Sep 12, 2025 Words of Grace – September 12, 2025
This morning, I will write about the murder of Charlie Kirk.
I was not trained, nor am I particularly gifted, to give immediate responses to public tragic events. I have been in many personal tragic events. I have stood at the deathbeds of people of all ages. I have sat with grieving people who have lost loved ones, marriages, jobs, reputations, and more. When I enter a room of pain, I do not say much. I acknowledge the pain, hug people, groan within and sometimes aloud, and then wait. It’s usually sometime later that words are needed to address the pain. That’s when I speak. The people whose pain I’ve shared have expressed appreciation for this approach.
But being a pastor has increasingly included the expectation that I will respond, immediately and with words, to public events.
I do not write much about current events. Honestly, I don’t want to write about Charlie Kirk’s murder. That’s not because I don’t care about it. I care deeply that this man lost his life. I care about his family and can imagine what entering that room of pain might be like. I care about the issues he cared about. I care about my country. But it seems that so much is being said that my words are not needed.
But here I am, writing. Why?
All murder is evil, and everyone murdered is created in the image of God. But for many reasons, some murders and murder victims have a greater impact on societies. The person murdered may be a public figure with influence on the way society is being shaped. The circumstances of the death may be such that public attention is arrested, and many issues and questions are raised.
This reality may not seem fair. When someone notable is murdered or dies, and it generates constant news coverage, there are often comments made about other deaths that don’t get the same attention. But this reality does not reflect the value of one person over another. It reflects the way we pay attention to people and events associated (for good or bad) with what we value, believe, and support.
The murder of Charlie Kirk is the loss of a human life, a member of a grieving family, and a hugely public voice that addressed issues that people who agreed and disagreed with him are passionate about. And though we don’t yet know who murdered him, it is reasonable to say that he died doing that for which his killer killed him, which was speaking about issues of a political, cultural, and religious nature. Charlie Kirk’s murder will be in our national conversation for generations to come.
For this reason, I assume the people of Grace Community Church who will be looking for a Words of Grace in their inbox this morning will expect me to add my thoughts. I am not writing because I think my personal thoughts are needed. I am writing because I feel a responsibility as a pastor to do so. If I didn’t have that responsibility, I would still take a long walk and pray a long prayer for the Kirk family, our nation, and my heart.
But here I am, writing. What?
“Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing so you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17-21 (ESV)
“Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” 1 Peter 2:12 (ESV)
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (ESV)
These passages speak for themselves. They don’t need commentary. Take them and pray them. Keep your heart, your words, and your steps by them. May the Lord have mercy on us and visit us with a revival of conversions to Christ, fear of the Lord, and respect for life.
-Scott