September 10, 2025 • 34 mins
The assassination of Charlie Kirk has sent shockwaves through America, forcing us to confront the alarming normalization of political violence in our society. Charlie, just 31 years old and father to two young children, was gunned down while speaking at a Utah campus event - a place meant for the free exchange of ideas, transformed into a scene of senseless tragedy.
What does it say about us when disagreements end not with debates but with funerals? When someone can be killed not for wielding power or enforcing laws, but simply for expressing opinions? This podcast examines the profound spiritual and moral crisis revealed by Kirk's murder and the disturbing celebration of his death by some on social media.
Drawing from biblical wisdom, we explore how political violence represents a form of idolatry - vengeance dressed as justice that promises deliverance but leaves only ruin. The commandment "thou shall not kill" contains no exceptions for political disagreements. When we celebrate the killing of someone we disagree with, we reveal hearts darkened by hatred - a burden that enslaves the soul.
The Christian response offers a revolutionary alternative to the cycle of violence. Forgiveness isn't weakness; it's strength beyond anything vengeance can offer. Jesus didn't tell us turning the other cheek would be easy - he told us it was necessary. Only by valuing life more than ideology and choosing dialogue over destruction can we heal our fractured society.
This episode serves as both lament and challenge - mourning a life cut short while calling us to a better path forward. Listen as we examine what's at stake when bullets replace words in our national discourse, and discover how faith offers hope even in our darkest moments. Share this message of peace and reconciliation with others searching for answers in these troubled times.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Darrell McLean Show.
I'm your host, darrell McLean.
Independent media that won'treinforce tribalism.
We have one planet.
Nobody is leaving, and let usreason together.
So I started recording a episodewhen I was having breathing
(00:25):
problems last night.
So I got up around 3 am and Istarted recording and I do
apologize as I speak to youright now because I'm still
somewhat having them.
But there's something that weneed to talk about.
But there's something that weneed to talk about, and that is
(00:53):
the death that has started torun rampant in America and it
has started to hit home.
So much that I was literallyreflecting about the murder of a
23-year-old young woman who hadcome to America to flee the
violence of Ukraine, who thenwas met with violence in the
(01:17):
United States and was killedwhile nobody lifted a finger to
help.
And while I was reflecting onthat, I went to the gym to work
out and got online but got ablack belt from Gustavo Machado
(01:48):
Chesapeake, from Greg Walker, aguy named Chet.
I saw he had written Pray forCharlie Kirk.
I was getting ready to head inthe sauna, so I looked up it.
I was getting ready to head inthe sauna so I looked up and I
(02:14):
saw the video that I wished thatI did not see Charlie Kirk, a
(02:35):
father of a one-year-old and acollege campus in the exchange
of free ideas in public.
I am saddened as well asshocked and angry by this, not
just because of the violencethat happened, but also the
(03:00):
disappointing reactions of somepeople who I know personally,
who I do believe should knowbetter.
I left comments on the DarrellMcLean show Facebook page and I
have written an article about it, and I'm probably going to
write another one and layer somehistorical context to it as
(03:21):
well.
It as well.
I've been thinking about whythis particular thing affects me
personally, trying to do someself-reflection.
I do think it has a lot to dowith the fact that my father was
killed while I was in the womband Charlie had a one-year-old
(03:44):
and a three-year-old who willnow grow up without a father,
and that's not fair.
So, and I need to share thisthought that I wrote three hours
(04:10):
ago, after having back andforth with people that I do
believe should know better, letme share profound Christian
truth with those who may bestruggling to grasp it.
When the Bible says thou shallnot kill, it doesn't include a
(04:33):
clause that says unless youdisagree with their beliefs.
The very essence of followingJesus is recognizing that people
have the capacity to change inan instant.
If you believe that bullets cantransform America, you'll be
(04:56):
heartbroken when the guns areturned on you and your children
and your children.
I have lived long enough towitness a young boy Walk into
the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch my denomination and take
the lives Of people Praying.
(05:21):
Where do you think this pathwill ultimately end?
An eye for an eye eye leavesthe entire world blind.
If you celebrate the taking ofa life of someone like Charlie
(05:50):
Kirk, who wrote no legislation,who held no public office, wore
no police badge or militaryuniform, but had a public
opinion different than yours andwas literally known for going
on college campuses and engagingother people with those
opinions and debating peoplewhoever was ready to debate him,
you have truly let your heartbe darkened by hate, and hatred
is a hard and heavy, heavyburden to carry.
(06:15):
That's what I wrote on Facebook, and now I'm going to talk to
you like this.
I'm going to talk to you likethis.
The world has once again beenjolted by the reality that
America has become far toocomfortable with violence.
Like I said earlier today,charlie Kirk, a 31 year old, the
(06:38):
founder of Turning Point, usa,was shot and killed during a
campus event in Utah.
His death is not onlypolitically sad, but it is
profoundly spiritual.
What does it say about us as apeople that our disagreements
(07:04):
now end not with debates butwith funerals?
The Bible says very clear likeI just said, thou shall not kill
.
That's it.
That's it.
There isn't a hidden clausethat says unless their tweets
annoy you or unless they votedifferently, god's law is clean,
stark.
Differently, god's law is clean, stark, unbending.
(07:25):
Life is sacred because God gaveit to us.
