Lord, May the Assassination of Charlie Kirk be a Turning Point

Lord, I'm not sure if I can do it. May the assassination of Charlie Kirk be a turning point. That is a topic we'll discuss today right here on the Christian Wheelview Radio program. Where the mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians and to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. I'm David Wheaton, the host.

Christian Realview is a non-profit listener-supported radio ministry. You can connect with us by visiting our website, thechristianworldview.org. or following us on X, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram. As always, thank you for your notes of encouragement. financial support.

in lifting us up. in prayer. In our country today, there is no shortage of violent acts that just shock the senses. We did a recent program on the man who falsely believed he was a woman who opened fire at a Catholic school in Minneapolis, killing two young children.

Well, on the heels of that was a young Ukrainian immigrant woman minding her own business on a train in North Carolina, only to have the man sitting behind her fourteen times previously arrested suddenly stand up. and stab her to death. And then um Wednesday of this week. Charlie Kirk. founder and president of Turning Point USA.

which is a conservative organization on high school and college campuses. who is perhaps the most influential conservative leader in the country. Aside from President Trump, was assassinated by a sniper as he spoke at an event at Utah Valley University. Charlie Kirk was married and the father of two young children. He was just thirty one years old.

Kirk was known for his sharp intellect, his determination, leadership, and articulate, persuasive, and bold debate style. At his events on college campuses, he would answer questions from everyone, even those who vehemently opposed his views. Here's a sample of one of his debate forums where a man asserts that our country was founded on common law, which is based on judicial decisions, rather than natural law. which is moral principle established by God. This is vintage Charlie Kirk with overwhelming facts.

Our country was found on common law. Uh because the Declaration only refers to God four times. The Constitution doesn't refer to God at all, and it only articulates the structure of government.

So first of all, um remember that we were a collection of states and colonies. And you need to read the state constitutions before anything else. 13 out of 13 required a declaration of faith in almost every single one of the original state constitutions. They had. I profess Lord and Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

Secondly, 55 out of 56 of the original signers of the Declaration were Bible-believing church-attending Christians. You asked about common law.

Well, let's go to three principles of common law. Presumption of medicines. Due process. and Drew of your Pierce. All three are biblical principles.

So, and all wrapped into the ultimate biblical principle that You shall not favor justice if you are rich or poor, which is in Leviticus 19, which is the idea of blind justice, which is incorporated also in the New Testament ideal: neither slave nor Greek nor Jew, you are all one in Jesus Christ, which is the idea of human equality. These are all biblical ideas, but more importantly than that, they say that God was only mentioned four times in the Declaration of Independence.

Well, that's a big deal. John Adams famously said the Constitution was only written for a moral and religious people. It was wholly inadequate for the people of any other. The body politic of America was so Christian that our form and structure of government was built. For the people that believed in Christ our Lord.

One of the reasons we're living through a constitutional crisis is that we no longer have a Christian nation, but we have a Christian form of government, and they're incompatible.

So you cannot have liberty if you do not have a Christian population.

Now I don't know too much about Charlie Kirk's background and the key influences in his life. But This is a highly intelligent man. who never graduated from college, by the way, but knows his facts. But it wasn't just about things pertaining to country. Charlie Kirk was also known for being a forthright Christian who boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here he is answering a question about why he is a Christian. Are you a Christian? My experience is that? Very, very much so. Like, why is that?

Exactly. Oh, Jesus saved my life? I'm a sinner, gave my life to Christ, most important decision I ever made.

So, you believe the Bible is real? Yes, I believe the Bible is true and real. Why is that?

Well, I could give you the technical answer: there's never been an archaeological discovery that has contradicted the truth of the Bible. And then, of course, the wisdom: there's not a truth of the Bible that if you apply to your life, your life does not improve dramatically. And then, finally, we have the most accurate and transparent, historically robust account that one can have of the most important figure ever to live in the history of the world, Jesus of Nazareth. And the resurrection is the pinpoint of my belief that Jesus did rise from the grave so that we may live. What makes Christian mythology real?

So, that's not mythology, but that is theology. If Genesis 1:1 And the resurrection is true, anything in the Bible is possible. You're looking at the greatest miracle. The greatest miracle is creation. And then the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

And I say, how do you know that Jesus rose from the dead?

Well, show me another historical piece of a story where so many people willingly died. A brutal death for a lie. Every single person around him had everything to lose, and yet they went to the absolute death from Paul to Peter to the half-brother of James, saying that Jesus is Lord, Jesus rose from the dead. Not to mention, if you were gonna fake a story, you would not use female witnesses in the ancient world. In the scriptures, it said that the women were the first one to see Jesus Christ.

If you're trying to fake a story, you would never do that.

So, Charlie Kirk gives some apologetic reasons. for why he's a Christian. But then he gets straight to the core. Tenant of the Christian faith. the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If Christ didn't rise from the dead, our faith is in vain and worthless, the Bible says. But he did? Rise from the grave, and was witnessed by over five hundred people at one time.

