Since the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, there have been a lot of articles written and a ton of news stories, podcasts, videos, etc. I only wanted to write something if I could add something encouraging to the conversation. Here it goes…
Charlie was obviously a very impactful figure in the political arena, but in the past few years, his faith had come to the forefront. He began to advocate and defend the Christian faith with fervor. His faith informed his politics and, in many ways, guided his entire life. I think it is clear that he was killed not just for his political views but also for his religious views. This means that Charlie joins the ranks of an elite group of Christians, one that no one wants to be a part of but is a special group nonetheless. This group is called martyrs.
Martyrs are those who are killed for their faith. There is a long line of Christian martyrs in history, beginning with the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7. There have been periods of great martyrdom, like in the period of the early church when Roman emperors sought to kill off Christianity. Even when there is not a great movement against Christians, there are still people being murdered for their faith regularly. You can find stories of Christians being persecuted throughout history and in today’s world very easily. Martyrdom is, unfortunately, a big part of Christian history.
This should not surprise us. Jesus told us in John 15:18 that the world will hate us because it hated Him first. Just being associated with Jesus puts a target on our backs. Governments and religious leaders throughout history have sought to oppress Christians by not allowing them to read the Bible in their own language or by not allowing them to worship; however, throughout history and into modern days, Christian outlaws live contrary to unbiblical laws. They translate the word of God, they smuggle and distribute God’s word, and they meet for worship in secret. There are many places in the world where there is no freedom of religion, but this does not stop God’s people from following His Word. Don’t be surprised by persecution; expect it.
The result of martyrdom is, however, unexpected. The powers that are persecuting believers are often trying to squelch the faith, but they only fan the flame. When Roman Emperor Nero was on his warpath against believers, many fled to outlying regions. When they fled, they took their faith with them, not abandoning it rather sharing it in new places. In this way, Christianity grew into a worldwide movement. In modern times, communist China oppresses Christians, but there are reports that millions of Chinese citizens are believers, meeting in secret. Martyrdom does not stop the faith; it does the opposite.
The reward of the martyr is clear; in the book of Revelation, martyrs are honored by God and are chosen to reign with Christ for a thousand years. It is a reminder of Jesus' word in Matthew 16 when He tells His followers that those who lose their lives for His sake will in fact find true life! We mourn the martyrs when they fall, but we rejoice that they are in the presence of our Lord and Savior. Then we watch as the fire has been lit and flames are fanned to see what God will do next.
I love what Martin Luther said about suffering: “No man ought to lay a cross upon himself, or to adopt tribulation…but if a cross or tribulation comes upon him, then let him suffer it patiently and know that it is good and profitable for him.” Charlie Kirk is a martyr who is in the presence of Christ; I am sure he never wished to die for his faith, but I do believe he was prepared for it. Time will tell the impact of this martyr. We have already seen an outpouring of people going to church and reading their Bibles. I pray they find faith in Jesus and commit to run the race of faith like Charlie did; this is the only proper way to honor him. We should not seek to die for our faith, but rather living every day in service of our Lord. This is the call for every Christian.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2