When we cheer a killing, evenif we dislike the victim, what
we reveal is that our heartshave been darkened by hatred.
And I have to be blunt, hatredis not clever, it's not
righteous.
It's a milestone tied aroundnot your neck, not your body.
(07:50):
It's a milestone tied aroundyour very soul and it will drag
you straight to the depths ofhell.
Following Jesus means believingin change.
The gospel lives or dies onthis point, because people
change.
Saul of Tarsus went from beinga terrorist to an apostle in the
(08:13):
blink of an eye.
The thief on the cross wentfrom being guilty to redeemed in
a single breath.
To deny transformation is todeny Christ himself.
If you insist, some people arebeyond redemption.
You are not protecting thegospel, you are not protecting
America, you are not protectingfreedoms.
(08:35):
You are abandoning thoseprinciples.
Only the fool dreams of bullets.
There are people in thiscountry right now who whisper
that America can be fixed byforce, that America can be fixed
by intimidation, maybe evenviolence.
That is a damn lie.
(08:56):
Bullets don't convert hearts,they only carve graves.
They silence voices.
But they multiply bitterness.
And remember this when younormalize violence, it
eventually comes for you.
The sword never stays sheathedonce it has been drawn.
(09:18):
You are making a belt for yourown back.
Okay, years ago, a young man bythe name of Dylan Ruth entered
the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch, the denomination I was
raised in, and slaughteredpeople as they prayed, and we
(09:42):
all mourned.
Now Charlie Kirk has been cutdown at a campanus event.
Different context, same poisonHatred.
Hatred feeding on itself.
How many memorials do we needbefore we admit we are learning
(10:04):
nothing?
Charlie Kirk didn't write anylaws.
Charlie Kirk didn't write anylaws.
Charlie Kirk didn't wear auniform.
Charlie Kirk didn't hold office.
Charlie spoke opinions, hewielded words.
If words are now the groundsfor execution, then the American
(10:29):
experiment is collapsing underour feet.
Disagreement should sharpendemocracy, it should not end it.
Strip away the slogans andcharts, and political violence
is nothing more than ideology.
It's nothing more than idolatry.
(10:51):
It's vengeance dressed up asjustice.
It promises deliverance butleaves only ruin.
You don't have to carve wood orstone to build an idol, you
just bow at the altar of rage.
It is natural to want revenge.
(11:15):
You just bow at the altar ofrage.
It is natural to want revenge,human even.
But the divine call isforgiveness.
Jesus did not tell us thatturning the other cheek was easy
.
He told us it was necessary.
(11:37):
Only forgiveness breaks thecycle of retaliation and
forgiveness, no matter how hardit is.
Forgiveness is not weakness, itis strength, beyond anything
vengeance can offer.
Some are actually celebratingCharlie Clerk's death tonight.
They think it's freedom.
But hatred doesn't liberate.
(11:59):
Hatred enslaves.
It gnaws at the soul, itpoisons the spirit, it corrodes
joy.
Hatred is a backpack filledwith bricks that you voluntarily
carry for no reason.
It's the poison that youswallow hoping that it'll kill
(12:21):
your enemies.
And it won't.
It will slowly kill you.
The church cannot retreat intopious silence either.
It must bear witness.
That means preaching peace whencrowd chants violence, creating
dialogue when the mob buildswalls and embodying Christ's
love when society bows to rage.
Now we must speak.
(12:43):
Now we must yell at the top ofour lungs that life matters, not
because of politics but becauseof God.
We've got to relearn the basicshere Disagreement, not
destruction.
To disagree is human.
To kill over disagreements isbarbaric.
(13:06):
America desperately needs civildiscourse once again, rooting
in reverence for the human life.
We must insist that theresurrection is real, insist
(13:39):
violence is not the last wordand insist that love can outlast
all the hate.
Why speak Christian truth aftera shooting?
Because silence is complicity.
Is it turning the other cheek,naive?
No, it's the only way to endthis cycle of violence.
It's the only way we can makethis end.
What's the difference betweenindignation and hate?
(14:00):
One seeks god's justice and theother seeks anarchy and
destruction.
Can different beliefs coexistpeacefully?
Only if life is valued morethan ideology, only if we love
(14:22):
our neighbors as ourselves.
How do we pray when violencewins?
By praying for the victims, bypraying for the victims, by
praying for the victims'families and, yes, by even
praying for the attackers.
What should we do now?
(14:44):
What should churches do?
What should the body of Christdo?
Preach boldly, dialoguehonestly and serve visibly.
Charlie Kirk's death is notjust a political headline, it's
(15:09):
a moral warning.
A political headline, it's amoral warning.
Every act of violence is a scaron humanity.
Every life loss is a sermonunpreached, a sung unsung, a
story unfinished.
The true path forward is notpaved with bullets, but with
(15:31):
forgiveness, faith, love.
Violence is not our destiny.
Christ's way is.
I wrote an article today andworking on another one that I
let out tomorrow and it's aChristian reflection on violence
(15:52):
and death and Charlie Kirk, andI've been working with an AI
reading model and I'm going tolet it read the article for you.
Thank you for tuning in.
We'll be back to somewhatregular programming and I'll see
you on the next episode.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
A Christian reflection on violence and the
death of Charlie Kirk.
