“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” — 1 Corinthians 2:2 (ESV)

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A World I Remember

I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, decades of turmoil and transition. I remember the riots in the streets, the Vietnam War protests, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the heartbreaking murder of Martin Luther King Jr., and the tragic loss of Bobby Kennedy. I remember the Jesus Revolution sweeping across the nation, the powerful voice of Billy Graham filling stadiums, and the reforms of Vatican II reshaping the Catholic Church. For all the chaos, there were also sparks of spiritual renewal, moments when Christians seemed to be finding new ways to unite.

But with the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, something feels markedly different.

Charlie Kirk wasn’t just another political figure. His worldview was not simply built on partisan lines but rooted in his faith in Jesus Christ. Whether people agreed with him or not is not the point. What matters is that his convictions grew out of his belief in the Bible. His pro-life stance, his belief in traditional marriage, his advocacy for Christian values—these were not simply political talking points but expressions of faith.

And this is where I stand as well. Like Kirk, I am pro-life because of what Scripture teaches. I believe in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman because of what Scripture teaches. I do not wish to restrict anyone else’s rights or silence their voice, but I will not be silenced either. I claim the freedom to declare, “Thus says the Lord.” Yet even beyond these cultural debates, I am more concerned with preaching Christ and Him crucified.

From New Atheism to Internet Atheism

After 9/11, “New Atheism” emerged as a cultural force, led by figures like Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris. They argued that religion was not only false but dangerous. That wave has since been replaced by something broader but shallower: internet atheism.

This new form of skepticism thrives on memes, TikTok shorts, and YouTube videos that oversimplify or mock Christianity. But alongside it has grown something darker: a moral rationale that if one’s cause is “just,” then in the name of that cause, one can justify any act—even violence and murder.

I remember once seeing a bumper sticker that read, “Too many Christians, not enough lions.” The message was crystal clear. Christianity is seen not as a faith of hope but as a nuisance to be eliminated.

When Charlie Kirk was murdered, social media lit up with gleeful celebration. If you think no one rejoiced, you are living in another world. The hatred was open. Some saw his death not as a tragedy but as a victory.

This brings us face to face with a reality Christians cannot ignore: our faith has always been opposed by the world, and sometimes violently so.

The Church’s Call to Unity

My message is not for the world but for the church.

We must recover unity. That doesn’t mean pretending doctrinal differences don’t exist — it’s okay to disagree on secondary doctrines. But when it comes to the essentials of the faith — the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; His power and willingness to forgive sins; and His promised return — we must stand shoulder to shoulder.

We need to preach Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). We need to proclaim His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). We need to remind the world that Jesus is the answer to every question, the hope in every crisis, the Savior of every sinner.

The Word of God is sure and unchanging. God has not left us alone—He has given His Spirit to every believer (John 14:26). Through the Spirit, we have boldness, wisdom, and comfort.

Martyrdom in Our Day

The world saw Charlie Kirk marked for his faith. Speaking at a university with many Mormon students, he was not there to argue theology but to speak about Jesus. When asked about guns and gender issues, he answered candidly, only to be silenced by a bullet.

The tragedy was not only his murder but the reaction. The celebrations online revealed a truth Christians must not ignore: the spirit of the Roman arenas has not vanished. In the first centuries of the church, the crowds cheered as Christians were torn apart by lions, believing they were rid of a nuisance. Yet history proved them wrong. The church only grew stronger.

Ignatius of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom in Rome, wrote: “Let me be given to the wild beasts, for through them I can attain unto God. I am God’s wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread of Christ.”¹

Polycarp, when faced with execution, declared: “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”²

Tertullian echoed their witness when he declared: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”³

The very word martyr itself comes from the Greek word μάρτυς (martys), meaning “witness.” To be a martyr in the early church was not first about dying — it was about bearing witness to Christ, even when that witness cost one’s life.

Perhaps America is entering a day when these ancient words find new relevance on our soil. And make no mistake, the spirit that would rejoice in the harm or death of another for speaking their beliefs is as prevalent now as it was in ancient Rome.

Global Persecution Today

We may think martyrdom is far removed from us, but statistics prove otherwise. According to the Open Doors 2024 World Watch List:

• Over 365 million Christians worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.⁴
• In 2023 alone, more than 4,998 Christians were killed for their faith.⁵
• Over 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked.⁶
• The most dangerous regions include North Korea, Nigeria, Somalia, and Pakistan.

In Nigeria, extremists routinely target Christian villages, leaving mass graves in their wake. In India, believers are beaten and ostracized for refusing to deny Christ. In China, house churches are raided and leaders imprisoned.

These are not distant stories—they are our brothers and sisters. The same hatred that silences voices abroad has now struck within our own nation.

Fear Not

But this is not a call to fear.

Paul reminds us: “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

Jesus Himself told His disciples: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

We need courage. Not bravado, but Spirit-filled courage. Speak up, even when crowds try to shout you down. Speak up, even when silence feels safer. Speak up, because God has promised to give His people the words they need in the moment (Luke 12:11–12).

Preparing for the Battle

How do we prepare for such a time as this?

• Study the Scriptures – Ground yourself in the Word of God.
• Memorize truth – Hide His Word in your heart (Psalm 119:11).
• Pray in the Spirit – Seek His strength daily.
• Equip yourself with answers – Be ready to give a defense (1 Peter 3:15).
• Encourage one another – Stand shoulder to shoulder with your brothers and sisters in Christ (Hebrews 10:24–25).

This is not merely about preparing for persecution. It is about living faithfully in the present, walking daily with Christ, and bearing witness to His truth in word and deed.

The Church’s Call

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is not just a political event; it is a spiritual wake-up call.

Christians, this is not the time to shrink back. It is the time to lift high the cross of Christ. It is the time to remind the world that Jesus saves, Jesus reigns, and Jesus is coming again.

The blood of martyrs has never silenced the church—it has always given it new life. Let us then go forward boldly, not in fear but in faith, declaring with Paul: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

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Footnotes

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Romans, c. 107 A.D.
2. The Martyrdom of Polycarp, c. 155 A.D.
3. Tertullian, Apologeticus, c. 197 A.D.
4. Open Doors, World Watch List 2024, https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries. Also: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0017/?utm_source=chatgpt.com and https://persecution.org/2025/01/03/icc-releases-2025-global-persecution-index/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.