What to do about Charlie Kirk? by John Avant

“All death can do to the believer is deliver him to Jesus.”

Charlie Kirk

And that just happened.

I will be honest. I am angry. I want to hurt someone. I want to be violent.

This is my brother. This is your brother if you know Jesus. Forget about your stupid politics, whatever they are! This is a man who loved Jesus, loved his wife and loved his children and shared Jesus openly, even though he knew he was a target.

This is a moment for all believers to step back and ask the question “How does Jesus expect us to respond to such a horrific event?” 

If I respond the way I want to respond, I am almost certain to respond the wrong way. Just like Peter slashing around wildly with his sword, cutting off the ear of another man. That’s what I want to do right now.

That would be me. Not Jesus.

Jesus healed the man Peter hurt. Jesus died FOR those who were killing him!

The truth is that our brothers and sisters are dying for Jesus every day. Charlie Kirk was just better known than most.

So here’s what I’m trying to do right now. I believe these are the things the Spirit of God wants us to do in this moment.

— Grieve. Even Jesus did at the death of his friend Lazarus. This is a time for sadness and that is appropriate. But use this as an opportunity to educate yourself on what is happening all over the world every day.

If today is an average day, 13 other people laid down their life for Jesus today somewhere in the world. Make it a part of your normal life to learn their stories, to do what you can to help the families and communities of those who are dying, and to be willing to join them if this becomes the will of God for your life.

This is real grief. Real grief is a willingness to join in the pain of others. In this case, it means even the willingness to die for our faith the way others are dying for theirs. 

— Decide to do for your own family and friends what Charlie Kirk did for an entire generation!  He showed people that our faith can withstand intellectual scrutiny. He showed a generation of young adults something worth living for and dying for. He shared Jesus, graciously, clearly and boldly.

Now you do that! Do that for your children.

Do that for your grandchildren.

Do that for your friends.

Don’t wait for the next Charlie Kirk. It’s your job!

— Fill his shoes.

I know that no one can truly fill the shoes of another person. But all of us have the opportunity to influence the next generation toward Jesus and away from hopelessness. Do that! Do that for one person or do that for a crowd of people! Just do what God gives you the opportunity and the ability to do.

As for me, our ministry works directly with universities I’ll be speaking to at least 10 campuses this fall. God has not called me into the political realm. He has called me to share Jesus only. His love, His truth, his resurrection, and the incredible life He offers now and forever

I am not Charlie Kirk

I am just me.

But I will take up the banner of the gospel unapologetically with students in the days ahead. I will do it in humility, love and with boldness.

Will you do what you can do?

Maybe tomorrow I will have different thoughts and different ideas when my head has cleared from this horrible news.

But it is important for people who love Jesus and who speak his name publicly to speak NOW. Right now, while the pain and anger are raw. Right now when many of us will be tempted to act according to our anger instead of the love of Jesus that Charlie Kirk died for.

And that is what I am doing.

God help me. God help each one of us. And God help this desperate nation in these evil days.