The world has been shaken againby the grim reality of violence
in America Today.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-oldfounder of Turning Point USA,
was shot and killed during acampus event in Utah.
His death is not just apolitical moment, it is a
spiritual one.
It raises a profound questionfor believers and skeptics alike
(16:33):
.
Where do we think this path ofhatred and bullets ultimately
leads?
The biblical commandment thoushall not kill has no exceptions
.
When scripture declares thoushall not kill, there are no
footnotes or loopholes that sayunless they disagree with your
beliefs.
God's law is clear.
Life is sacred because it comesfrom him.
(16:54):
To celebrate or excuse thetaking of a life, whether it's a
political opponent, a strangeror a neighbor, is to
misunderstand the very heart ofGod.
Following Jesus means believingin transformation, not
retribution.
The entire message of Jesus isabout change radical, sudden,
redemptive change.
Saul of Tarsus went frompersecutor to apostle overnight.
(17:17):
The thief on the cross wentfrom condemned criminal to
promised paradise in a singleconversation.
If we give up on thepossibility that people can
change, we give up on the gospelitself, the dangerous illusion.
Can bullets really changeAmerica?
There are voices that claimforce, intimidation or even
violence can restore America,but the sobering reality is this
(17:39):
Bullets cannot convert hearts.
They can only silence voices,leaving behind grief, anger and
division.
And when we cheer violencetoday, we may live to mourn when
the same violence turns againstour own families tomorrow.
Lessons from tragedy, the AMEchurch massacre and now Charlie
Kirk.
I have witnessed firsthand whathatred unleashed can do.
(18:01):
Years ago, a young man walkedinto an AME church my own
denomination and gunned downinnocent believers as they
prayed.
Today, charlie Kirk's deathjoins that sorrowful list of
tragedies.
Different settings, differentpeople, same broken spirit of
violence.
Both moments force us to askhave we really learned nothing
(18:22):
what the death of Charlie Kirkreveals about America's
spiritual crisis?
This is not only a politicalcrisis.
It is a moral and spiritual one.
When someone can be killed notfor writing laws, not for
holding a badge, not forwielding power, but for speaking
opinions, we have crossed aterrifying line.
America's public square hasbecome poisoned with the belief
(18:44):
that disagreement equals war,political violence, the new idol
of hate.
In the absence of God, peoplehave turned their passion into
an idol of vengeance.
It promises justice butdelivers ruin when opinions
become grounds for bloodshed.
Charlie Kirk did not die as alegislator or a soldier.
He died as a man expressingbeliefs.
(19:05):
If we accept such killings, weaccept the collapse of freedom
itself.
The Christian call forgivenessover vengeance.
It is easy to want revenge.
It is human to want payback,but it is divine to forgive.
The hardest, holiest work is topray, even for enemies, to lay
down the sword and to trust Godwith judgment, turning the other
(19:26):
cheek in an age of retaliation.
Jesus never told us thatturning the other cheek was easy
.
He told us it was necessary.
Hatred is a crushing burden onthe soul.
To celebrate a killing is tochain yourself to bitterness.
Hatred doesn't liberate, itenslaves.
How communities of faith canrespond to violence?
The church must not retreatinto silence.
(19:48):
It must speak, teach and act inways that restore life over
death, building bridges ofdialogue instead of walls of
division.
Disagreement is not destruction.
Civil discourse must be rebornif America is to heal, restoring
the sanctity of life in publicdiscourse.
We must return to a reverencefor human life, not just in
(20:09):
sermons but in daily practice.
Hope beyond the darkness,living out Christ's way of peace
.
Even in the shadow of CharlieKirk's death, christians are
called to hope.
Violence is not the final word.
The resurrection proves thatlove triumphs over hate, light
over darkness, life over death.
Faqs on faith, violence andforgiveness.
One why speak Christian truthafter a shooting?
(20:33):
Because tragedy often silencesus, but it's precisely in
tragedy that truth and hope aremost needed.
Two isn't turning the othercheek naive?
It is difficult, yes, but it'salso the only way to break
cycles of violence.
Retaliation only multipliespain.
Three what's the differencebetween righteous indignation
and hatred?
Indignation seeks justice underGod, hatred seeks destruction
(20:56):
without him.
Four can belief systems coexistwithout violence?
Yes, but only when people valuelife more than ideology.
Five how do we pray whenviolence wins?
We pray for the victims, forthe grieving and even for the
attackers.
Prayer softens hearts wherepolitics hardens them.
Six what tangible steps canchurches take now?
(21:18):
Teach peace boldly, fosterhonest dialogue and serve
communities as witnesses toChrist's love.
Conclusion a call to lay downhatred and live out love.
Charlie Kirk's death is notjust a political event.
It is a moral warning.
Every life matters, not justthe ones we agree with.
Every act of violence is a scaron humanity, not a step toward
(21:39):
progress.
The only true path forward isnot lined with bullets, but with
forgiveness, faith and lovewith bullets, but with
forgiveness, faith and love.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Tonight, conservative firebrand and close ally of
President Trump, charlie Kirk,shot and killed by a sniper
while speaking at a college inUtah.
The 31-year-old was travelingthe country inviting people with
differing views to ask himquestions, to disagree with him.
It was during one of thoseevents.
Today he was shot in the neck.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
It's chaos as shots ring out on the campus of Utah
Valley University.
