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A few days ago in Melbourne, 100,000 fans came out to watch a football game. Australians love their sport. So do Americans. But some 200,000+ people just attended the memorial service for Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Arizona. People are still leaving the event as I type these words.

Two biblical passages that I have often shared over the past few weeks fully encapsulate what this event really means:

“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.” ~ John 12:24

“And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.” ~ Hebrews 11:4

His widow Erika spoke of forgiving his murderer. “Charlie just wanted to save the lives of young men – just like the one who took his life. That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him because it is what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do.”

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.”

She also said, “After my husband was killed, we didn’t see riots. We didn’t see violence. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed we would see in this country. We saw revival.” And this: “Choose prayer. Choose courage. Choose beauty. Choose adventure. Choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.”

Erika revealed that she now wears the blood-stained pendant of St Michael that was ripped from Charlie’s neck as he died.

Faithful Witness

President Donald Trump said this:

“Some of the very people who call you a hater for using the wrong pronouns were filled with glee at the killing of a father with two beautiful young children. And the same commentators who this week are screaming fascism over a cancelled late-night TV show, where the anchor had no talent and no ratings, last week were implying that Charlie Kirk deserved what happened to him.”

Elon Musk said this: “He was killed because his words made a difference, because he was showing people the light, and he was killed by the dark.”

White House adviser Stephen Miller said in part: “We will carry Charlie and Erika in our hearts every single day, and fight that much harder because of what you did to us. You have no idea the dragon you have awakened. You have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilisation, to save the West, to save the republic.”

And Tulsi Gabbard, the United States director of national intelligence, said: “They kill and terrorise their opponents, hoping to silence them. But in this evil that we have experienced – that Charlie faced – their flawed ideology is exposed, because by trying to silence Charlie, his voice is now louder than ever.”

Tucker Carlson made this statement: “The only real solution is Jesus. Politics is critiquing other people and getting them to change. Christianity calls for repentance to change. Forgive us our sins, then it becomes possible to forgive other people. That is a call to change our hearts. The only change that matters is when we repent of our sins. A recognition that the real problem is me. Any attempt to extinguish the light causes it to burn brighter.”

Christian apologist Frank Turek said: “Now, I want you to know that Charlie right now is in heaven. Not because he was a great husband and father, not because he saved millions of kids out of darkness on college campuses, not because he changed minds and chased votes to save the country, not because he sacrificed himself for his Savior. Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk.”

Kirk’s pastor, Roy McCoy, said this about his friend: “Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus. He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you’d come to its source. And that’s the Lord.”

So many are now talking about this incredible memorial. Allie Beth Stuckey said this about the service: “What an incredible day. Charlie’s death has sparked a gospel revival like I’ve never seen. May we all aspire to live a life as passionate for Jesus as Charlie’s was.”

Nicki Truesdell said what so many of us believe: “I’m watching Trump’s cabinet members preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and thanking God that Biden-Harris-Walz are not in the White House right now. God has been good to us.”

Another American said this: “GOOSEBUMPS! Patriots stood outside ALL night and now have filled up the stadium. More people are showing up than the Superbowl! Today we all honor Charlie Kirk!”

One social media friend, Mark McCourt, nicely summed things up this way:

We just returned from a tame, lifeless, honestly, extremely boring, church service that once again failed to honor a fallen martyr… only to be completely undone by Charlie Kirk’s memorial. We started watching and haven’t stopped worshipping, weeping, and praising Jesus since.
If you think Charlie wasn’t all about Jesus, you’ve been swept up in a storm of lies. Don’t let deception blind you to the fruit of a life laid down for Christ.
From the very first moment, his pastor Roy McCoy preached the Gospel and gave an altar call. That set the tone. The entire service has been a Spirit-filled cry to live for Jesus with boldness and courage. And it’s still going!
Dr. Larry Arnn reminded us to suffer, study Scripture, and remember our christian heritage.
Mikey McCoy declared, “The tyrant dies and his rule is over; the martyr dies and his rule has just begun.”
Tyler Boyer said, “If only we could figure out how to bring the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. I think we’ve done that.”
Justin Streiff: “Courage doesn’t require talent. Just a ‘yes.’”
Andrew Kolvet called Charlie a prophet, not the fortune-telling kind, but the biblical kind who confronts evil, speaks truth, and calls people to repent.
Benny Johnson spoke of revival. Many one liners…brilliant speech, make sure you listen to it.
Dr. Ben Carson quoted John 12:24: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies…”
Frank Turek shared: “Charlie is not in heaven because he died for his Savior, but because His Savior died for him.”
Every speaker pointed to Christ in some way.
That’s who Charlie was. And that’s who this is for.
All for Jesus.

Political Considerations

One thing this service made clear is that Republicans are by and large known for their love of faith, family and freedom, while the Democrats are known for their far-left secularism and radicalism, and their intense hatred of all that is good, true and beautiful.

Remember how 58 House Democrats recently refused to support a resolution honouring Charlie Kirk, condemning political violence, and calling for respectful debate. That tells you heaps about where so many modern-day Democrats are at. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said this about it:

It’s a shame that that’s where their party has moved. It’s not where America is. I mean, my gosh, we’ve seen such an outpouring of love for Charlie, what he represented, the idea that we should be able to debate freely even when we disagree and do it in a civil way. And that’s what Charlie did, and it’s what he represented. It’s why you’re seeing millions of people that maybe never heard of him thinking about things differently. But what happened on the House floor, those members who voted ‘no,’ I thought it was disgraceful. I mean, just paying tribute, paying honor to his life that was taken away by an assassin. That’s something [Democrats have] got to answer, not me.

This tells us that the Democrats, with all their hate, ungodliness and bitterness, are a spent force in American politics, while the conservative side – if it continues in the spirit and the manner of Kirk – will resonate with the majority of Americans for a long time to come.

God bless you, Charlie. This IS the turning point that we need.

Please note — The entire five-hour service can be seen here:

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Republished thanks to CultureWatch. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.