Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake:
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
–Matthew 5:10 (KJV)–

This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross…Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
–Acts 2:23, 41 (NIV)–

Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
–Acts 8:1-2 (NIV)–

As I observe the responses to the assassination of Charlie Kirk this morning, I have a few things to say:

1. To those who are rejoicing in his death, shame on you. Remember, God has a day called Judgment Day. You’ll give an account for every idle word, for every deed done in darkness. God sees and knows all.

2. For those who are grieving the loss of Charlie, really grieve. It’s OK to be sad. It’s OK to cry. It’s even OK to be angry about this evil that has happened.

3. For those of you who are angry about the wicked responses to his death, don’t become like those people in your responses to them. Violence, threats, and revenge are not the answers to this. The Bible says that we need to respond to evil with good.

4. Pray for Charlie’s wife, children, family and friends. They’re the ones who are hurting the most and need comfort from God. Pray for our nation. And, YES, pray for the evil people behind this and the evil people who are rejoicing over this.

5. How would Charlie have you respond to this? BETTER YET, how would Jesus have you respond to this? Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

6. Lastly, in your grief over Charlie and thinking about the impact he may have had on you and this world, don’t deify him. God is not surprised by this. He is still on His throne. He is just, good and fair. Let Him use this for His glory! “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:14–21, NKJV).

–KERRIGAN SKELLY–

I’ve lost friends, soldiers, fellow police officers and family in my 35 years of life. The world keeps spinning and we are left here with a decision to make. How will we respond? Will we cower in fear and try to bide our time? Will we be paralyzed by the question “why?” We know why. Because evil exists. That’s it. That’s the why. There is evil in the world, but the Christian understands that we can and will overcome that evil with Christ. The Christian understands that we are not on the earth for a good time, but for a short time and for a mission. Some of our missions are seemingly cut short, some are prolonged. God is sovereign over all of it. As each leader, forerunner, or martyr passes, a baton is handed off. Not just to one single person, but to the body of Christ. To each of us individually and us as a whole collectively. My question to you is, will you finish what they started? Their race is over, but ours continues. May we all strive to hear, “Well done, My good and faithful servant,” as we run our race well, pointing a lost and broken generation to Christ every step of the way. Let us not lose hope, and let us not grow weary in doing good. “You’re up.”

–SHANE WINNINGS–

—

Dr. Voddie Baucham, Fault Lines (Salem Books, 2021). AUDIO BOOK.

— and Gospel Coalition. “How Can Homosexuality Be Wrong?” VBM WEBSITE.

—. “The Sin of Sodom On Display In America.” BLACK PREACHER.

—. “Is Gay the New Black?”

—. “The Biblically Informed Case Against Homosexuality.”

—. “Critical Race Theory: The Fault Lines of Social Justice.”

—. “How Can Homosexuality Be Wrong If It Doesn’t Harm Anyone?”

—. “Homosexuality.”

—. “The Homosexual Agenda In Education.”

—. “CRT and LGBT In the Church.”

—. “Fault Lines: Critical Race Theory.”

WesleyGospel, “The Bible, Race, and Racism.”

—. “Same-Sex Attraction, the Bible, and Mortification.”

Pilgrim’s Progress (C. O. Baptista Films, 1978).

Dr. Hugh Pyle, The Truth About the Homosexuals (Sword of the Lord, 1978).

Adam Clarke, Christian Theology (Schmul, 1967), p. 355. Persecution, like a good broad-cast sowing, dispersed the seed of eternal life throughout the world…Satan and his children persecuted and drove them from city to city.

Stanley Gundry, ed. Five Views on Sanctification (Zondervan, 1987), chs. 1-3.

Marie King, ed. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (Spire, 1980).