Evergreen High School.

Iryna Zarutska.

Charlie Kirk.

The weight of recent events have fallen heavy on my heart. I’m still trying to make sense of all that took place less than 2 weeks ago. It’s hard to make sense of senselessness. And I struggle with that. My mind goes back and forth from the stabbing of the girl on the bus, to the school shooting by a young boy, to the public assassination of a man who loved Jesus. 

When did humanity stop valuing human life? 

But as horrifically tragic as these events have been, the responses to Charlie Kirk’s death are absolutely disgusting. This is a soul problem. This is a hate problem.

Agree or disagree with Charlie Kirk all you want, but the last time I checked, we live in America. The land of the Free. A land where we still have free speech. There are many people I don’t agree with, but I never for one second ever thought they deserved to die for their beliefs. And Charlie Kirk was murdered for simply sharing his opinions.

In Acts 7-8, Stephen, one of the first Christian Martyrs, is introduced after the death and resurrection of Jesus. He heard Jesus’ teachings and fell in love. It’s hard to hear Jesus’ teachings without falling in love. Stephen joined the disciples and began his journey of sharing the Good News with anyone who would listen. Stephen was publicly assassinated for simply speaking the name of Jesus. Charlie Kirk was martyred for the same.

After Stephen’s death, the disciples gathered in an undisclosed location, fearing the same fate. They taught Jesus’ words, but were constantly worried about being arrested and killed. Saul, a ruthless bounty hunter of the people of The Way, was sent out to arrest and kill all Christians.

“A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem, and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria.” Acts 8:1b [NLT]

God has drawn a line in the sand. Since I became a Christian in 2001, I’ve walked my journey straddling that line, with one foot in the world and the other on the side of eternity. I lived my life hiding in an undisclosed location, for fear that I would turn people away by my beliefs. But the assassination of Charlie Kirk has evoked a fire in me that I cannot extinguish.

I did not know Charlie Kirk, but I did know of him. I never heard him speak, but I watched his wife after his assassination, and I heard her speak of her husband. I learned everything I needed to know about Charlie. He was a man who loved God, loved God’s son, Jesus; he loved his wife, loved his family and loved his country. Charlie was a man who loved. And he was murdered because of his great love. He did not straddle the line God drew in the sand. He lived his life on the side of Eternity.

We, as Christians, are called to love. Love God, love others and love ourselves. People have a right to live the life they want to live. And the way they live their lives is between them and God. As a Christian, I am called to love, not judge. But make no mistake, I love Jesus. My heart belongs to Jesus. And I will shout it from the rooftops. 

I will not argue, because  I know I will not change your mind. I also know you will not change my mind by arguing, cancelling, hating or even killing me. But I do and I will love you. All of you. And I will quickly offer forgiveness to everyone, especially the Saul’s of the world. Because I know we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but good vs evil. 

“But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.” Acts 8:4 [NLT]

The disciples gathered and hid until Stephen’s death. And then they scattered and preached.

It’s time to scatter and preach. It’s time to live life on the side of Eternity. It’s time for true revival. It’s time for Christians to take a stand and shout from the rooftops, 

“I LOVE JESUS!”

Whenever I speak, I always preface my talks by saying “Buckle up.” I recently learned that was one of Charlie Kirk’s sayings at the end of his podcast. So, in memory of my new friend, Charlie, I say, “Buckle up. Let’s go…scatter and preach.” 

See you next time.

Julia