If this article does not display correctly on your device, click here to read directly on my website

Dianne and I sat spellbound Sunday afternoon.

For over four hours on September 21, 2025, we participated online in the memorial to Charlie Kirk, a thirty-one-year-old brother in Christ, dedicated to Jesus, his family, and a renaissance of faith and courage among young people. Twelve days ago, an assassin murdered Charlie while he was conversing with college students on the campus of Utah Valley University.

Two or three of those who spoke at the memorial quoted Soren Kierkegaard, “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins.”

In this case, the tyrant is progressive disdain, hate, deceit, treachery, and spiritual darkness. It is justified as a silencing of deplorables to save democracy. In this case, the martyr was Charles James Kirk, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime figure, who was dedicated to Jesus Christ as the source of redemption and freedom.

Darkness, the tyrant, died. Light, showcased in Charlie, shattered the darkness and millions around the globe now proclaim, “I am Charlie Kirk.”

Charlie’s particular appeal was to young men, young men like the young man who shot and killed him. This irony was not lost on Charlie’s widow, Erika. If you did not join the memorial service, here is a clip of Erika’s comment on forgiveness. It is probably the most astounding, exemplary, challenging statement I have ever witnessed. Her complete thoughts are here and are worth every moment of your viewing time.

At the time of his death, Charlie’s organization, Turning Point, had approximately 900 chapters on college campuses and about 1,200 high school chapters. Within three days after his assassination, Turning Point reported over 60,000 applications to start new Turning Point chapters and hundreds of people wishing to volunteer in the ministry and its movement.

Yesterday’s memorial was held inside State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The overflow crowd walked to the nearby Diamondback Stadium. Today, the estimates are that 200,000 attended the memorial in-person with at least 100,000,000 watching via media feeds. Obviously, these in-person numbers dwarf the stats for the largest event in America, the Super Bowl. But what takes an entire city of staffers nine-to-twelve months of planning to pull off in preparation for the Super Bowl, the young staff at Turning Point pulled off in eleven days.

The outpouring of love for Charlie, Erika, their kids, and Turning Point was beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed. There were four hours of speakers, each of whom memorialized Charlie from a unique viewpoint. All but Erika and President Trump delivered their tribute in under five minutes, but every speaker emphasized the singular theme and driving force of Charlie’s life: Jesus Christ. I’ve never heard the Gospel presented with such clarity by so many.

The darkness hates the light. Scripture makes this clear.

Was Charlie’s message political? Yes and no. Broadly speaking, Charlie worked in what we customarily consider a political arena. But politics for Charlie was the on-ramp to point to Jesus Christ, the ultimate source of freedom, hope, human dignity, courage, reason, and truth.

Charlie loved to debate and he debated every topic imaginable. Given the nature of debate—it isn’t a cohesive, thematic conversation, but a raucous give and take with unfinished sentences, incomplete conversation, and perspectives not fully developed—it is possible to take Charlie’s words and prove anything. Consequently, those who hated Charlie are denouncing him as reprehensible, a racist, a fascist, and every other disgusting term infecting current culture. Theirs is an effort to win society’s narrative, not by reason, but by assassination of character.

Of course, selectively using Charlie’s words, the Bible’s teaching, or anything else of substance to justify your own view or prejudice is dishonest and deceitful. But haters will hate and malevolent minds have no alternative but to pervert what is good to justify the bankruptcy of their godless, hopeless, outlook and ideology.

This raises an obvious critique that we are simply comparing differing political viewpoints. I reject this assessment.

If we are discussing the proper way to manage the national debt, or even a topic as fraught as State’s rights, I’m dedicated to our need for multiple views. America’s politics, like any political system, must have at least two parties to argue and debate political issues.

But much of what afflicts our societal conflict is not political even though our politicians take the lead in expressing their viewpoints. Politicians pontificate and lust for the lens.

No. That which poisons our society is not political. Rather, it is a sinister poison that terminates the lives of our babies, lies to our children about their sexuality, foments hate and division for no other reason than the color of our skin, and rabidly advances Socialist-Communist ideology, a vile offense to the human soul that depends upon the eradication of God to be viable.

That these views are primarily held by the Democratic Party is unfortunate. That many proclaim allegiance to this political party out of hatred for the sitting POTUS is a perilous blindness. That this is called Progressive is an outright perversion.

