CHARLIE KIRK TRAGEDY – A REFLECTION OF OUR TIMES, AND THE LESSONS FOR US

What happened with Charlie Kirk is a sad and painful tragedy. It is clear that he was silenced before he could become a force unstoppable. He was already popular among the Christian young people. He has huge following. His stand was conservative. He stood for all the “wrong” reasons, from many people’s point of view. 
– “12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;” – 2 Timothy 3:12-14

Charlie Kirk was assassinated, because he is becoming too “dangerous” and powerful. Therefore, to kill him was a better option. By the looks of it, in my opinion, he was not killed by some lone and crazy gunman. Many others think the same. It was a professional work.

Adding a curious twist to this case, Charlie Kirk was beginning to question, what was happening in Gaza, more frequently, and more persistently, over the past one year. Nothing is being suggested, except the laying of the bare facts on the table. There are sufficient videos to show his views. Some of his question are very uncomfortable, to say the least. Especially from someone, who was a strong and unconditional voice for Israel; and the one who has the massive support of Christian youth. His last interview – about 24 hours before his assassination, contained a serious deviation from his previous position. He asked Ben Shapiro in the interview, if what was happening in Gaza was ethnic cleansing, as suggested by some? In a few other interviews, from the recent past, he was tough on them. There are many unsubstantiated opinions from some who were close to him, that Charlie Kirk was under great pressure from the supporters of Israel to stop this line. His organisation was heavily funded by Jewish donours, according to reports.

Whatever the case, a precious life has been snuffed out because of intolerance.  In most cases like this, the truth will be buried deep underground, and it will probably never come out. Assassination of John F. Kennedy is one such case from the past.

What can we learn from this tragedy of Charlie Kirk? We learn that, we are in perilous times, where disagreements can lead to assassination. This is fast becoming the reality of the world we live in. This means, we are no more civilised in our disagreements. We are fast slipping into barbarianism, where the brute force and might, rules. The symptoms were already there, for some time now, for all to see, if one had the eye to see.

The Bible has five pointers to offer us, in the light of the tragic assassination of the young Charlie Kirk.
1- NON-VIOLENT ATTITUDE AND APPROACH TO ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE
– “38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:38-39
– “52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” – Matthew 26:52

2- FORGIVENESS, LOVE AND PRAYER FOR ALL OUR ENEMIES AND OUR PERSECUTORS
– “44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” – Matthew 5:44-48

3- PERILOUS TIMES ARE UPON US – EXPECT MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST CHRISTIANS
– “​1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5
– “17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” – John 15:17-21

4- LET US KEEP ON SHINING FOR OUR LORD, IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION AND VIOLENCE
– “16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16
– “14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” – Philippians 2:14

5- WILLING AND PREPARED TO SUFFER THE WRONG, FOR WALKING THE RIGHT PATH
– “13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit… 1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” – 1 Peter 3:13-18; 4:1-2

May the LORD grant His grace, and His peace to the wife, children and the family of the slain Charlie Kirk. May the LORD grant us, his children, the courage and strength, to walk in all His ways, just like our Master, the LORD Jesus Christ did. Even so, the LORD help us.