by Tragedy has a way of stopping us in our tracks. The news of Charlie Kirk’s murder is one of those moments. Regardless of where someone may fall on the political spectrum, a life has been taken, a family is grieving, and a nation is once again reminded of the brokenness of our world. As disciples of Jesus, the question we must wrestle with is this: How should the church respond in such times?
This is not merely about one person or one event. It is about how the people of God will respond when violence, hostility, and confusion fill our headlines. Jesus Himself told His disciples that persecution would come, that if the world hated them, it was because it hated Him first. The Bible is clear that opposition to the truth is not a surprise; it is a certainty for those who choose to follow Christ. We are not called to be shocked by the hatred of the world, but to be steadfast in the love of God.
The reality of persecution should not drive us to retreat into silence, but to stand with greater courage. The opposition we face today confirms the words of Scripture and calls the church to live with even greater faithfulness. When trials press in, we are reminded that we are walking the same road our Savior walked, and that His grace is sufficient for every step.
This pattern of persecution has been seen throughout church history.
The first disciples faced imprisonment, beating, and even death because they refused to stop proclaiming Christ. In the early centuries, men and women of faith were thrown to lions in Roman arenas, yet their steadfast testimony became a seed for the growth of the church. Their courage reminds us that faithfulness in the face of hatred has always been the pathway of true discipleship.
Even in more recent times, believers have endured imprisonment, exile, and loss for the sake of the gospel. From pastors imprisoned in communist regimes to missionaries martyred in distant lands, the legacy of those who stood firm under persecution calls us to the same resolve. Their witness was not shaped by comfort but by conviction that Christ is worth more than life itself. The same Spirit that empowered them empowers us today, urging us not to shrink back but to stand firm with unwavering faith.
Will we allow fear to dictate our voice? Or will we awaken, proclaim God’s Word, and stand firm in the faith with the assurance that Christ has overcome the world?
The Church Must Awaken
Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:14 ring with urgency: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” This is not a suggestion for another day; it is a command for right now. The church cannot afford to slumber while culture drifts further from God’s truth. Each passing hour of silence strengthens the darkness. We must no longer trade comfort for courage, or safety for boldness, or compromise for conviction. The time to awaken is not tomorrow or when it feels convenient; it is now.
To awaken means to recognize the lateness of the hour. The brokenness of our world is not waiting politely for the church to gather its strength. Violence, confusion, and deception are advancing openly. God’s people must shake off spiritual lethargy and remember that Christ has already called us to be light in the darkness. Delay only deepens the wounds of society, but awakening now can bring the healing power of Christ to a desperate generation.
Awakening begins with repentance. We must confess where we have been lulled into complacency, where urgency has been lacking, and where we have lost sight of our first love, Jesus Christ. The Spirit is calling the church to wake up, to pray fervently, to intercede on behalf of the lost, and to live with holy conviction in the face of darkness. The moment is pressing upon us, and the opportunity is before us. Let us rise today while the call is still clear: Awake, O church, and shine with the light of Christ.
This awakening begins with drawing near to the Lord in prayer and devotion, as I reflected in Drawing Near to God.
We Must Proclaim the Bible Boldly
Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2 still resounds today: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” This is not a time for silence. The world is searching for answers, and the church has been entrusted with the truth of the gospel.
When fear tempts us to retreat, Scripture compels us to advance with the good news of Christ. We must speak clearly and compassionately, not as political pundits but as ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Our authority does not rest in human institutions but in the unchanging Word of God. We proclaim Christ crucified and risen, the hope of the world.
To proclaim boldly is to recognize that silence in moments of cultural crisis is a form of compromise.
The enemy would prefer a quiet church that whispers behind closed doors, but God calls us to lift our voices with clarity and truth. Bold proclamation does not mean arrogance but conviction rooted in Scripture and delivered with humility. It is the courage to declare what God has spoken, even when society resists or ridicules.
The urgency of this moment requires more than private belief. It requires public witness. The apostles in Acts could not keep silent about what they had seen and heard, and their testimony turned the world upside down. The same Spirit that filled them fills us today, giving courage where fear once lived. If there has ever been a time for believers to step forward and let the Word of God be heard, it is now.
