Good And Faithful Servant

Something interesting happened yesterday. I lost a few followers on Instagram. Not many, but a few. And the interesting part, is that I lost them after I posted some stories about the death and legacy of Charlie Kirk. A man of faith, who stood up for truth and who loved God. A man who defended life, upheld strong family values and who respectfully debated with those willing to debate without ever hitting back or losing it, even when others yelled abuse.

I noticed that one follower who unfollowed me, had then posted their own Instagram stories, sharing one that said that the media was out to engineer how we feel, wanting us to feel more about Charlie Kirk’s death than the thousands of lives who are not named that are being lost in Gaza everyday. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that after I post stories sharing my sympathy with the grieving loved ones of Charlie Kirk, and celebrating his courageous faith, that I am unfollowed by people who then subsequently post stories like this.

Firstly, in response to the above statement, the media has been full of the news of what has been going on in Gaza for a very long time. We are all aware of the horrors of the war raging in the Middle East (and once again, people have forgotten how this war started and what happened to Israel to begin with). And when wars and other disasters occur around the world that take thousands of lives, they get the media coverage, but not every single individual is named.

It is natural that when one person who has been a very influential figure in our world has been brutally murdered in broad daylight, for this to get widespread media coverage. Of course, when one man is shot at an event, they are going to get a face, a name, a biography. When thousands die in a war zone, or through other disasters, we are naturally given statistics, as news coverage never names every single life lost in an event that has resulted in a mass loss of life. I have never seen this. Not when the Twin Towers fell, not when the tsunami in 2004 hit Indonesia, not with the war between Russia and Ukraine.

And you barely hear a complaint when a celebrity gets big media coverage when they die: The Queen, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson . . . The list goes on.

The sad thing is, when there is a war raging, death is inevitable. The war still gets media coverage. We see the devastation war causes. We see the tragic rise in the death toll. And our hearts ache when we see orphans crying for their dead parents on the streets surrounded by rubble, by the injured left by the roadside and the surrounding devastation. But as hounding as it all is, we expect it when war happens. We expect it when a disaster hits. We know there will be chaos, devastation and mourning. We hate it, and our hearts go out to those caught in the midst of us, but we expect a high death toll when things like this happen.

What we don’t expect, and find shocking, is when a man is brutally murdered in front of a crowd in broad daylight. And for what? For apparently no reason other than the fact he wasn’t afraid to have a different opinion or values from the majority, who graciously and respectfully challenged society’s thinking and who courageously stood up for his faith, Biblical values and for truth. And he was hated by many for it.

What I find more disturbing, is that when a man is brutally murdered and taken away from his family, that there are people who celebrated his death, who laughed, who mocked. People who instead of choosing humanity and showing love and sympathy, can only criticise this man, his beliefs, his politics, and the fact that his murder is getting media coverage. I find this shocking, disturbing, disgusting and utterly shameful.

Not that any of this matters to Charlie Kirk now, who is safe in the arms of Jesus. Whilst others mock him and celebrate his death, Charlie is now face-to-face with his Lord and Saviour, resting in the sweetest peace, and will reap the eternal rewards of his faithfulness here on earth. Yes, an eternal reward that sadly those who now mock and scorn him, will never taste of or experience unless they also come to know the Saviour that Charlie followed.

But even if you didn’t agree with Charlie Kirk or liked what he stood for, there is no need to question or moan or complain that his brutal murder gets media coverage. There’s no need to seize this opportunity to criticise him and what he stood for or his beliefs. There is no need to express anything else other than horror at what has happened, and deep condolences for his grieving widow, children and family. Is it so very hard to show some humanity and respect? At the end of the day, whether you agreed with Charlie Kirk or not, he was a man whose life was cruelly taken away from him too soon. He was a man who was happily married to a beautiful wife, Erica, and she will never feel his embrace, sleep next to him or get to raise their children with him again on this earth. He was a man who was a devoted father, and they will grow up not knowing him in their lives, his memory fading gradually from their little minds. His daughter will never get her daddy to walk her down the aisle. His son will never be able to go to a football game with his daddy.  They will never see him or experience his warm hugs again on this earth.

