Country Divided
Several years ago, I was in a corporate lunchroom when the O.J. Simpson verdict was televised live. I witnessed one of a few times in history when the country visibly divided along racial lines. African-Americans cheered and Whites were dismayed. The discussion points of the time were how could people have such vastly different views about the same event?
Answer: Black people have always been at odds with the Justice system and in this instance, felt that finally a Black man had been given a level playing field in a trial. White people assumed that a Black man killed his wife and schemed his way out of jail.
Fast Forward to 2025: the divisions are no longer Black and White but simply, conservatives and liberals . Conservatives joined with a large segment of White Christian Nationalists crying foul over the loss of one of their own.
Liberals decried the opposing views of Mr. Kirk, accusing many of his views of being inflammatory. In almost all instances, there was a concession that no one should be killed for their views and opinions.
The United States Constitution was written with a Bill of Rights guaranteeing Freedom of Speech. As of late, corporate leaders as well as the Trump administration have pursued punitive action against those who speak out against Mr. Kirk.
Making Enemies
Mr. Kirk was never apologetic as he spoke robustly against DEI, Black Lives Matter, Black Women, Gender Rights, Reproductive Rights, Gun Violence, Immigration and the separation of Church and State. Strong opinions were his dance and stepping on others was his forte.
Unfortunately, many of his stances were DEAD WRONG to reasonable people, incendiary to many and wrong headed to the many he offended (especially People of Color).
His crusade was formidable and relentless. Enough to get the notice of national leaders, (some of whom he helped elect), thousands of followers on social media and millions in revenue for his company, Turning Point USA.
Christian Character
Many of his admirers commented on his abiding Christian faith. This is the twist that upends the entire apple cart. It would be difficult to find many committed Christians who had never heard this admonition: “Let no corrupt communication come out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”[Eph 4:29 KJV]
Surely, he heard from the book of James: “ . . . let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath”[Jas 1:19]. These are fundamental tenets that Mr. Kirk seems to have overlooked. We would all be wise to grasp that the time will come when Christ will ask as he asked before, “have you not read which was spoken to you . . . “ [Matt 22:31 KJV]
It seems odd that if he were of such holy caliber that he disparaged such a wide swath of people including other Christians. As Saint Paul makes abundantly clear in his letter to the Galatians: “ . . . let us do good unto all men , especially unto those who are of the household of faith. [Gal 6:10 KJV]
No one on this earth will judge Charlie Kirk, but he and we all will be judged. We will be judged fairly by the One righteous judge.