Proclaiming the Bible boldly also means applying it faithfully to the issues of our time. People are longing for guidance, and the Word of God speaks with timeless relevance to matters of justice, morality, compassion, sanctity of life, and hope. To withhold that truth is to leave our generation wandering without a compass. To give that truth in love is to place light in the darkness and direction in the confusion.
This boldness must also be grounded in personal study of Scripture.
Believers cannot proclaim what they do not know. We must discipline ourselves to read the Bible daily, to study it carefully, and to meditate on its truths until they shape our thinking and guide our actions. Knowing the Word allows us to apply it wisely to the challenges of our generation and equips us to answer those who question the hope within us.
Finally, a proclamation must be accompanied by consistency in our lives. Bold words without holy living will ring hollow. The church must embody the truth it proclaims, demonstrating through its actions what it declares with its words. When our message and our lives align under the authority of God’s Word, the world will see not just empty words but a living testimony of Christ’s power.
Works of obedience always accompany true faith, as I shared in Faith and Works.
Use Your Sphere of Influence
Every believer has been entrusted with a platform or a sphere of influence. Mine happens to include this blog, but others may hold influence through their social media accounts, workplaces, classrooms, friendships, or even within the walls of their own homes. God has given each of us relationships and opportunities that can become avenues for the gospel if we will seize them.
The call to proclaim the message of the cross is not limited to pastors or leaders. It is for every disciple who has encountered the transforming love of God through Christ. Your words, posts, conversations, and daily actions can become a testimony that points people to Jesus. Every space where God has placed you is a mission field waiting for light.
Using the sphere of influence God has given you requires intentionality.
It means praying for courage to speak, listening carefully for opportunities to share, and committing to represent Christ with integrity. It also means remembering that the power is not in our cleverness or strength but in the gospel itself, which is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. The message of the cross has always been simple and yet life-changing: God loves, Christ died, He rose again, and through Him we have eternal life.
Let us challenge ourselves to see our platforms not as personal stages for recognition but as a sacred trust from God. Whatever influence He has entrusted to you, use it to proclaim His truth and His love. If each believer would faithfully shine the light of Christ in their own sphere, the collective impact would ripple across communities and nations, awakening hearts to the hope found only in Jesus.
Practical examples of this can be found in everyday life.
A teacher can share hope by praying for students and encouraging them with words of truth and wisdom. A business owner can model integrity in decisions and create a culture that reflects Christlike values. A student can speak of faith in conversations with friends and live out their convictions without compromise.
Social media is another powerful sphere of influence. Instead of using platforms solely for entertainment or opinion, believers can post Scripture, share testimonies, and direct people to resources that foster faith. A single post can reach hundreds or thousands, planting seeds of truth that God can use to change hearts.
Even in ordinary relationships, influence can be exercised in powerful ways. Inviting a neighbor to church, praying with a coworker in a time of crisis, or simply showing Christlike kindness in daily interactions are all opportunities to proclaim the message of the cross. When believers view every interaction as a moment for ministry, no sphere is too small to make an eternal impact.
Stand Firm in Faith, Not Fear
Ephesians 6:13 exhorts us, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” Fear is a natural response to violence and chaos, but faith is the supernatural response of God’s people.
To stand firm means to be unshaken when the world shakes. It means holding fast to the promises of God, praying with persistence, and walking in step with the Spirit. We are not called to shrink back but to stand with the confidence that Christ has overcome the world.
The cross and the empty tomb remind us that even in the darkest hour, God’s victory is assured.
Throughout Scripture, we find examples of men and women who stood firm in the face of overwhelming opposition. Daniel refused to stop praying, though the decree of the king threatened his life, and God shut the mouths of lions. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to an idol even though it meant being thrown into the fiery furnace, and the Son of God met them there in the flames. The apostles, after being beaten and commanded to remain silent, rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus.
History also records the faith of countless believers who chose faith over fear. The Reformers stood against corrupt systems because they believed the Word of God must be proclaimed and obeyed. Missionaries have entered hostile lands with no guarantee of safety, trusting that obedience was better than self-preservation. Their courage shows us that the call to stand firm is not reserved for a select few but for all who follow Christ.
