September 17, 2025
I've always loved the timeless nature of folk wisdom. "Birds of a feather flock together" is one of my favorites; its predictive value rarely fails, which is especially frightening in our current moment. Charlie Kirk's martyrdom has certainly gathered some feathers, and on one side, it's quite a sight: Race idolators, militant transgender warriors, the "Squad" contingency, and-huddled sheepishly at the edges- Christians.
It's not most Christians, though. It's only a stale subset of believers who are inexplicably unable to extend any kind words toward Charlie Kirk. Sure, when civility requires it, they will mumble some obligatory phrases about "political violence" or blame "polarization." Nobody wants to look like a monster, and those are risk-free things that even our irreligious buddies say. Beyond that, though, these believers must distance themselves from any kind of public conservatism; it doesn't vibe with their favorite "empathetic" and "winsome" evangelical leaders.
As a result, the bullet that came out of nowhere did more than just create a martyr; it also caught these same believers off guard. People loved and respected Charlie Kirk? My kids watched his videos? I didn't, but some reporters and a cool pastor told me he was divisive, so I believe it. Now what will I say? As it turns out, they won't say much.
Who's in this tepid yet holier-than-thou flock? In many cases, it's believers who share the essentials of the faith but disdain political discourse. They are the evangelical Never Trumpers. They might've cast a "principled" and public vote for Clinton or Biden because "politics don't belong in the church" or "Trump is divisive." In the face of Charlie Kirk's murder, they went quiet or-if necessary-tossed word salads and performed impressive gymnastics in order to avoid specifically referring to Charlie Kirk.
For these feathered friends, conservative thought is off-limits, unflattering, and not "winsome". You can be a public school teacher, or you can be an artist, or you can work for a nonprofit that receives federal funding. You can advocate for green spaces and free scooters and after-school tutoring and nice things like that. You can compete and model Christian excellence in nearly any earthly venture. Whatever you do, though, don't let faith inform your political life.
Charlie Kirk's murder surely brought Christians together in mourning; but it also highlighted these lingering effects of Trump Derangement Syndrome in the church. This week, I read an email from a popular pastor whose response seemed only a lengthy effort to please a TDS constituency. While one could applaud his effort to address a difficult week of nationwide tragedy, his refusal to offer meaningful words for a murdered brother in Christ was rather jarring.
While Gospel Coalition regulars spent years pushing "Side B Christianity" and infusing sermons with nerdish Charles Taylor commentary, Charlie Kirk was teaching America's students how to reason biblically, act like a man, and rebuild a nation. He spoke truth clearly, graciously, and even humorously. Now that he has been publicly and gruesomely murdered for his beliefs, those compassionate and "winsome" believers seem outright cold.
To be clear, there is no Biblical mandate to make a social media or public remark just because everyone else does. I don't virtue signal, even for virtuous things. I rarely participate in the well-meaning "pray for Texas" or "Anytown Strong" kinds of posts. I refuse to participate in "awareness" campaigns. I don't necessarily make public remarks when a famous believer dies of natural causes. Further, Christians aren't required to be news junkies, protesters or political commentators.
Charlie Kirk's murder, however, was something very different. A faithful American believer who applied faith to policy, who invited peaceful debate and shared the gospel in the process-and who remained calm when angry opponents insulted him-this bold man paid the ultimate price. His neck spewed blood in front of an entire nation. He left a young wife and two children who can now view that horrific footage for years.
Even nonbelievers and political progressives found this a shockingly sad day for free speech, with many even admiring his moral courage or gracious demeanor; yet professing Christians danced around the topic or remained uncharacteristically mute, unwilling to honor Charlie Kirk for his outspoken faith. They remained silent in big evangelical pulpits, afraid of offending their feminized brethren in today's PCA and Southern Baptist Convention.
They weren't always this quiet. They were proud to mention George Floyd when his death transfixed a nation; but to mention Charlie Kirk's public murder was simply a bridge too far. General references to evil or "political violence" or "brokenness" would have to do. It was time to be winsome! It was also time to bow to the frowning idol of TDS.
I could go on, but my writing won't approach the beautiful summary written by Stephanie Smith, president of the Alabama Policy Institute. I encourage everyone to read her op-ed, a pointed description of this wasting spiritual disease. She writes,
No one killed Charlie Kirk because of his position on immigration, tax policy, or limited government principles. He was murdered because he was knee deep in the bunker - fighting a spiritual war that pastors have shied away from due to the false gods of unity and winsomeness. Kirk was a public Christian apologist who spoke biblical truth without regard to temporal consequences. Charlie Kirk knew his opinion wasn't popular, but he also knew that it was rooted in God's word, and he regularly shared the Gospel publicly. His death was not a political assassination, but an anti-religious act.
Christian rejection of fellow believers who use their shared worldview to help form public policy are as sickening as atheists who deny Christ altogether. Those who display conjured moral superiority over fellow believers who enter the mission field of politics and pastors seeking tithes and false peace over truth would all be well served to re-read what Jesus said about the lukewarm.
Those believers who cannot honor Charlie Kirk's death with even the smallest gesture present a puzzling picture, indeed. When you find your feathers matching those of some of the most God-hating and murderous characters out there, you might stop to ask yourself why.
This article was originally published on Restoring Truth.