Students flee afterconservative activist Charlie
Kirk is targeted by an assassin.
Kirk was addressing a gatheringof students when he was shot in
the neck.
At the time he was actuallytalking about gun violence.
Do you know how?
Speaker 5 (22:33):
many mass shooters there have been in America over
the last 10 years.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Two seconds later, all the broadcast networks broke
into regular programming.
They're coming on air withbreaking news right now.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who appears to
have been shot in the neck.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Brock Bales is a student at the university.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
There's a ton of people crying, screaming, it was
just chaotic.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Former Utah congressman and Fox News
personality, Jason Chaffetz, wasalso there.
I happened to be watchingCharlie.
I can't say I saw blood.
I can't say I saw him get shot.
But as soon as that shot wentout he fell back.
Megan Kelly broke down in tears.
I don't know how he is.
I don't know if he's okay.
(23:16):
I don't know what the state ofhis injuries are.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Mac and shooter Charlie Kirk had been on top of
the building wearing jeans,black shirt, black vest.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Who dare you?
Cops were seen detaining a man,his hands cuffed, his pants
around his ankles, but accordingto a university spokesman, he's
not the gunman.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
This is Les Trent in DC, moments after Charlie Kirk
was shot.
Today, president Trump clearedhis schedule.
His top administrationofficials gathered in the
Situation Room to monitor events, trump posting we must pray for
Charlie Kirk, a great guy fromtop to bottom.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Then, at 4.40 pm, he posted the terrible news the
great and even legendary CharlieKirk is dead.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
So who was Charlie Kirk?
He was one of the mostoutspoken conservative voices in
the country, and he also nevershined away from controversy.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Charlie Kirk has been a staunch Trump supporter since
the president's 2016 campaign,and here he is speaking at the
GOP convention last year thatnominated Trump.
He also spoke at thepresidential inauguration.
Kirk has been called the Trumpwhisperer because of his
closeness to the president andthe administration.
Here he is on stage with DonaldTrump Jr at the Turning Point
(24:35):
Convention, the organization hefounded to promote conservative
values on college campuses.
He has millions of followers onsocial media and crisscrosses
the country speaking at highschool and college events.
He has a reputation for gettingcrowds worked up and he doesn't
back down if you disagree withhim.
He and his wife Erica have twochildren, a boy and a girl.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Charlie Kirk has been shot.
He was in Utah giving a speechat a college and I just found
out that he's passed away.
It is beyond tragic.
It's disgusting, it's terrible.
It's the worst thing that hashappened in American media and
politics in a long time.
(25:20):
So this violence is not theanswer.
It is the very worst possibleanswer.
We don't know who did it, andsome of you might have seen an
older guy getting dragged awayby the police.
It turns out they released him.
He's not the guy.
So they haven't caught the guyyet.
But I can't believe he passedaway.
(25:40):
I can't believe it.
So he's gone.
And violence is surrender.
It's saying that you can't winin the battlefield of ideas.
What a terrible, terriblemessage to send and that you
have to be barbaric and you haveto be violent and you have to
be a savage, but you have tojust shut that person down
(26:01):
physically because you can'tdefeat them with your ideas.
What a cowardly form ofsurrender.
What a disgusting thing to do.
How deeply immoral.
This is a terrible, terribleday, because so not only do I
know Charlie and you can say hey, he said bad things in the past
.
Who cares?
That's not the point today.
(26:22):
Okay, it doesn't matter whatpeople said.
You never do violence, never.
That's the exact opposite ofbeing a progressive.
It makes no sense at all.
We're against the violence.
If you do violence, you're notone of us.
You're disgusting, you'reimmoral and you're deeply
counterproductive.
(26:42):
It makes everyone else hatethem, rightfully so.
So none of our side should ever, ever do that.
Plus, he's a human being.
I met him and his wife behindthe scenes, etc.
They're human beings, no matterhow much we agree or disagree
with anyone.
This is just terrible, guys.
(27:06):
This is going to lead to worseand worse violence.
I hope to God it doesn't.
I hope that America regains itssenses and gets back to peace
and civility, but this is notthe way.
This is terrible.
I feel awful for Charlie'sfamily, obviously for Charlie.
(27:26):
Stop, stop all of the violence.
This is the problem.
This is not the way to solve it.
So it's an absolutely tragicday and my heart goes out to his
entire family.
I'm so sorry that this happenedto anyone.
I just can't believe it.
All right, guys, please,everyone.
(27:47):
Nothing but good thoughts andprayers for Charlie's family.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Friends, before we end tonight, I want to say by
our hearts in prayer.
Lord, you see us in our griefand in our confusion.
Another life has been cut short.
You see us in our grief and inour confusion.
Another life has been cut short, another family torn by
violence and a nation once morestaring at itself in the mirror.
(28:17):
Help us remember, god, thathuman life is sacred, not
because of politics, not becauseof influence, but because every
single person bears your image.
Comfort those who mourn, steadythose who are shaken, and turn
(28:38):
our eyes away from vengeance andback towards the cross, where
you showed us that love triumphsover hate and life triumphs
over death.
Oh Lord, you give and you takeaway, and blessed be your name.
You alone hold the days of menin your hand.
(28:59):
In a world that groans undersin, it reminds us that death is
not the final word.
