The murder of Charlie Kirk was a tragedy that rightly provoked outrage and anger across the faith community. The condemnation of violence, regardless of the victim or their political views, is a moral imperative.
However, this has prompted a careful and long-overdue self-reflection on an issue that has concerned me for many years, that issue is the church’s tendency to center its attention on a single political or moral issue, often to the neglect of the "entire counsel of God"
We must examine where our priorities truly lie. A stark and painful example is the disproportionate focus on the "right to life" for the unborn—a noble and necessary cause, as every person is “fearfully and wonderfully made”
Psalms 139:14 NIV I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
We quote this scripture while simultaneously seeming to ignore, or even demonize, those who protest the killing of Black and brown people by law enforcement. The Bible speaks clearly about the value of all life, both in the womb and in the streets.
Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV [8] Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. [9] Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
When the church’s moral outrage is selective, it creates a crisis of credibility and fails to reflect the comprehensive love and justice of Jesus.
This selective morality becomes even more complicated when we consider the figures we champion. While Charlie Kirk frequently invoked biblical principles, he also made deeply troubling and divisive public statements, including calling Martin Luther King Jr. "a bad man," labeling the Civil Rights Act a "huge mistake," and asserting that Black and brown women in positions of power and authority were only there because of their race, not their qualifications.
The outrage over his assassination is justified; violence is never the answer. But how do we reconcile defending a person's life against murder while tacitly or actively ignoring the hateful and exclusionary nature of their public rhetoric, especially when that rhetoric directly attacks the dignity and value of other human beings?
1 John 4:20-21 NIV [20] Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. [21] And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
The Church cannot claim to love its neighbor while selectively endorsing messages that dehumanize entire groups of people.
Our ultimate standard cannot be a political platform or a popular personality; it must be the entirety of Scripture. Jesus taught us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV [37] Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Here’s another one of Jesus’ commands.
John 7:24 NIV 'Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
A unified approach must simultaneously defend the unborn and demand justice for the marginalized, support strong families while challenging systemic racism, and promote personal responsibility alongside caring for the poor and the immigrant.
Micah 6:8 NIV He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The call of the Church is to take the “entire counsel of God”, not just the parts that fit comfortably with a political agenda or personal preference.
Acts 20:25-27 NIV [25] “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. [26] Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. [27] For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (emphasis mine)
This means wrestling with the complex truth that all people are made in God's image, and our commitment to their dignity must be constant and universal. We must be quick to condemn all violence—whether it’s directed at a political figure or an unarmed citizen—and equally quick to champion the fullness of God's justice for everyone.
However, this has prompted a careful and long-overdue self-reflection on an issue that has concerned me for many years, that issue is the church’s tendency to center its attention on a single political or moral issue, often to the neglect of the "entire counsel of God"
We must examine where our priorities truly lie. A stark and painful example is the disproportionate focus on the "right to life" for the unborn—a noble and necessary cause, as every person is “fearfully and wonderfully made”
Psalms 139:14 NIV I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
We quote this scripture while simultaneously seeming to ignore, or even demonize, those who protest the killing of Black and brown people by law enforcement. The Bible speaks clearly about the value of all life, both in the womb and in the streets.
Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV [8] Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. [9] Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
When the church’s moral outrage is selective, it creates a crisis of credibility and fails to reflect the comprehensive love and justice of Jesus.
This selective morality becomes even more complicated when we consider the figures we champion. While Charlie Kirk frequently invoked biblical principles, he also made deeply troubling and divisive public statements, including calling Martin Luther King Jr. "a bad man," labeling the Civil Rights Act a "huge mistake," and asserting that Black and brown women in positions of power and authority were only there because of their race, not their qualifications.
The outrage over his assassination is justified; violence is never the answer. But how do we reconcile defending a person's life against murder while tacitly or actively ignoring the hateful and exclusionary nature of their public rhetoric, especially when that rhetoric directly attacks the dignity and value of other human beings?
1 John 4:20-21 NIV [20] Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. [21] And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
The Church cannot claim to love its neighbor while selectively endorsing messages that dehumanize entire groups of people.
Our ultimate standard cannot be a political platform or a popular personality; it must be the entirety of Scripture. Jesus taught us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Matthew 22:37-40 NIV [37] Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Here’s another one of Jesus’ commands.
John 7:24 NIV 'Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
A unified approach must simultaneously defend the unborn and demand justice for the marginalized, support strong families while challenging systemic racism, and promote personal responsibility alongside caring for the poor and the immigrant.
Micah 6:8 NIV He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
The call of the Church is to take the “entire counsel of God”, not just the parts that fit comfortably with a political agenda or personal preference.
Acts 20:25-27 NIV [25] “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. [26] Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. [27] For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (emphasis mine)
This means wrestling with the complex truth that all people are made in God's image, and our commitment to their dignity must be constant and universal. We must be quick to condemn all violence—whether it’s directed at a political figure or an unarmed citizen—and equally quick to champion the fullness of God's justice for everyone.
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