Enough is Enough

My Immediate Thoughts on the Death of Charlie Kirk

“Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.” - Romans 12:9

Enough is enough. I write this in the immediate aftermath of the news that Charlie Kirk, Christian apologist and political activist, has been shot and killed.

This is not intended to be a political post, although I have made no apologies about my conservatism. This is a post about good and evil. This is a post about America. This is a post about the church of our Lord and the individuals that comprise it.

Enough is enough. The actions today in Utah by a mentally deranged coward are a natural outflow of something else that has taken root in this country. Maybe - just maybe - we should refrain from referring to our political opponents as neo-nazis, fascists, dictators, haters of America, or enemies of freedom. Maybe we should discuss the issues that we have as a nation openly, publicly, and politely. Maybe we should engage in respectful debate again instead of ostracizing those on the other side of the aisle.

Charlie Kirk did that. In his open forums on college campuses, he did not talk down to people. He never insulted someone’s opinions, no matter how different it may have been from his own. He always addressed his questioners with respect, regardless of their identity, dress, or how many different colors were in their hair. He never endorsed the woke agenda of our world - in fact, he was absolutely opposed to it, standing for the sanctity of life and the protection of biblical marriage - but he never fought fire with fire. He was kind, welcoming, and engaging.

And today he was shot. And today he was killed.

Enough is enough. In a world in which the church is often afraid to engage in certain debates, Charlie Kirk was not. He and I did not always agree on all aspects of theology, but his boldness to stand up for biblical morality regardless of who opposed him was something to behold. He went into the lions’ den time after time, walking onto college campuses that are as hostile as hostile can be to the Gospel, and he did so unashamedly.

And today he was shot. And today he was killed.

Enough is enough. It is high time in this country that we stop addressing our problems with violence. It is time that we come back to the table like big boys and girls and talk things out. It is time to agree to disagree and settle our differences in the voting booth, rather than in the public square. It is time that we stop riding into these conversations on the backs of elephants or donkeys. It is time that we stop villainizing our political opponents and begin addressing them as individuals with names, jobs, families, and dignity.

Enough is enough. If I see one more person celebrating the death of Charlie Kirk, I am going to go insane. You disagreed with his politics? You disagreed with his religion? Fine, that’s your prerogative. But today a beautiful family lost its husband and its dad. Today a young lady with two young children was widowed after a senseless act of violence, and a not insignificant group in this country is celebrating. That is how far we have fallen here.

Enough is enough. Perhaps we as Christians should pick up the mantle Charlie Kirk left behind. Maybe it now falls on all of us to be bold and courageous. Maybe now it is our turn to detest the evils of abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, and anti-Semitism. Maybe we should have been doing this all along so that men like Charlie Kirk didn’t have to do it alone. Maybe we should be so bold in our own churches to take these stances so that there could be no question where we stand.

Enough is enough. Here is the real kicker: maybe we as Christians should learn to get angry again. Maybe in detesting evil, we ought to let our blood boil just a bit. Maybe we shouldn’t bridle our responses to these ordeals as we worry about hurting feelings. Maybe, instead, we should just be angry. I’m not suggesting we do anything brash or to intentionally hurt someone else. I’m certainly not suggesting that we act in the same violent manner that we saw today. Violence is not the answer to our problems. But anger does not have to show itself in violence. Sometimes we need to just be truthful and honest. Sometimes we need to say wrong is wrong. Sometimes, the world needs to hear from us as we stand against its immoralities and for the Word of God. This is one of those times. So, join me today as an angry Christian.

With all that said, join me also in praying for Charlie Kirk’s family, who now has to reconcile a life without their husband and their dad. And pray for our nation, that this sort of violence may be put behind us.

And also speak up. Speak out. If you’re angry, be angry, and justifiably so. Because enough is enough.