Christ has conquered the grave,and so, while we grieve the
loss of Charlie Kirk, we do notgrieve as those without hope.
Us, even in this moment ofsorrow.
(29:24):
Use us in this moment to awakenour hearts to the brevity of
life and the weight of eternity.
Let the name of Jesus bemagnified in our mourning, and
may your sovereign grace provesufficient for every broken
(29:45):
heart, for every broken heart,for every broken heart.
Tonight, may the Lord keep you,may his face shine upon you and
may he give you peace that theworld cannot give.
Good night, and we'll see youon the next episode.
Welcome to the Darrell McLean Show.
I'm your host, darrell McLean.
Independent media that won'treinforce tribalism.
We have one planet.
Nobody is leaving, and let usreason together.
So I started recording a episodewhen I was having breathing
(00:25):
problems last night.
So I got up around 3 am and Istarted recording and I do
apologize as I speak to youright now because I'm still
somewhat having them.
But there's something that weneed to talk about.
But there's something that weneed to talk about, and that is
(00:53):
the death that has started torun rampant in America and it
has started to hit home.
So much that I was literallyreflecting about the murder of a
23-year-old young woman who hadcome to America to flee the
violence of Ukraine, who thenwas met with violence in the
(01:17):
United States and was killedwhile nobody lifted a finger to
help.
And while I was reflecting onthat, I went to the gym to work
out and got online but got ablack belt from Gustavo Machado
(01:48):
Chesapeake, from Greg Walker, aguy named Chet.
I saw he had written Pray forCharlie Kirk.
I was getting ready to head inthe sauna, so I looked up it.
I was getting ready to head inthe sauna so I looked up and I
(02:14):
saw the video that I wished thatI did not see Charlie Kirk, a
(02:35):
father of a one-year-old and acollege campus in the exchange
of free ideas in public.
I am saddened as well asshocked and angry by this, not
just because of the violencethat happened, but also the
(03:00):
disappointing reactions of somepeople who I know personally,
who I do believe should knowbetter.
I left comments on the DarrellMcLean show Facebook page and I
have written an article about it, and I'm probably going to
write another one and layer somehistorical context to it as
(03:21):
well.
It as well.
I've been thinking about whythis particular thing affects me
personally, trying to do someself-reflection.
I do think it has a lot to dowith the fact that my father was
killed while I was in the womband Charlie had a one-year-old
(03:44):
and a three-year-old who willnow grow up without a father,
and that's not fair.
So, and I need to share thisthought that I wrote three hours
(04:10):
ago, after having back andforth with people that I do
believe should know better, letme share profound Christian
truth with those who may bestruggling to grasp it.
When the Bible says thou shallnot kill, it doesn't include a
(04:33):
clause that says unless youdisagree with their beliefs.
The very essence of followingJesus is recognizing that people
have the capacity to change inan instant.
If you believe that bullets cantransform America, you'll be
(04:56):
heartbroken when the guns areturned on you and your children
and your children.
I have lived long enough towitness a young boy Walk into
the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch my denomination and take
the lives Of people Praying.
(05:21):
Where do you think this pathwill ultimately end?
An eye for an eye eye leavesthe entire world blind.
If you celebrate the taking ofa life of someone like Charlie
(05:50):
Kirk, who wrote no legislation,who held no public office, wore
no police badge or militaryuniform, but had a public
opinion different than yours andwas literally known for going
on college campuses and engagingother people with those
opinions and debating peoplewhoever was ready to debate him,
you have truly let your heartbe darkened by hate, and hatred
is a hard and heavy, heavyburden to carry.
(06:15):
That's what I wrote on Facebook, and now I'm going to talk to
you like this.
I'm going to talk to you likethis.
The world has once again beenjolted by the reality that
America has become far toocomfortable with violence.
Like I said earlier today,charlie Kirk, a 31 year old, the
(06:38):
founder of Turning Point, usa,was shot and killed during a
campus event in Utah.
His death is not onlypolitically sad, but it is
profoundly spiritual.
What does it say about us as apeople that our disagreements
(07:04):
now end not with debates butwith funerals?
The Bible says very clear likeI just said, thou shall not kill
.
That's it.
That's it.
There isn't a hidden clausethat says unless their tweets
annoy you or unless they votedifferently, god's law is clean,
stark.
Differently, god's law is clean, stark, unbending.
(07:25):
Life is sacred because God gaveit to us.
When we cheer a killing, evenif we dislike the victim, what
we reveal is that our heartshave been darkened by hatred.
And I have to be blunt, hatredis not clever, it's not
righteous.
It's a milestone tied aroundnot your neck, not your body.
(07:50):
It's a milestone tied aroundyour very soul and it will drag
you straight to the depths ofhell.
Following Jesus means believingin change.
The gospel lives or dies onthis point, because people
change.
Saul of Tarsus went from beinga terrorist to an apostle in the
(08:13):
blink of an eye.
The thief on the cross wentfrom being guilty to redeemed in
a single breath.
To deny transformation is todeny Christ himself.
If you insist, some people arebeyond redemption.
You are not protecting thegospel, you are not protecting
America, you are not protectingfreedoms.
(08:35):
You are abandoning thoseprinciples.
Only the fool dreams of bullets.
There are people in thiscountry right now who whisper
that America can be fixed byforce, that America can be fixed
by intimidation, maybe evenviolence.
