the government be an instrument of God’s wrath, but never a source of God’s mercy, generosity, or compassion”. The gospel of Jesus does not negotiate with violence—it transforms it.

6) Embodiment is needed

I’ve been in ministry for 20+ years. I have heard thousands upon thousands of people say they believe in Christ, or pray to receive Christ with their adherence to a set of doctrine. I think it is important to have these moments, but I think it is even more important that people learn to embody the way of Christ over time (For even the demons proclaimed Christ aloud). Pete Hegseth can speak of Jesus, yet his language toward others mirrors power, dominance, and fear. Knowing the words without living the Way is not enough and the most disastrous form of evangelism to the watching world.

7) Pyrotechnics

If you watched it, you saw the pyrotechnics as a new widow walked on to stage to address a nation. This was the moment that we would be lying if we said this was simply a memorial for a follower of Christ. This instead was the moment that made it wildly hard to decipher whether this was a memorial about a Jesus follower, or a political rally for the centuries. Republicans and Dems can coexist with one another, but I’m not sure the agenda of Jesus and the agenda of empire can coexist and move forward at the same time through the same people.

8) The poor

Charlie was an incredibly talented young man. His organizing skills were next level (Which is why the most powerful politicians took up the first row). Though the powerful were centered, I wish we would have heard more about his connection to the poor. When our connection to the powerful takes center stage, we have missed a major and central part of Jesus’ ministry and our call as disciples. Jesus was so connected to the kings subjects (especially the outcasts), that Kings were almost forced to inquire about Jesus. I don’t know what Charlie’s daily life was like, but I wish we would have heard more of this. Our solidarity and relationship with the poor has to be central to the christian life, or our lives are not as Christian as we think.

9) Charlie’s Pastor.

Charlie Kirk’s thought was heavily influenced by Rob McCoy (his pastor) and the Seven Mountain Mandate, a framework that urges Christians to assert control over seven societal spheres. This is the theology that treats society as a battleground, positioning Christians as warriors called to dominate culture—to “win” each mountain and shape the world according to a particular vision of righteousness. This is the culture war we now see play out in politics, media, and public life: a worldview that elevates influence and power above humility and mercy. Though the gospel of Jesus says that to win, we give in, we are being formed to think that we win at all costs. A theology of loss and suffering must be prioritized over a theology of triumph and winning (in this world)

I will continue to pray for Charlie’s family and our political leaders. I’m glad Christianity is being heralded. I just want it to be a Christianity that looks like Christ.

And so we commit to prayer

We commit to confession

We commit to embodying the way of Jesus

We love our enemy

We suffer well

We commit to the poor

We give power away

We commit to the risen Christ

All else is sinking sand.