Attempting A Patient, Measured Response

It has been less than a week.

Last Wednesday, I received a notification from X (formerly Twitter) on my phone saying that Charlie Kirk had been shot on a college campus in Utah. At first, I dismissed it as some strange and inappropriate attempt at satire or shock. But within minutes, more voices online began repeating the story, and before long, news outlets confirmed what none of us wanted to believe: Charlie Kirk had been killed. A couple of hours later, President Trump confirmed his passing.

It has been less than a week.

I still don’t know how to fully process these events. My early sense is that this murder will echo through our culture for decades. Yet, I am still unsure of the fullness of the response I want—or even need—to make.

Here is what I don’t want:

• I don’t want to manipulate this moment for church growth.
• I don’t want to make sweeping statements while evidence and details are still emerging.
• I don’t want to join the chorus of political commentary that risks minimizing what I believe is the greater solution to the world’s brokenness: the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the hope of His Kingdom.

Here is what I do know:

• We should weep the senseless and violent murder of Charlie.
• We should pray for his wife, his children, and his family.
• We should grieve the culture of outrage and division that has made our disagreements increasingly toxic.
• We should lament that Charlie’s assassination came on the same day as another tragedy—the school shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado.

Charlie Kirk was a young conservative activist who built a movement of young adults on college campuses. Through Turning Point USA, he was credited with helping galvanize the youth vote in Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, marking the first time since 2004 that a Republican candidate had won the popular vote. Despite being only 31, Charlie was already being spoken of as a future RNC leader—or even a presidential contender.

I first became aware of Charlie Kirk around 2016. At the time, he was less prominent than other conservative voices like Ben Shapiro or Steven Crowder. What stood out to me, though, was that in the middle of his political commentary and debates, Charlie often spoke openly about the salvation and lordship of Jesus. Only God knows the heart, but based on his words and fruit, I believe Charlie Kirk was a follower of Jesus—and therefore a brother in Christ.

As a pastor, I sometimes feel the pressure to comment on every breaking headline. While I hold opinions on many things (and enjoy talking them out over a meal), I also know I don’t always communicate best under pressure. Often what’s needed most is a patient, measured response.

This past weekend, one prominent pastor declared on social media that any pastor in America who didn’t directly address Charlie Kirk’s assassination from the pulpit was a coward. At our church, we did mention the news, but we didn’t devote our services to it. Instead, we preached a passage from the Gospels about a woman who met Jesus in a moment of shame and isolation. In her encounter, she discovered the Messiah—the One who saves us from sin.

We didn’t preach Charlie Kirk’s life. We didn’t enter into political debates. We didn’t spotlight cultural flashpoints. Instead, we preached Christ.

That doesn’t mean we ignore the chaos around us. The Holy Spirit leads us in these times and gives wisdom for both spontaneous responses and long-planned teaching. In fact, for months we’ve been preparing a November sermon series called 'Walking Thru the Minefields'—a series on how to process cultural and controversial conversations in a way that is both healthy and Biblical.

The Apostle Peter reminds us:

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

For some time, I’ve also felt the need for another outlet—a place beyond sermons—where I can share reflections, supplement Sunday messages, correct myself if I’ve spoken poorly, or simply point to wise voices that challenge me. That’s why we’re launching this church blog.

This space won’t always be polished or definitive. Sometimes it will be the start of a conversation more than the end of one. My hope is that it will be a space marked by grace, patience, and truth.

There is much to grieve and consider in Charlie Kirk’s murder. We need to think not only about his life, but about the young man who chose such evil, and the many hearts wounded in the process.

Maybe, together, we can build a patient and measured response.

-- Pastor Trevor Harrison ---