That is a damn lie.
(08:56):
Bullets don't convert hearts,they only carve graves.
They silence voices.
But they multiply bitterness.
And remember this when younormalize violence, it
eventually comes for you.
The sword never stays sheathedonce it has been drawn.
(09:18):
You are making a belt for yourown back.
Okay, years ago, a young man bythe name of Dylan Ruth entered
the African Methodist EpiscopalChurch, the denomination I was
raised in, and slaughteredpeople as they prayed, and we
(09:42):
all mourned.
Now Charlie Kirk has been cutdown at a campanus event.
Different context, same poisonHatred.
Hatred feeding on itself.
How many memorials do we needbefore we admit we are learning
(10:04):
nothing?
Charlie Kirk didn't write anylaws.
Charlie Kirk didn't write anylaws.
Charlie Kirk didn't wear auniform.
Charlie Kirk didn't hold office.
Charlie spoke opinions, hewielded words.
If words are now the groundsfor execution, then the American
(10:29):
experiment is collapsing underour feet.
Disagreement should sharpendemocracy, it should not end it.
Strip away the slogans andcharts, and political violence
is nothing more than ideology.
It's nothing more than idolatry.
(10:51):
It's vengeance dressed up asjustice.
It promises deliverance butleaves only ruin.
You don't have to carve wood orstone to build an idol, you
just bow at the altar of rage.
It is natural to want revenge.
(11:15):
You just bow at the altar ofrage.
It is natural to want revenge,human even.
But the divine call isforgiveness.
Jesus did not tell us thatturning the other cheek was easy
.
He told us it was necessary.
(11:37):
Only forgiveness breaks thecycle of retaliation and
forgiveness, no matter how hardit is.
Forgiveness is not weakness, itis strength, beyond anything
vengeance can offer.
Some are actually celebratingCharlie Clerk's death tonight.
They think it's freedom.
But hatred doesn't liberate.
(11:59):
Hatred enslaves.
It gnaws at the soul, itpoisons the spirit, it corrodes
joy.
Hatred is a backpack filledwith bricks that you voluntarily
carry for no reason.
It's the poison that youswallow hoping that it'll kill
(12:21):
your enemies.
And it won't.
It will slowly kill you.
The church cannot retreat intopious silence either.
It must bear witness.
That means preaching peace whencrowd chants violence, creating
dialogue when the mob buildswalls and embodying Christ's
love when society bows to rage.
Now we must speak.
(12:43):
Now we must yell at the top ofour lungs that life matters, not
because of politics but becauseof God.
We've got to relearn the basicshere Disagreement, not
destruction.
To disagree is human.
To kill over disagreements isbarbaric.
(13:06):
America desperately needs civildiscourse once again, rooting
in reverence for the human life.
We must insist that theresurrection is real, insist
(13:39):
violence is not the last wordand insist that love can outlast
all the hate.
Why speak Christian truth aftera shooting?
Because silence is complicity.
Is it turning the other cheek,naive?
No, it's the only way to endthis cycle of violence.
It's the only way we can makethis end.
What's the difference betweenindignation and hate?
(14:00):
One seeks god's justice and theother seeks anarchy and
destruction.
Can different beliefs coexistpeacefully?
Only if life is valued morethan ideology, only if we love
(14:22):
our neighbors as ourselves.
How do we pray when violencewins?
By praying for the victims, bypraying for the victims, by
praying for the victims'families and, yes, by even
praying for the attackers.
What should we do now?
(14:44):
What should churches do?
What should the body of Christdo?
Preach boldly, dialoguehonestly and serve visibly.
Charlie Kirk's death is notjust a political headline, it's
(15:09):
a moral warning.
A political headline, it's amoral warning.
Every act of violence is a scaron humanity.
Every life loss is a sermonunpreached, a sung unsung, a
story unfinished.
The true path forward is notpaved with bullets, but with
(15:31):
forgiveness, faith, love.
Violence is not our destiny.
Christ's way is.
I wrote an article today andworking on another one that I
let out tomorrow and it's aChristian reflection on violence
(15:52):
and death and Charlie Kirk, andI've been working with an AI
reading model and I'm going tolet it read the article for you.
Thank you for tuning in.
We'll be back to somewhatregular programming and I'll see
you on the next episode.
Speaker 2 (16:12):
A Christian reflection on violence and the
death of Charlie Kirk.
The world has been shaken againby the grim reality of violence
in America Today.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-oldfounder of Turning Point USA,
was shot and killed during acampus event in Utah.
His death is not just apolitical moment, it is a
spiritual one.
It raises a profound questionfor believers and skeptics alike
(16:33):
.
Where do we think this path ofhatred and bullets ultimately
leads?
The biblical commandment thoushall not kill has no exceptions
.
When scripture declares thoushall not kill, there are no
footnotes or loopholes that sayunless they disagree with your
beliefs.
God's law is clear.
Life is sacred because it comesfrom him.
(16:54):
To celebrate or excuse thetaking of a life, whether it's a
political opponent, a strangeror a neighbor, is to
misunderstand the very heart ofGod.
Following Jesus means believingin transformation, not
retribution.
The entire message of Jesus isabout change radical, sudden,
redemptive change.
Saul of Tarsus went frompersecutor to apostle overnight.
