Thinking Out LoudOne of the saddest and most disturbing things about the appalling assassination of Christian and MAGA activist Charlie Kirk last week was the immediate reaction. Kirk’s body was scarcely cold before commentators and social media posters from left and right were waist-deep in ugly vituperation, saying the other side had blood on their hands. Almost instantly Kirk was reduced from a husband, father and believer – a human being created in God’s image – to a symbol in the increasingly vicious culture wars.
I was only vaguely aware of Kirk until last week. Since then, watching him debate students on YouTube, I was struck by his generally reasonable tone, broad knowledge, careful argument and lucidity. I would also disavow many of Kirk’s attitudes and strident statements, and his Christian nationalism.
But however much I admired or disliked what Kirk advocated, the point is this: he didn’t deserve to die for his views. No one deserves to die simply for holding an opinion, even an objectionable one. Debate and reason are the proper response, while Christians have an extra responsibility – loving your enemy.
As I write this, we still know little of the shooter’s motivation. I cannot imagine any other President in my lifetime leaping in with the hate-filled rage of Donald Trump against “the left” before anything was known.
One thing of which I am certain is that God does not save through political parties; he is not a Republican or a Democrat. The Bible is abundantly clear that God is interested in each of us not as part of a group identity (though we are an active community) but as individuals: our personal journey of faith, morality, conscience, and love of him and our neighbour. And our neighbour may come from across many political or social divides.
This Thinking Out Loud was first published on Facebook.