These examples remind us that standing firm is not about personal strength but about relying on the power of God. If He sustained His people in the past, He will sustain us now. Let us put on the armor of God with renewed resolve, trusting that no weapon formed against us will prevail and that in Christ we are more than conquerors.
A Witness of Hope and Healing
Romans 12:21 calls us to “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” The church’s witness must be one of hope and healing, even in the face of tragedy. Our message is not one of vengeance, but one of reconciliation. Our response is not one of hatred, but love. We proclaim a gospel that heals the brokenhearted, sets captives free, and brings peace where there is strife.
Our God is the healer who binds up wounds and restores brokenness, as I shared in Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Who Heals.
Speaking the truth in love is central to this witness. Ephesians 4:15 reminds us to grow by “speaking the truth in love,” which means we cannot shrink from declaring the whole counsel of God’s Word. Truth without love becomes harsh and unyielding, while love without truth becomes weak and compromising. The church must hold both together, offering the unshakable truth of Scripture while looking at every person through the lens of God’s love.
Our words must be guided by the Spirit, bringing life rather than harm, a theme I explored in Taming the Tongue: How Spirit-Led Words Bring Life.
In times of violence, the world needs to see a different way. When anger rises, the church must be a voice of peace, and when division deepens, the church must model unity in Christ. When despair sets in, the church must point to the living hope found in Jesus alone. To do less is to dim the light we have been entrusted with. To do more is to let our light shine with clarity, conviction, and compassion so that the world may see Christ in us.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The murder of Charlie Kirk is a stark reminder of the urgency of our mission. We cannot waste this moment in silence or fear. The church must awaken, proclaim the Word of God, stand firm in the faith, and bear witness to Christ with boldness and love.
Let us grieve with those who mourn. Let us pray for comfort, healing, and peace. But let us also rise with renewed conviction to live as salt and light in a world desperate for hope.
Practical steps begin in our own hearts.
Commit daily to prayer for revival in the church and transformation in the culture. Saturate your mind with Scripture so that when challenges come, the Word of God rises within you as your guide and strength. Seek out fellowship with other believers who will encourage you to stand firm and who will walk with you in obedience to Christ.
Let this urgency move us to action in our communities. Speak the truth of the gospel to neighbors and coworkers with compassion. Serve the hurting and broken with tangible expressions of love that point them to Jesus. Support missionaries, pastors, and ministries that are proclaiming Christ faithfully in difficult and dangerous places. Do not underestimate the influence of consistent obedience lived out in ordinary moments.
Finally, fix your eyes on eternity. Our ultimate hope is not in political outcomes or human efforts but in the return of Jesus Christ. Live each day ready for His coming, and let that expectation fuel courage and perseverance. As Hebrews 10:23 declares, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
In seasons of uncertainty, we remember that He is El Shaddai, God Almighty, as I reflected in El Shaddai: God Almighty.
May God raise His church in this hour, not as an echo of political voices, but as a clear trumpet of truth and grace. May we be faithful to Jesus, unwavering in our mission, and steadfast in our witness until He returns.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come before You in humility and dependence. Our world is shaken by violence and fear, but we know that You remain sovereign and unshaken. We ask for Your comfort for those who grieve, and for Your strength for those who feel weak. Stir Your church to awaken, to proclaim Your Word with boldness, to stand firm in faith, and to shine as a witness of hope and healing.
Lord Jesus, remind us daily that You were hated first, and that following You will bring opposition. Give us courage not to shrink back but to speak the truth in love. Fill us with Your Spirit so that our words and actions will point people to Your cross and resurrection.
Holy Spirit, empower every believer to use their sphere of influence for Your glory. May our conversations, workplaces, friendships, and even social media be transformed into platforms for the gospel. Let our lives align with Your Word so that our testimony is authentic and powerful.
We pray that in this urgent hour, Your church will rise with clarity, conviction, and compassion. May we fix our eyes on the return of Christ, live with holy urgency, and remain faithful until the day we see You face to face. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.
It begins with Christ!
If you don’t know Christ as your savior, it begins with the first step. Believe in Him and make Him Lord of your life! Committing your life to serve Him is the most significant decision! For more information on serving the Lord, CLICK HERE!
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Blessings,
Chad
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