(17:17):
The thief on the cross wentfrom condemned criminal to
promised paradise in a singleconversation.
If we give up on thepossibility that people can
change, we give up on the gospelitself, the dangerous illusion.
Can bullets really changeAmerica?
There are voices that claimforce, intimidation or even
violence can restore America,but the sobering reality is this
(17:39):
Bullets cannot convert hearts.
They can only silence voices,leaving behind grief, anger and
division.
And when we cheer violencetoday, we may live to mourn when
the same violence turns againstour own families tomorrow.
Lessons from tragedy, the AMEchurch massacre and now Charlie
Kirk.
I have witnessed firsthand whathatred unleashed can do.
(18:01):
Years ago, a young man walkedinto an AME church my own
denomination and gunned downinnocent believers as they
prayed.
Today, charlie Kirk's deathjoins that sorrowful list of
tragedies.
Different settings, differentpeople, same broken spirit of
violence.
Both moments force us to askhave we really learned nothing
(18:22):
what the death of Charlie Kirkreveals about America's
spiritual crisis?
This is not only a politicalcrisis.
It is a moral and spiritual one.
When someone can be killed notfor writing laws, not for
holding a badge, not forwielding power, but for speaking
opinions, we have crossed aterrifying line.
America's public square hasbecome poisoned with the belief
(18:44):
that disagreement equals war,political violence, the new idol
of hate.
In the absence of God, peoplehave turned their passion into
an idol of vengeance.
It promises justice butdelivers ruin when opinions
become grounds for bloodshed.
Charlie Kirk did not die as alegislator or a soldier.
He died as a man expressingbeliefs.
(19:05):
If we accept such killings, weaccept the collapse of freedom
itself.
The Christian call forgivenessover vengeance.
It is easy to want revenge.
It is human to want payback,but it is divine to forgive.
The hardest, holiest work is topray, even for enemies, to lay
down the sword and to trust Godwith judgment, turning the other
(19:26):
cheek in an age of retaliation.
Jesus never told us thatturning the other cheek was easy
.
He told us it was necessary.
Hatred is a crushing burden onthe soul.
To celebrate a killing is tochain yourself to bitterness.
Hatred doesn't liberate, itenslaves.
How communities of faith canrespond to violence?
The church must not retreatinto silence.
(19:48):
It must speak, teach and act inways that restore life over
death, building bridges ofdialogue instead of walls of
division.
Disagreement is not destruction.
Civil discourse must be rebornif America is to heal, restoring
the sanctity of life in publicdiscourse.
We must return to a reverencefor human life, not just in
(20:09):
sermons but in daily practice.
Hope beyond the darkness,living out Christ's way of peace
.
Even in the shadow of CharlieKirk's death, christians are
called to hope.
Violence is not the final word.
The resurrection proves thatlove triumphs over hate, light
over darkness, life over death.
Faqs on faith, violence andforgiveness.
One why speak Christian truthafter a shooting?
(20:33):
Because tragedy often silencesus, but it's precisely in
tragedy that truth and hope aremost needed.
Two isn't turning the othercheek naive?
It is difficult, yes, but it'salso the only way to break
cycles of violence.
Retaliation only multipliespain.
Three what's the differencebetween righteous indignation
and hatred?
Indignation seeks justice underGod, hatred seeks destruction
(20:56):
without him.
Four can belief systems coexistwithout violence?
Yes, but only when people valuelife more than ideology.
Five how do we pray whenviolence wins?
We pray for the victims, forthe grieving and even for the
attackers.
Prayer softens hearts wherepolitics hardens them.
Six what tangible steps canchurches take now?
(21:18):
Teach peace boldly, fosterhonest dialogue and serve
communities as witnesses toChrist's love.
Conclusion a call to lay downhatred and live out love.
Charlie Kirk's death is notjust a political event.
It is a moral warning.
Every life matters, not justthe ones we agree with.
Every act of violence is a scaron humanity, not a step toward
(21:39):
progress.
The only true path forward isnot lined with bullets, but with
forgiveness, faith and lovewith bullets, but with
forgiveness, faith and love.
Speaker 3 (21:54):
Tonight, conservative firebrand and close ally of
President Trump, charlie Kirk,shot and killed by a sniper
while speaking at a college inUtah.
The 31-year-old was travelingthe country inviting people with
differing views to ask himquestions, to disagree with him.
It was during one of thoseevents.
Today he was shot in the neck.
Speaker 4 (22:13):
It's chaos as shots ring out on the campus of Utah
Valley University.
Students flee afterconservative activist Charlie
Kirk is targeted by an assassin.
Kirk was addressing a gatheringof students when he was shot in
the neck.
At the time he was actuallytalking about gun violence.
Do you know how?
Speaker 5 (22:33):
many mass shooters there have been in America over
the last 10 years.
Speaker 4 (22:37):
Two seconds later, all the broadcast networks broke
into regular programming.
They're coming on air withbreaking news right now.
Speaker 6 (22:47):
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who appears to
have been shot in the neck.
Speaker 4 (22:50):
Brock Bales is a student at the university.
Speaker 5 (22:53):
There's a ton of people crying, screaming, it was
just chaotic.
Speaker 4 (22:56):
Former Utah congressman and Fox News
personality, Jason Chaffetz, wasalso there.
I happened to be watchingCharlie.
I can't say I saw blood.
