I’ve mentioned this before, on my Sunday radio show – with my friend, Adam Holz, from Plugged In (from the USA). And we agreed that, the murder of Charlie Kirk, really did rival our memory of another terrible day in history – the day the Twin Towers were attacked, when nearly 3,000 people were killed either because they lived or worked in the immediate vicinity – or the towers themselves – or the many rescue personnel who raced to the scene or the people trapped on those hijacked planes.

I remember where I was as the second plane hit the Twin Towers. I was standing in the heat, in my hotel room in Spain. My wife wouldn’t believe what I’d literally just witnessed. It was unbelievable, in every possible way.

Likewise, I remember where I was when news of Charlie Kirk being shot made the news, during one of his many college campus rallies. I hoped his life wouldn’t be taken. Sadly, he didn’t survive his injuries. I remember that I was sitting relaxing with my family, watching something on the TV, trying to unwind a little after a really busy day.

I also recall thinking it was utterly unbelievable – to know that he was murdered, in cold blood, in front of his wife and thousands of terrified young people.

All of the above are memories that will be burned into my mind with great detail for a long time. When something truly terrible happens that’s not an abnormal reality. After the IRA exploded the largest mainland bomb in Europe, ever, I was less than a hundred yards away and suffered for weeks afterwards, with permanent headaches and an aversion to crowds and Manchester City Centre. It shook me badly.

But what I think has shaken the world – with the murder of one man, by another because, it seems, he just didn’t like what Charlie believed – is that while cold blooded murder may not be new, laughing publicly about it is. And this is something we should be very alarmed at.

Within minutes I saw people crying that a man had been murdered in cold blood.

Within minutes I saw people rejoicing that a man had been murdered in cold blood – this is not normal behaviour and there is no justification for such a heinous and sickening response.

A man was murdered. There isn’t anything funny about that.

Charlie Kirk’s wife stood up in front of the 200,000 people who had turned up – double the estimates – and in front of 100 million people who were watching the memorial service online. The response to her words is quite chilling, because I have failed to find any Christian voices in the UK talking about how amazing that moment was. I’m sure there must be and I’m clearly not saying no one did. But, with the amount of news I have seen, I would have expected to see an abundance of UK Christians sharing their joy at so many hearing the gospel in one moment.

I’m not a Christian leader with a big voice. I do, however, run a global Media organisation, including a radio station and a magazine. And I am a Christian. So, let me add my voice and my thoughts on this in what seems like an absence of such commentary.

There was a moment when Erika Kirk stood up to speak about the killing of her husband. Her words give me (and you) much hope:

“On the cross, our Saviour said: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ That man – that young man – I forgive him. I forgive him because it’s what Christ did. And it’s what Charlie would do.”

Most news outlets seemed to miss out the first twenty two words of the paragraph above – the very reason why she was able to stand at all in front of, let’s be honest, a rather large chunk of the world, to say what she did!

As a Christian that humbled me. Because, some forty years on, I still struggle to speak of my childhood abuser like that. Erica managed it within just weeks? I know of only one way to do that. It’s the same reason I can refer to the person who abused me as a young child, without lots of anger coming out of my mouth. And that only comes, as far as I can discern, from a love of Jesus Christ and an ongoing relationship with God.

“After Charlie’s assassination we didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution. Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country. We saw revival.

This past week we saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives.”

And this is where I want to throw my thoughts in to the mix, because Charlie Kirk’s murder led to 100 million people hearing the very essence, truth and heart of the gospel. That’s a pretty spectacular thing to happen!

And what I’ve not seen yet (and am still ever hopeful to see) are the shouts of joy from UK Christian leaders at that gospel message being shared to so many, in just one moment. What I have heard instead is a hurricane of silence (as Skillet lead singer John Cooper wrote in one of his songs).

I’ve not really heard anything bad. But, I just haven’t heard anything good either. And that is quite troubling, because the gospel was preached to more than 100 million people!

While preparing this short article I researched Erika’s words. And, depending on which news source you look at, you get a WILDLY different appearance of what point she was making or trying to say. The above quotes, by the way, are from the full transcript and are unedited.

The ones you’re more likely to easily find online far too frequently seem to miss those rather important elements about the cross of Calvary and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, that provided Erika with the ability to forgive a murderer.

I saw that Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe were leading times of worship. And, on his X account, I noticed that when Chris Tomlin’s post went out about it, comments were turned off. I wasn’t surprised and that made me suddenly very sad. Perhaps it was a random oversight by his team. But, I suspect it’s because there has been so much hostility, against people who want to mourn the loss of the man, Charlie Kirk. Or at least, that’s how it ‘feels’ to me out there on social media. It’s hard to quantify that feeling much further.

Chris Tomlin finished off Big Church Festival in 2024. I was crying with joy nearly a mile away, watching on a big screen. Kari Jobe…I cry every time I hear her sing. In both of those people I feel God’s presence through their words, their music, their heart. And they got to lead worship in front of 100 million people, as well as the 200,000 present at the memorial in person.

What an absolutely stunning and beautiful demonstration of the redemptive nature of God. One man’s murder leads to more than 100 million people hearing the gospel? Wow!

And, now, I really do need to address that elephant in the room. Because all I’ve really been able to find out there is either the silence I mentioned above, or comments from people who state that violence is always wrong, but then go on to talk about what Charlie believed being different to what they believed. I’m genuinely baffled at what one has to do with the other.

A man was murdered. Isn’t that enough?

Many small pockets of revival really are happening all around the world, because of the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, that happened as a result of his murder. People really have been going to church for the first time to seek answers, because I’ve stumbled across many of them saying so.

As Christians we are supposed to stand for what the Bible stands for; to seek to make our cadence match that of our Heavenly father; for God’s face to be revealed and reflected in our own – to the people we meet in the everyday moments.

So, as someone with a pretty small voice, hear me now – let’s celebrate how the murder of one man has led to great ripples of revival for many people. Let’s celebrate the fact that more than 100 million people were presented with the gospel, forgiveness in action and were led in worship by godly and gifted worship leaders.

Please stop being silent on the good stuff – there is much to celebrate and rejoice today.

Part of the legacy of the life of Charlie Kirk is that, following his death, 100 million people heard and saw the gospel in action.

What legacy are you hoping to leave?

Andy B

Founder – Pure247Radio.org
Editor – PureMediatheMagazine.com

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