My thoughts on the passing of Charlie Kirk

*By David Kamashian

Only a week, on September 10th, the life of Charlie Kirk was ended by an assassins bullet. Using the terminology of the Salvation Army, Charlie Kirk has been promoted to glory. While I have never met him personally, if he was in front of me, I would want to say,

"Charlie Kirk, thank you for your service to Christ and his kingdom. Thank you for being an example of a godly and humble man no matter what came against you."

And to his wife, Erika, and their children, I am speechless at their sacrifice. They are in my prayers daily. Their grief is beyond my imagination, yet I am confident that beneath the grief is a joy and comfort that can only be described as supernatural.

A few months before his death, Charlie Kirk said: ‘I want to be remembered for courage for my faith’. He died as a martyr and hero to the faith. Yet, he was 31 years old when he died. Was he too young? Maybe to us...

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16 ESV

So what should our response be to this ongoing animosity and persecution against Christ and his church that is so prevalent in our world today?

Paul wrote to the Philippians about the effect the persecution he was enduring was affecting the church;

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philippians 1:12-14 ESV

A few verses later he adds,

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. Philippians 1:29-30 ESV

Paul then asked for prayer so that he would continue to boldly declare the Gospel "as he ought to speak".

Keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:18b-20 ESV

We need that boldness so much more today. But the persecution is real. The hatred is palpable. I, personally, am struggling with occasional feelings of hopelessness and despair. Paul, who must have struggled with same thoughts and feelings from time to time, continues to encourage us with his words in his letters to the Corinthians,

"Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:1, 16-18 ESV

A true soldier of Christ, after he puts on the armor of God, does most of his fighting in prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18a) for ourselves and our enemies.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:43-45 ESV

Brothers and sisters, let us also pray for the shooter, Tyler Robinson. Let's not pray for vengeance but that he comes to know Jesus in a very personal way and places his faith and trust in Christ alone. Consider the former terrorist who arrested and killed as many Christians as he could in his effort to eradicate the early church. His name was Saul, but we remember him today as the Apostle Paul.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 ESV

And,

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. Galatians 1:13 ESV

God can take his enemy and even a colossal failure in society and make him an instrument of his grace for his glory. I am a living and breathing example of his unfailing love and his amazing grace.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV

My name is David Kamashian. I used to sling dope and today I sling hope.

*I apologize if you think that too much scripture is being quoted here. The reason for this is I don't have the answer but I know the one who does. He is available 24/7/365 and he can be contacted by simple crying out, "Lord, save me" (Matthew 14:30).