I can't say I saw him get shot.
But as soon as that shot wentout he fell back.
Megan Kelly broke down in tears.
I don't know how he is.
I don't know if he's okay.
(23:16):
I don't know what the state ofhis injuries are.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
Mac and shooter Charlie Kirk had been on top of
the building wearing jeans,black shirt, black vest.
Speaker 4 (23:27):
Who dare you?
Cops were seen detaining a man,his hands cuffed, his pants
around his ankles, but accordingto a university spokesman, he's
not the gunman.
Speaker 5 (23:36):
This is Les Trent in DC, moments after Charlie Kirk
was shot.
Today, president Trump clearedhis schedule.
His top administrationofficials gathered in the
Situation Room to monitor events, trump posting we must pray for
Charlie Kirk, a great guy fromtop to bottom.
Speaker 4 (23:54):
Then, at 4.40 pm, he posted the terrible news the
great and even legendary CharlieKirk is dead.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
So who was Charlie Kirk?
He was one of the mostoutspoken conservative voices in
the country, and he also nevershined away from controversy.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
Charlie Kirk has been a staunch Trump supporter since
the president's 2016 campaign,and here he is speaking at the
GOP convention last year thatnominated Trump.
He also spoke at thepresidential inauguration.
Kirk has been called the Trumpwhisperer because of his
closeness to the president andthe administration.
Here he is on stage with DonaldTrump Jr at the Turning Point
(24:35):
Convention, the organization hefounded to promote conservative
values on college campuses.
He has millions of followers onsocial media and crisscrosses
the country speaking at highschool and college events.
He has a reputation for gettingcrowds worked up and he doesn't
back down if you disagree withhim.
He and his wife Erica have twochildren, a boy and a girl.
Speaker 6 (24:59):
Charlie Kirk has been shot.
He was in Utah giving a speechat a college and I just found
out that he's passed away.
It is beyond tragic.
It's disgusting, it's terrible.
It's the worst thing that hashappened in American media and
politics in a long time.
(25:20):
So this violence is not theanswer.
It is the very worst possibleanswer.
We don't know who did it, andsome of you might have seen an
older guy getting dragged awayby the police.
It turns out they released him.
He's not the guy.
So they haven't caught the guyyet.
But I can't believe he passedaway.
(25:40):
I can't believe it.
So he's gone.
And violence is surrender.
It's saying that you can't winin the battlefield of ideas.
What a terrible, terriblemessage to send and that you
have to be barbaric and you haveto be violent and you have to
be a savage, but you have tojust shut that person down
(26:01):
physically because you can'tdefeat them with your ideas.
What a cowardly form ofsurrender.
What a disgusting thing to do.
How deeply immoral.
This is a terrible, terribleday, because so not only do I
know Charlie and you can say hey, he said bad things in the past
.
Who cares?
That's not the point today.
(26:22):
Okay, it doesn't matter whatpeople said.
You never do violence, never.
That's the exact opposite ofbeing a progressive.
It makes no sense at all.
We're against the violence.
If you do violence, you're notone of us.
You're disgusting, you'reimmoral and you're deeply
counterproductive.
(26:42):
It makes everyone else hatethem, rightfully so.
So none of our side should ever, ever do that.
Plus, he's a human being.
I met him and his wife behindthe scenes, etc.
They're human beings, no matterhow much we agree or disagree
with anyone.
This is just terrible, guys.
(27:06):
This is going to lead to worseand worse violence.
I hope to God it doesn't.
I hope that America regains itssenses and gets back to peace
and civility, but this is notthe way.
This is terrible.
I feel awful for Charlie'sfamily, obviously for Charlie.
(27:26):
Stop, stop all of the violence.
This is the problem.
This is not the way to solve it.
So it's an absolutely tragicday and my heart goes out to his
entire family.
I'm so sorry that this happenedto anyone.
I just can't believe it.
All right, guys, please,everyone.
(27:47):
Nothing but good thoughts andprayers for Charlie's family.
Speaker 1 (27:53):
Friends, before we end tonight, I want to say by
our hearts in prayer.
Lord, you see us in our griefand in our confusion.
Another life has been cut short.
You see us in our grief and inour confusion.
Another life has been cut short, another family torn by
violence and a nation once morestaring at itself in the mirror.
(28:17):
Help us remember, god, thathuman life is sacred, not
because of politics, not becauseof influence, but because every
single person bears your image.
Comfort those who mourn, steadythose who are shaken, and turn
(28:38):
our eyes away from vengeance andback towards the cross, where
you showed us that love triumphsover hate and life triumphs
over death.
Oh Lord, you give and you takeaway, and blessed be your name.
You alone hold the days of menin your hand.
(28:59):
In a world that groans undersin, it reminds us that death is
not the final word.
Christ has conquered the grave,and so, while we grieve the
loss of Charlie Kirk, we do notgrieve as those without hope.
Us, even in this moment ofsorrow.
(29:24):
Use us in this moment to awakenour hearts to the brevity of
life and the weight of eternity.
Let the name of Jesus bemagnified in our mourning, and
may your sovereign grace provesufficient for every broken
(29:45):
heart, for every broken heart,for every broken heart.
Tonight, may the Lord keep you,may his face shine upon you and
may he give you peace that theworld cannot give.
Good night, and we'll see youon the next episode.
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