No humane political system or resilient democracy can exist without measured debate in good faith. But no human being can live nobly, according to our Creator’s design, while advancing immoral, unethical, cruel, and hateful disdain for our fellow man and God’s rule. To attempt this is to advance destruction. To insist upon it, is to progressively run headlong into the depths.

For a multiplicity of reasons, and for many years, America’s social gatekeepers have progressively chased a godless narrative that has rendered a current generation of young people stripped of hope, living in fear, destitute regarding their basic identity, and managing their lives with addiction, abuse, desperation, and suicide. As Jordan Peterson has observed, the younger generation is so demoralized they aren’t even interested in sex.

A political narrative that produces demoralization and destitution of soul among our youth to this degree is not a political problem and it won’t be remedied by winning the mid-terms.

This is a spiritual problem!

Don’t forget. The article for which I was censored on social media dealt with abortion, i.e., infanticide. The forces of darkness were apoplectic. The article that ruined my profession and destroyed my name dealt with Jesus as our only answer, source, and true hope. Those progressing rapidly into the abyss hate truth, hate human flourishing, hate hope, and they detest the light of Christ. For this, the light and life of Jesus, I live in digital exile and my name is anathema.

This is not political theater. This is spiritual war. View Charlie as a political activist, and you miss Charlie’s message. View his death as politically motivated, and you deceive yourself. Charlie was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ, and President Trump noted, the assassin’s rifle is pointed at each of us who name the name of Jesus.

What was the appeal of Charlie Kirk? It was evident in yesterday’s memorial service.

When a speaker made a political point with which the crowd agreed, there was applause. But when a speaker pointed to Jesus as the answer to our soul’s longing and our future as a society, the arena erupted. Yes, Charlie showed us that civil debate in the public forum is essential, but the fundamental by which Charlie lived was his relationship with Jesus.

Those spewing hate, advancing lies, seething threats, and despising Charlie Kirk, all while portraying themselves as the real victims, are darkened minds with seared consciences who portray themselves as wise, while in truth, they are fools. Bluntly, they are tragic testimony to the spiritual problem afflicting our society. They are messengers from the depths.

Charlie saw this affliction. He debated against the symptoms in order to present Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. Why did 200,000 gather for his memorial and a half-billion watch via media feeds?

Because a light has dawned. Especially among Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012.

Researchers tell us that Gen Z, those currently ages 13-28, are more nostalgic, grateful, and less hedonistic. They are better educated and better behaved than their predecessors, but they are more stressed, depressed, and prone to doubt. They have limited patience for dishonesty. They are no bs people. Stated positively, this generation pays attention to those who tell them the truth, are transparent about their own struggles, and consistent with the way they live their lives.

As far as these folks are concerned, their government lied to them, compromised their ability to succeed, deceived them, prevaricated, dismantled their trust, and did them inestimable harm. In Jesus, they see a man of truth who bore up under an oppressive, deceitful system, who spoke truth, lived what He taught, exposed the darkness, and advanced a message of redemption and hope. For this, the darkened minds murdered Him. But He rose again and lives to redeem those who rely upon Him.

I suspect that the assassination of Charlie Kirk will be the defining event for Generation Z. Ironically, or not, Charlie’s murder is their turning point.

If yesterday’s memorial is any indicator, then Gen Z has decided to renounce the forces of darkness and embrace the light of Christ. Therefore, it’s no surprise that God has chosen this generation to launch a revival.

Most of you reading this article, i.e., my subscribers, are older. It is our privilege to pray for our younger siblings in the faith. When asked for counsel, be honest, be transparent. No bs.

Charlie told young people to love Jesus. Get married. Have a family. Build a home.

Now is not the time to consider the nuances of Scripture. Now is the time to showcase Jesus and bolster the courage of those who are younger.

Encourage, affirm, advance the merit of grit, and if asked to say anything, confirm first, then be honest, transparent, and true. Point to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.

When you hear someone say, “I am Charlie Kirk.” They are declaring the resolve of this generation. They are speaking metaphorically. They are saying, I have renounced darkness, turned to the light, and decided to live a courageous life dedicated to Jesus Christ.

This. This, from those who follow after us—this we must affirm and encourage.