INTRODUCTION

Many of you are still sorting through your thoughts and emotions in light of the tragic shooting of Charlie Kirk. Questions naturally swirl in our minds during such times, and so I thought it might be helpful to dedicate this post to working through this difficult matter together.

THANKSGIVING

When processing events as grievous as Kirk’s murder, we must always begin with thanksgiving. Paul exhorts the saints in Thessalonica: “…give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18).

We must remember that Paul did not write these words to believers in ease and prosperity. In fact, he repeatedly refers to their hardships:

• 1 Thess. 1:4 — He commends their patience in the midst of persecution and tribulation.
• 1 Thess. 1:6 — He acknowledges the afflictions they endured as they received the Word of God.
• 1 Thess. 2:14 — He reminds them of the suffering they experienced at the hands of their own countrymen, just as Paul suffered from his.

So what, then, can we be thankful for in such a moment? First, we can thank God for Kirk himself and the life he lived. He was a godly man, steadfast in his convictions. In a day when many Christians collapse under cultural pressure, Kirk remained faithful. His example will continue to bear fruit in the lives of others, and this is truly something for which we can give thanks.

SORROW

Yet thanksgiving does not cancel out sorrow. Scripture also calls us to “mourn with those who mourn” (Rom. 12:15). Today, Erika is without her husband, and their children are without their father. We rightly grieve with them.

But our sorrow must also extend beyond the family’s loss. While the shooter’s motives remain unclear, it seems evident that Kirk’s murder was not born out of personal offense, but rather opposition to his faithful, biblical positions. This reminds us that what happened is not merely a clash of ideas, but a tragic expression of the greater spiritual war being waged in this world.

HOPE

Even as we grieve, we must not lose hope. For our brother Charlie, there is great hope—he is now in the presence of God, which is far better.

And on a larger scale, we cling to the hope that evil will not have the final word. The same gospel that saves us also assures us that sin and death will not prevail.

In fact, the gospel itself provides a powerful parallel. Jesus too was murdered—yet unlike Kirk, He was sinless. He bore the sins of people like us in order to redeem us. And God was victorious in raising Him from the dead. Today, we live in the outworking of that great salvation, spreading across the world.

CONCLUSION

As we process this tragedy, let me offer a practical pray. Referring back to I Thessalonians 5, Paul not only tells us to give thanks, but in verse 18 he calls them to pray, “pray without ceasing.”

Pray for Kirk’s family. Pray for the shooter. Pray for our nation. Pray that God would use even this dark situation to reveal His glory and draw people to Himself. Pray, too, that He would guard your heart and help you process these events rightly.

The second exhortation is grounded in Romans 12:21, where Paul calls his people to not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good. And so I encourage you to look for opportunities to overcome the evil with good.

Beloved, our God is the Master Painter. And though He often paints upon the darkest canvases, He produces masterpieces that display His glory.