Charlie Kirk Memorial: Revival or Regrettable?

Audio By Carbonatix

It’s hard to believe how much the world has changed in the less than two weeks since Charlie Kirk was assassinated. The outpouring of support. The outpouring of hate. The global regard. The local disregard by some. All culminating in Kirk’s highly anticipated, televised, memorial service on Sunday. I think I have seen reports of 90,000 in the room with far more present in overflow and watching online.

To be honest, I didn’t have the bandwidth Sunday to watch it.

I know this because I turned it on for a few minutes and feared cringe as I heard very sincere and loving words that made me bristle theologically. So, I took a minute–a minute to process how difficult an endeavor this whole event was. I took a minute to think about the very different people there, from different places…at different points in their life and faith…juggling grief, resilience, horror, shock, and anger. How impossible it must have been to try to acknowledge all of the very present realities.

As I watched it yesterday, you could see the points each person was trying to make as they remembered their friend and fellow patriot.

“Let me tell you about Charlie as a leader…as a boss…mentor…family member.” We heard about Charlie’s eager and meager beginnings, hustling for donations and connections. We heard about his relentless pursuit of his goals. And we saw demonstrably the impact he has had on our nation and government. My word, was there a senior cabinet member not there or speaking?

Tulsi Gabbard. Marco Rubio. Wow. I was not expecting such clear articulations of the Gospel from them. I was not expecting such tender reflection from RFK Jr. How many years have people of faith prayed for leaders of faith? That was one thing that struck me–the top members of our government believe in God and are trying to be guided by His wisdom. It’s been a minute since we had any consistent demonstration of that.

Was it perfect? No. Were parts political? Yes. How could it not be?

Were parts defiant, determined, or defensive? Yes. A beloved friend was murdered by a radical in the opposition. I might think I would have sounded different than Jack Posobeic or Stephen Miller. But I totally understand a desire to stand against the evil that has stolen life, a desire to project strength, and give assurances of justice. I get it.

And the reality is it wasn’t, nor could it be, just a memorial. There were lots of goals to be accomplished—the preservation of a legacy, the stabilizing of a corporation, the garnering of momentum of a movement, the acknowledgement of extraordinary impact and service. the declaration of truth, the declaration of war against principalities and powers…the loving tribute to a man.

Not everyone is a theologian or pastor.

I might have bristled at what felt like eternal language ascribed a man or movement, coming from my pastor. But from loyal friends of a fallen man? I think they are entitled to some latitude as they try to honor Charlie and reassure Erika…”We will take it from here.” And I have zero doubt they will endeavor to do just that. They will do right by their guy.

Trump hates his enemies. Yep. Was it jest to paint Charlie the better man? Was it sincere acknowledgement of a flaw? Yes. I think both. Was it also confirmation of spiritual immaturity? Also, yes. Loyalty has always been a driver. Thorough submission has always been the goal. He is who he is. And the Lord has chosen to use him as he is, which should be just terribly comforting to all of us. But he is also a man who has survived two attempts on his life. He is a man who knows the fear and trauma that marks you and your loved ones indelibly. He knows the anger and enmity (to use a church word) we feel towards evil. But he also knows the gratitude only a survivor knows and I believe that gratitude is well-placed with God.

When Trump says,”Erika may forgive them but I don’t…” like it or not, you are getting his true feelings–transparent and willing to accept the ire for sharing them.

The Kirk family and Turning Point Community do not need any of us to give a grade to their grief or how it was displayed. They do not need approval to process or proceed as they see fit. I will take the sincere words of the imperfect, immature, or inarticulate over the alternative any day.

All the left had to do was show “solidarity” in condemning the assassination of people for political views. What a shamefully low bar that could not be met.

The Gospel was declared loudly, clearly, and consistently by our leaders. Hope was placed in Christ. Christ was declared King. Worship was given. Wrong was named without apology or accommodation. A commitment to moral good was made.

So yeah, I’m okay with fireworks at a funeral.