This week I’ve been reflecting on what a fitting response might be for us as Christians in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s brutal assassination on 10th September. Others have already offered thoughtful commentary on his legacy [1], so I’ll not take much time to do that here. Instead, I want to briefly consider three principles that have helped to shape my response to this tragedy in recent days.

First, Lamenting Evil  

The assassination of Charlie Kirk calls for us to lament on at least a couple of levels. First and foremost, we should grieve with his family and loved ones, who have lost a much-loved husband, father, and friend. To lose a family member at the age of 31 is horrific enough, but I can’t begin to imagine how traumatic it must be to witness his murder in front of a crowd of thousands of people. The tragic irony is that Charlie Kirk spoke up for the voiceless – the unborn – and yet had his own voice silenced in the most inhumane and violent of ways. The culture of death that he spent his entire adult life speaking out against eventually came for him. We should pray for the Lord’s comfort and peace for his wife Erika and two young children.
         Second, we should lament the loss of a vibrant and passionate Christian witness. It is true that, as director of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk’s main role was to lead a political movement. But honouring his memory does not mean endorsing every one of his political positions. For instance, I disagree with some of his views on US gun legislation and other issues. Yet such differences should not obscure the larger truth: Charlie Kirk was a bold and effective witness for the gospel. He did not settle for a vague, patriotic “God bless America” routine, but again and again used his significant platform to clearly and courageously proclaim Christ.

Second, Pursuing Justice rather than Revenge

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of responding to political violence is resisting the natural tendency toward unrighteous anger and bitterness. It has been deeply disturbing to witness hateful reactions online ranging from those suggesting Kirk “deserved it” to others appearing to celebrate his death [2]. It is easy to see why so many have responded with anger, which itself is not sinful: the Lord Jesus himself expressed righteous anger at injustice (Mark 11:15-17). In the face of such evil, we are right to cry out to the Lord for justice to be done. We should expect thorough investigations and for Tyler Robinson, the young man who has allegedly confessed to the murder of Charlie Kirk, to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Yet righteous indignation can so easily mutate into something much darker: not simply a longing for justice, but revenge. When that happens, violence only breeds more violence. Those of us who grew up or lived through the Troubles in Northern Ireland know all too well the painful reality of that cycle. Retaliation may satisfy an immediate thirst for vengeance, but it only deepens wounds and perpetuates cycles of hostility.

Third, Loving our Enemies

Yes we should pursue justice, yet the gospel pushes us even further. I’ve been reflecting again this week on how truly radical and counter-cultural the Christian message is. Jesus taught us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). I suspect there is a primal sense within each of us which longs for our enemies to experience more pain than we do. This is what makes Jesus’ words so counter-intuitive to our flesh. Notice that the Lord never denies the existence of enemies: just as there were those who hated and killed him, there are those who would seek to not only undermine and denigrate our worldview, but even destroy us. But loving our enemies means continuing to share the good news of Jesus with them. It doesn’t mean abandoning our search for justice, but in a culture that teaches us to demonise our opponents, the gospel calls us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and respond to evil with unexpected kindness. It would involve praying for Tyler Robinson, that he would repent of his sin and accept the wonderful offer of forgiveness and eternal life that can be his in Christ.
         The assassination of Charlie Kirk has exposed the deep fault lines in our society of hatred and division which have existed for a long time. Yet the same gospel that changes lives has the power to bring healing to fractured communities. Jesus’ call to love our enemies is never easy, nor is it possible in our own strength. But by relying each day on the indwelling power of the Spirit in our lives, we can reflect the character of the One who loved His enemies enough to die for them (Romans 5:8). In a time when violence threatens to tear our societies apart, we need this radical message of God’s love and forgiveness now more than ever.

References

[1] ‘’Is Charlie Kirk’s Assassination a Turning Point?’ Brett McCracken, The Gospel Coalition, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-turning-point/; “A Lament for Charlie Kirk” (https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/books/a-lament-for-charlie-kirk.html)
[2] ‘Bob Vylan Dutch gig cancelled after frontman’s comments about Charlie Kirk’s death’ Sky News, 15 September 2025, https://news.sky.com/story/bob-vylan-dutch-gig-cancelled-after-frontmans-comments-about-charlie-kirks-death-13431535