– by Peter Barnes

The death of any human being might cause us to ponder the truth of John Donne’s Meditation XVI: ‘No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee’. The cowardly murder of Charlie Kirk and the deep outpouring of grief at his memorial service both diminished us, and, strangely, lifted us.

Here was a man who professed a decided Christian faith, and who was heavily involved in the hurly burly of politics. His life was cut short by a deluded fanatic, Tyler Robinson, who claimed that he was opposed to Kirk’s message of hatred. His ilk do not do irony well. In the wake of this, Kirk has left behind a widow, Erika, and two children – a family going through unimaginable sorrow.

Many observers are optimistic that this could be a turning point in American history. At least we are relieved that the Biden/Harris/Walz triumvirate is not at the wheel. But we are not prophets. The assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 was not really a turning point except that it probably prepared the way for the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr and Robert Kennedy less than five years later. Kirk’s five-hour memorial service was replete with professions of Christian faith, and even included invitations to trust Christ. America is not Australia; this did seem very different.

The magnitude of all that had taken place was in one sense no more than the magnitude of any soul entering eternity – the forever life or the forever death. Yet the issues of life and death were being played out before the world in a way we hardly expected. Even the atheist, Brendan O’Neill commented that the brutal murder of Kirk was ‘as much an assault on the soul of America as it was on the body of a man.’ A worldview of philosophical materialism was exposed as the emperor with no clothes. It does not even have a fig leaf.

At the memorial service Erika Kirk dared to speak words of forgiveness, as she cited Colossians 3:12-13, ‘Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.’ That might be far more than any of us could manage in similar circumstances, but it is not clear that God has forgiven Tyler Robinson. So far, Robinson has not asked for it.

As Erika Kirk noted, there have been no riots, and she even says: ‘We saw revival.’ It is too early to be assured of that; without the Holy Spirit’s abiding work, it may soon wear off or be distorted. Nevertheless, Erika Kirk’s challenge is exactly what the decadent West needs to hear: ‘Choose prayer. Choose courage. Choose beauty. Choose adventure. Choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.’ That is a testimony for the ages.

The last word belongs to Christ. Drawing on the fact that Kirk was murdered about 12.24 p.m. on 10 September, Dr Ben Carson cited John 12:24 where Christ says: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’ The Christian is never eternally defeated because Christ is the eternal victor. He died, and rose to eternal life. All those who are in Him will die – in one way or another, at one time or another – but will rise to be with Him forever.

Footnote:

This article, by Peter Barnes, appeared in AP, the magazine of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. While I did not think Charlie Kirk’s unqualified support of Trump was wise, nonetheless I admired him for his courage and his thoughtful debating skills, and especially for his open testimony to his faith in Christ.