This narrow way

Disgusted? Absolutely. Shocked? Not at all. Looking around at the sewer that goes by the name of social media, I’m disgusted by what I see following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In fact, disgusted is not a strong enough word. We need a new word for the reaction to this level of hate and vitriol. Whatever happened to basic human decency? Are we as a society so far gone that even a modicum of civility and respect for the family of the deceased has vanished? Apparently, we are. Sadder still is the thought that these are just the people bold enough to vomit their thoughts online.

But shocked? Not in the least. The Apostle Paul wrote about this in the first century.

“God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice…slanderers, haters of God…arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil…unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” Romans 1:28-32.

Almost as if Paul had a preview of Facebook and X. Of course, all this hatred is coming from keyboard cowards who would have never had the courage to confront Charlie Kirk face to face with their accusations of racism, sexism, misogyny (place your misguided pejorative term here). They could have attended any of Turning Point’s events across the country, and not only confronted Charlie, but he would have let them go to the front of the line. But that’s not how gutless cowards operate. They prefer making their vile, demon inspired accusations posthumously and from the shadows of the internet.

That’s the bad news, here’s the good news, my fellow Christians.

“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8,9. Unlike the rest of the world, we have hope. We know that our God is sovereign over every event in His universe. His justice and righteousness will prevail. As the familiar adage goes, we’ve read the last chapter in The Book, and we know how this ends. But until then our command is to “occupy ‘til I come.” Not in my lifetime at least have the dividing lines been so clear. Good vs. evil, righteousness vs. unrighteousness, the kingdom of God vs. the kingdom of Satan. And as we are seeing dancing and celebration at the death of Charlie Kirk, the devil and his angels were surely dancing and celebrating one Friday afternoon on a hill far away. But then came Sunday morning.

Since Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA has received over 50,000 applications to start chapters on high school and college campuses all across this country. Inspired by Charlie’s bold proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, people are picking up the Bible and reading it, many for the first time in their lives. The assassin’s bullet was meant to silence a voice, but instead it has raised a million new ones. Many millions, perhaps. In the powerful words of Charlie Kirk’s widow to the shooter, you have no idea what you’ve started. Satan has once again overplayed his hand. A move of the Spirit is afoot, and nothing can stop it.

“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18.

As a student of history, I’ll close with this historical analogy. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto uttered these ominous words, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

History is repeating itself.