I posted the following article to Facebook, halfway into the Charlie Kirk Memorial. As a pastor I was deeply grieved. I’m grateful the second half was much better, much more fitting for Charlie Kirk, and much more honoring to Christ. Christ was Proclaimed, The Gospel was Preached!
When The Secretary of State, The Secretary of Defense, The Vice President, and even The President Publicly Declare Jesus is Lord, and many of them give a clear articulation of the Gospel I consider that a Win. Praise God! Erika Kirk, invoking Christ on the cross in her forgiving her husband’s assassin was the most powerful public Christian act I’ve ever witnessed.
Here is what I posted:
I love Charlie Kirk and what he stood for, while not having to agree with everything he said or how he said it.
Charlie Kirk’s Faith informed his politics, no question, but From what I’ve seen he never conflated himself w/ Jesus as some of these speakers blasphemously are. Charlie Kirk pointed to Christ, He did not replace Christ. He said so. Frank Turek (& others now) Provided a Needed Corrective in his talk. (2nd half was much better)
Charlie Kirk is not Jesus Christ. Charlie Kirk needed Jesus Christ.
- TP USA is not the Kingdom of God. It is doing good work.
- Charlie Kirk did not “Die for U.”
- Charlie Kirk’s Sacrifice did not “Save U.”
- Charlie Kirk is not “our only Hope.”
- Turning Point USA will not “Endure Forever.”
- “The Name of Charlie Kirk” does not Save.
- The “Power of Charlie Kirk” is not a thing.
- “Victory In His Name” is not a thing.
- He does not produce “Fire in our Hearts,” althought we can love him.
All of that was said, alleged, inferred, referred to by many of the speakers (in the first half of the memorial) to rile up the crowd and promote TP USA. I have no problem with them wanting to carry on Charlie’s legacy through TP USA. But don’t use Messianic Imagery to do so.
- Jesus Christ Died for U.
- Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Saves You.
- Jesus Christ is Our Only Hope
- The Kingdom of God Endures Forever
- The Name of Jesus Christ Saves
- The Power of Jesus is our Hope
- There is Victory in No Other Name than Jesus
- We Pray in the Name of Jesus
- Jesus Produces Fire in our Hearts
From the hours of videos I’ve watched the last 2 weeks of Charlie pointing to his Faith in Christ and only hope in Christ, I don’t believe he would want to viewed as the Messiah.
I say all of this, having already argued against Skinny-Jeans-3rd-way-Pastors trying to nuance him and his assassination. I consider them cowards.
I just don’t believe in Syncretising the man Charlie Kirk with the God-Man Jesus Christ, nor the Kingdom of God with TP USA.
Given the choice, I choose Christ 100 out of 100 times. Charlie would too.
I say this, knowing the Gospel is going out through this Memorial. (and as I added at the beginning of this piece, it ended beautifully)
