No Time for Silence by John Avant

The assassination of Charlie Kirk was an attempt to silence those who follow Jesus. 

In the words of the assassin, “Some hate cannot be negotiated out.”

Hate?

I have deep appreciation for the life and ministry of Charlie Kirk. I also disagree with some of the things he said. But hate? Hate means “extreme hostility.” By definition it cannot simply mean that you disagree with someone’s position! With few exceptions, Kirk was kind and gracious to everyone, just like his Lord, who was known as the “friend of sinners." There’s no sign he was ever “hostile” to anyone. Yet, how ironic that a man accused of “hate“ is murdered by a man who hated him! Unfortunately, this hatred may no longer be “extremism,” especially on our university campuses. The hatred has main-streamed. 

A survey published the day before Charlie Kirk was shot by The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression found that more than 1 in 3 university students find it acceptable to use violence to stop a speaker! 

But let’s not think we are living in a completely unique place and time. First of all, an average of 14 followers of Jesus are murdered every day in this world! We’re just not used to seeing it happen in our own country, live for the world to see.  From the very beginning of the Jesus movement, His followers have been lied about and accused of all kinds of hateful activities. Some of the early believers were killed because they were thought to be cannibals who ate bodies and blood in Communion! 

Followers of Jesus should not waste their time wondering why we are lied about, hated, persecuted, and even killed. Because this is exactly what Jesus told us would happen to us:

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.…Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭

So what SHOULD we be doing now?

Grieve - I wrote about this last week, so I won’t say much more except for the fact that I am simply stunned that American  believers seem to have very little understanding of how to love one another during a time of horrible grief. When the Bible says that we are “brothers and sisters“ it does not use that term lightly. These are not nicknames for us. We are family! If your sibling’s spouse was murdered, would you be talking to them right now about all the things you didn’t like about their spouse? If so, the love of Christ has departed from your heart! I cannot say this strongly enough:  however you feel about the politics of Charlie Kirk, shut up about it! This is not the time. Jesus‘s bride is hurting. Comfort her. Love each other. If that doesn’t come first, we’re not following Jesus at all. 

Love those who hate us - As disappointed as  I’ve been by all the online arrogant debates about Charlie Kirk, I have been thankful that I have not heard of any violence or riots or any of the kind of reaction we have seen over and over again from the secular world when they feel wronged. This is one of the greatest opportunities for us to be known by our love as the early church was. As Jesus told us to be. As we will be if we are full of his Spirit. 

Speak Jesus -  After the church of Pergamum saw their pastor roasted alive, Jesus said this to them: “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” ‭‭ Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭

Have you felt the heaviness in the last few weeks? Do you feel yourself walking in the shadow of Satan‘s throne? I get it. Me, too.  But more importantly, Jesus gets it! He knows where we live! And we have the opportunity now, just as believers did back then, to face our fears, refuse to deny our faith, and speak the name, the love and the hope of Jesus everywhere we go to everyone we can. 

What will you do? How will you speak Jesus in these days?

I intend to speak Jesus on the university campuses where God has called me to serve. I intend to speak Jesus on the mission fields where God sends us. I intend to speak Jesus to the church where I will preach this Sunday. But I am also determined to speak Jesus more to the person who serves me at the restaurant, the person behind me in the grocery store line, and to every person who will listen. 

Will you join this Jesus Movement?

Because this is not only a sad time, if we believe what the Bible says:

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭

Did you read that? In this time of such horror and sorrow, we are also able to rejoice because as we suffer with Jesus, the Spirit of glory rests on us! 

This is nothing less than revival. And this is what we need right now. This is everything we need right now.

It is no time for silence.

But let’s make sure our words flow from His Word, that our responses flow from His gift of redemption. And then, in these days, we may just see revival flow from the very fountain of God and cover this land.