But it seems none of this matters to those who didn’t like him, just because he had different ideas and views, especially because they were founded on Scripture and Biblical truth. Let’s face it, free speech is dead. If you have a different opinion, even if you share it respectfully, you are branded a hater. If you have a political view others don’t share, you are branded a terrorist. If you dare share your faith and views based on the Bible, you are branded intolerant. If you dare speak out when your beliefs are different, you are cancelled.

In other words, if you want to be popular and welcomed, make sure you don’t have your own opinions and that all your views and beliefs match up with what society want from you, and especially don't speak the truth or align your views with the Bible.

No, thank you. If society want me to deny Biblical truths, and God's design for life and for us as human beings, then I’m very happy to not be popular thank you.

And no, I am not a hater. I don’t hate those who believe differently from me. And just because I don’t agree with you, it doesn’t mean I hate you, or that I am intolerant. Far from it.

I am unashamedly a Christian, and I do believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, and I do try to shape my life and views based on it. And, like Charlie Kirk also affirmed for himself, I believe that I am a sinner in need of a Saviour. I believe I can never be good enough for Heaven, and it’s only by God’s grace that I am saved, because of what Christ accomplished on the cross for me through his death and resurrection. I am not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination! I am full of flaws, and Charlie Kirk would also be one of the first to say that for himself, too.

I may not agree with every single thing Charlie said, but overall I agreed on a lot of it.  I admired his courageous faith and how bold he was, and yet remained respectful even when others hurled abuse and hate. I admired his eloquence and knowledge, and how well he articulated his beliefs and God’s truth. I frequently enjoyed watching some of his debates on campuses, and I wholeheartedly agree with a lot of his beliefs that were rooted in Biblical principles, standing up for the unborn and upholding good family values. To courageously ‘go against the grain’, be true to God and stand by Biblical truth, takes boldness, and even if Charlie wasn’t always right on every single thing, (who is?!) he was a true role model in having the courage of your convictions and showing respect and love even when others oppose, insult and abuse you.

In the Bible we are told that we will be able to distinguish false prophets and genuine believers ‘by their fruits’ - in other words, their character will display who they are. And a true believer’s character will measure up with what we see in Scripture. Those who knew Charlie Kirk testify to his kindness and graciousness, his devotion to his family, his sincere care for individuals and for society, the support he offered those who struggled and felt lost and the genuineness of his love for Jesus and his faith in Him. He was a man of God who displayed the fruits of the Spirit, and who openly confessed the Lord Jesus. He is not in heaven today because he was ‘perfect’, but because he had put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ and tried to live his life each day for Him. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, and many have been encouraged in their faith and stirred to boldness because of him.

Let’s face it, throughout Biblical history, not one of the people God used was perfect. They made mistakes, they messed up, and they weren’t always right. But they loved God and sought to follow Him, and God still used them.

We don’t know yet who pulled the trigger and shot the bullet that killed Charlie Kirk. We don’t know yet why they murdered him. There are various theories out there. Was it a Democrat who wanted to shut him up for good? Was it even someone from the same political party Charlie supported? Or was it just someone filled with pure hatred for a man who stood up for truth and wanted to silence him for good? Whoever it was, and whatever their reason, I believe they are a coward. I believe they have been used by the enemy (Satan) to try and suppress the truth and light. After all, ‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.’ (Ephesians 6:12.)

However, I see the opposite happening. I see a generation of men and women who have now been fuelled to be more courageous, and in bold defiance, will rise up and declare that Jesus is Lord, and will courageously stand up for truth and for what they believe.

No matter what lies are being circulated and believed in our world today, truth will always shine through, and will always be there. Truth and Light will always ultimately win. Sometimes the darkness wins the battles, but God has already won the war. Jesus has overcome the world! (John 16:33.)

Whatever you believe, there is no denying that a man was murdered in cold blood. A husband and a father was cruelly ripped away from his family. And that should only incite horror at what has happened, a thirst for justice and genuine sympathy for his grieving loved ones.

I am sure that Charlie Kirk, a man who loved and followed Jesus Christ, has heard these precious words from his Saviour as soon as his soul left this world: ‘Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord!’ (Paraphrased from Matthew 25:21.)