This may be an unpopular point of view, but I believe clarity and firm biblical grounding are needed after riding a roller coaster of emotions these past two weeks. First came the shock: the passing of Charlie Kirk. The disbelief, the grief, the pain — it was overwhelming. Then came the tidal wave of responses to his life, his faith, and his cause.
Many people were awakened in different ways. Some realized their need for Jesus and attended church for the first time. Others were convicted of not being bold enough in their faith. Still others began questioning their previous indifference to political issues and resolved to become better informed. There were also negative responses, but for the most part, the message was hopeful: we can be better. We can be Charlie.
The momentum reached its peak at last Sunday’s memorial service. It was unlike anything many of us had ever witnessed: worship led by top Christian artists, heartfelt speeches from friends and leaders, politicians speaking like evangelists. Millions tuned in, and the gospel was preached. The message that emerged was unmistakable: Charlie Kirk would be remembered as a Christian martyr — a man who stood for what he believed. To many, it felt like revival.
Then I saw a post from Voice of the Martyrs quoting the final words of Roy Pontoh, a 15-year-old killed by a sword when a Muslim mob attacked his Bible camp in Indonesia. His last word was simply: “Jesus.”
That made me pause. Around the world, countless believers quietly give their lives for Christ every day. They are not honored on national television or praised by presidents. They die, not as cultural icons or influencers, but for one thing only: their testimony to Jesus.
I wrestled with the question: Was Charlie a martyr in the sense of Stephen or Jim Elliot? Didn’t he die for biblical views grounded in faith? Aren’t we seeing seeds of revival sprouting at an unprecedented rate? For many of us, this may indeed be a turning point. God uses everything for His glory, and His name has been glorified. Praise the Lord!
But what are we turning toward? Where will we land? Are we landing where conservative Christianity merges with conservative Republicanism? When we claim the name of Jesus, which Jesus are we exalting? The one who champions limited government and free markets, or the one who calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him?
Here is an important distinction. Christianity aside, Charlie Kirk was also a political activist. While his political views were influenced by his faith, the political message he promoted was wrapped in religious language, which may have unintentionally blurred the line between the gospel and political advocacy: “Jesus saves, and conservatism preserves.”
On the Turning Point USA What We Believe page, it states: “The United States is the greatest country in the history of the world. The US Constitution is the most exceptional political document ever written. Capitalism is the most moral and proven economic system ever discovered.” I had to pause to process this. There is nothing inherently wrong with holding politically conservative values — except when they are mistaken for, or conflated with, the gospel and presented as biblical truth.
While Christians are called to care for the welfare of their country and to do good works, it should always be for the purpose of glorifying God — not for reviving a nation’s greatness. For many, the logic behind Christian nationalism is that because America was founded on Christian values, it has been blessed by God. If the success of our nation depends on God, then we must turn to Him for blessing. But this is not obedience born of worship; the goal becomes national blessing rather than the glory of God. And what does this blessing look like? American exceptionalism, political power, prosperity. In effect, it resembles the prosperity gospel dressed in red, white, and blue.
Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” The freedom Christ gives is not national liberty but freedom from sin and death. A “free land” may provide opportunity, but it still leaves us in the yoke of slavery. Charlie Kirk’s cause for preserving American freedom is noble, but there is a greater freedom worth preserving — the truth of the gospel. True freedom is only found in Christ. Ideas about government or economics can have their place, but they are not the answer to the deepest human need.
Jesus is not a mascot for advancing an agenda. He is far greater than any human movement, political cause, or social trend. The gospel does not serve nations, parties, or ideologies — it serves Christ alone. Movements may rise and fall. Leaders may come and go. But the gospel stands eternal, transforming hearts across every culture and generation. To use it as a lever for human goals is to misrepresent God.
I was struck recently by a documentary on Korea. In the North, Christians endure severe persecution, yet the underground church grows strong in faith. In the South, where prosperity and religious freedom prevail, some churches risk drifting into complacency. This isn’t to suggest that persecuted believers are inherently “better,” but hardship often strips away false hopes, leaving Christ as the only anchor. Comfort, on the other hand, can tempt believers to trade the gospel for culture, politics, or tradition. True freedom is not found in influence or societal approval, but in lives surrendered and transformed by Jesus, no matter the circumstances.
This illustrates a deeper truth: the gospel does not depend on cultural dominance, political power, or national blessing. Our turning point is not about reshaping a nation or winning a culture war; it is about faithfully following Christ, living under His authority, and standing firm in the freedom He has won.
I do not write this to disparage Charlie Kirk’s legacy; on the contrary, I believe he would have welcomed such a conversation and from what I’ve learned about Charlie, he always put Christ first. This is why we should not squander this moment, but use it to clarify the one thing that matters most — the gospel. Charlie’s death has drawn many together, let’s hope that unity isn’t built on shared emotion or political alignment, but on the unshakable foundation of God’s truth. It is better to stand divided in truth than to march united in error, for the gospel is higher than any cause, greater than any movement, and firmer than any human bond.
And so, at this turning point, let us not miss the point — the point of the cross, where salvation was won, where the gospel of Jesus Christ shines above every cause and every name. Let us boldly preserve the freedom for which Christ has set us free!
“The issue before us is grave and vital; it involves the death of the Son of God, who, by the will and command of the Father, became flesh, was crucified, and died for the sins of the world. If faith yields on this point, the death of the Son of God will be in vain. Then, it is only a fable that Christ is the Savior of the world. Then God is a liar, for he has not lived up to his promises. Therefore, our stubbornness on this issue is pious and holy, for by it, we are striving to preserve the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to keep the truth of the gospel. If we lose this, we lose God, Christ, all the promise, faith, righteousness, and eternal life.”
— Martin Luther
