The day before Janie and I went out of the county, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. He was and actually still is a strong voice for Biblical principles and conservative view points. Along with the evil in the murderer’s heart, Charlie Kirk was killed for his view points.
HOW DO WE RESOND TO SUCH A HORRIFIC EVENT? I suggest we do what we should always do and look to Jesus. What would/did Jesus say in such a time? We do not decide what to do or say based on the latest TV Preacher or radio personality. It is radical, but let’s do what Jesus did.
John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin. Jesus called him the greatest man ever born to a woman. He was the Elijah of Jesus’ day preparing the way of the Lord and calling us to repentance. He had his head cut off by Herod as though Herod was a member of modern day Hamas. Matthew 14 tells the story of Johns murder and Jesus’ response. WWJD?
First he grieved and mourned. He went away by himself to seek the comfort and perspective of His Father, Abba. Blessed are those who mourn, they will be comforted. He mourned. Second, when the crowds found Him, Jesus had compassion on them and healed the sick. He continued on with the very work God sent Him to do. Perhaps a mourning heart can be helped by meeting the needs of others. At least we know that is what Jesus did. Third, He had compassion on the large crowd and performed the miracle of feeding 5,000 men with 5 loaves and a few fishes. He was not ignoring or denying John’s death. He was continuing the very work John the Baptist announced Jesus was coming to do. Jesus’ agenda was not set by politics, fundamentalist preachers or emotions pushed to the brink. He prayed as he taught us to pray “Thy Kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
SO WHAT DO YOU DO IN FACE OF SUCH HORRIFIC NEWS? I usually have three responses. First, PRAY MORE. We pray, seeking God’s perspective. Matthew 7:7 says “Ask and it will be given, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be opened”. So, let’s ask, seek and knock. Pray more and grumble less. Second, PRAISE MORE. Do not underestimate the power that comes from exalting and focusing on the Goodness of God vs the wickedness of man. Praise celebrates who God is, His nature, His character. It lifts our eyes to the Father and our Lord Jesus. Paul and Silas were in prison for preaching the Gospel. What did they do? Prayed and praised. What did God do? He opened the prison doors. Third, SERVE MORE. Jesus healed the sick and fed 5,000 immediately after learning of Johns death. He saw this tragic event as the occasion to do what God sent Him to do: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach Good News to the poor; He sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:16-19)
Charlie Kirk’s memorial, so far, has been seen by over 20 million people. Twenty Million hearing the clear Gospel of Jesus presented. The cowardly assassin unknowingly awakened a sleeping spiritual giant. Millions are rallying to pray, praise and carry on the Gospel work God has called us to. To God be the glory and our prayers and love to Erica Kirk and her two beloved children.
Pastor Tom
