Christians grapple with the complex legacy of Charlie Kirk
When co-workers told him that Charlie Kirk had been shot…
Editorial: When politics divide us
Erika Kirk’s response to her husband’s assassination — forgiveness — exemplifies the gospel message.
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This is what it looks like for politics to divide us.
A 31-year-old husband and father was brutally and senselessly murdered in front of the world. Eleven days later, his grieving widow stood in front of over 100,000 people, with millions watching around the world, and expressed forgiveness to the killer of her husband.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do,” she told the crowd. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love.”
Related: Christians grapple with the complex legacy of Charlie Kirk
The Gospel was displayed in a powerful, tangible way.
Yet, some of our neighbors — and Christian brothers and sisters — refuse to acknowledge it. Charlie Kirk was outspoken in his conviction that Jesus Christ was the risen Lord. He was a defender of the reliability of Scripture. He vigorously maintained that all humanity carried the “image of God” and argued for the dignity of human life. He took a strong stand for a traditional biblical view of marriage and gender.
But his equally vigorous support of political systems and people coupled with his often provocative language clouded his witness. These things were interpreted by some — including many Christ followers — as contradictory to his Christian faith and even hateful toward those “image bearers of God.”
The speaker who followed Erika Kirk delivered a message that was opposite of hers. “He [Charlie] did not hate his opponents. That’s where I disagreed with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry. I am sorry, Erika. But now Erika can talk to me and the whole group and maybe that can convince me that that’s not right, but I can’t stand my opponent.”
Even if his comments were an attempt at lightening the mood, they cheapen the moment. Erika Kirk’s words of forgiveness exemplify the fundamental meaning of Jesus’ entire ministry. “Love your enemies” led to his crucifixion.
“We get so caught up obtaining the power to enact our vision of justice, that we lose sight of right and wrong along the way. And in our pursuit of power, the Gospel gets overshadowed by far less important things.”
And this is what it looks like for politics to divide us.
Politics blinds us to the faults of our own “side” and caricatures those of the other. We amplify stories supporting our own narrative, while dismissing stories suggesting a different or broader narrative. We get so caught up obtaining the power to enact our vision of justice, that we lose sight of right and wrong along the way. And in our pursuit of power, the Gospel gets overshadowed by far less important things.
The chief priests were so blinded by their hatred of Jesus, their perceived enemy, that they shouted, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). Their hunger for power obscured their thirst for justice.
Many of us share fundamental convictions with our friends and neighbors — the resurrection of Jesus, the inspiration of Scripture, the importance of biblical marriage and gender — but we sincerely disagree as to the best means to these ends. In our disagreement, we must constantly return to the fundamental convictions upon which we agree.
“We must avoid the temptation to substitute anger and vitriolic rantings in place of brotherly love.”
Whenever someone’s means contradict these underlying convictions, we must avoid the temptation to substitute anger and vitriolic rantings in place of brotherly love. Such love should saturate our conversations and social media posts. “By this the world will know you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35).
God willing, Erika will talk to the speaker who followed her. And God willing, all of us will listen.
JEREMIE BELLER is opinions editor for The Christian Chronicle. He is dean of Bible and director of church relations for Oklahoma Christian University. He serves as the congregational minister for the Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.