So, Jesus Christ is who he claimed to be, the Son of God and Savior of mankind. The killing of Charlie Kirk has been a collective gut punch to those on the right. But to some on the left his death has been disturbingly celebrated. There are tons of these you can find online, but here's a man who came to a vigil after Charley's death, who said he would have killed Charley Kirk himself. Do you support his death?

I do. You support his death? Charlie Kirk. You support Charlie Kirk being killed? Yes, I do.

On the day he died, you're here at a vigil for Charlie Kirk, and you support his death. No, I don't support a Nazi. Charlie Kirk wasn't a Nazi. You support his shooter? Yep, sure I do.

Trevor Burrus. Would you shoot somebody like Charlie Kirk? I would have killed him myself. You would have killed him yourself.

Now you may be thinking that's just some crazy guy in the street.

Okay.

So how would you like to be under the care of Doctor Tatiana Atkins, MD, an anesthesiologist at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, who mocks Charlie Kirk because he has said that a misguided application of empathy is hurting our society. I'm just really glad Charlie Kirk just got himself shot because he's right empathy empathy is is dangerous to society, so um no one should give a f that he's dead. All I'm doing is using his words. You can't be mad at me for using his words. I think as a psychology.

Empathy is a new wave thing and is very problematic. You write. You write. No empathy for you. Zero.

Pretty shocking, huh? This reveals not just a divide in our country, but but a dark and wicked deception that has hardened the hearts of too many. In a country with freedom of religion and speech in our Constitution, no one should be assassinated for their viewpoints. But to the modern left To disagree with them is to be a danger in need of silencing. Charlie Kirk has now been silenced from speaking in this life.

But he has no doubt inspired a generation to stand up for their Christian. and conservative beliefs. Today in the program, Travis Allen, pastor of Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado, joins us to discuss several aspects. surrounding the murder of Charlie Kirk. Travis, thank you for coming on the program today.

We weren't expecting to talk this week. But after the very Tragic and sad incident with the murder of Charlie Kirk, this political assassination that took place this week. I think it's important to think through and process this from a biblical worldview. What is Gone on not only with this incident, but what is taking place in our country as well.

So, thank you for. coming on the program. I want to start out by reading. A tweet by a man named Benjamin Shettler, and I don't know him, but he wrote a Quite a bit of a Interesting. Here, he said the popularity of Charlie Kirk among young people is partly due to the silence of American pastors.

Generation Z Listen to Charlie because he told them the truth about the issues they were facing. He taught them how to answer the tough questions and he kindly gave the truth. Pastors stopped doing this. For the entire lifetime of Gen Z, the attitude toward culture by most church leaders. has been to huddle in the corner.

Say nothing about big issues and hope that silence will attract people. Jesus. Gen Z needed more. And Charlie gave it to them. every single day.

Charlie was a treasure who who resisted the lie that silence will win people to the truth. I hope in his death many will see the light and change.

So Travis What was it about Charlie Kirk? Of course, he was well known. for leading Turning Point USA, a conservative political organization, and did a lot of work on college campuses. I think you could say, without exaggerating too much, that Charlie Kirk and his work on the young vote in this last election was a big contributing factor to President Trump getting reelected. Charlie Kirk was also a professing outspoken believer in Jesus Christ as well.

But what was it about him That made him so unique and influential as a conservative and a Christian. And do you think that Benjamin Shettler's assessment that? The popularity of Charlie Kirk is because The church has been silent on many of these issues that Charlie Kirk. was talking about. First of all, David, thank you for having me on.

It's a dark and sad and tragic reason that we're talking again, but I am grateful to have an opportunity to speak to it. With regard to Charlie Kirk. I couldn't really add to the accolades that people have I've spoken about him already, and many people who know him very well speak to his character. And obviously, he's this young, intellectually bright, articulate. quick-witted rising star started Turning Point USA, I believe, when he was 18.

That's pretty remarkable and has been going strong for, you know, he's 31 at his death. It's a remarkable young man, remarkable mind. And there were, I think, predictions that he might be the governor of Arizona one day and even the president of the United States. I have no doubt that he had the capacity to do that. But I think that what really gave power to that engine is that his positions were defensible and not merely because they were conservative positions, but because they were conservatism grounded in Christian truth.

The fact that he became a Christian, and I don't know exactly what his testimony is, but I don't believe he was raised a Christian, but he became a Christian. And the fact that he had the power of... Deep conviction and belief in the truth, it's as if he came to the Bible. And said, Hey, why aren't we thinking like this? Why aren't we speaking like this?

Why aren't we living like this? Doing this? And when he went out into the public square and just spoke the way the Bible speaks and expected that people should line up with it and under it and see its wisdom and see righteousness and how that should affect our politics, how that should affect the culture. I think that's what really made him stand out. The fact that he emerged from Gen Z being among them, being one of them, I think is what gave him a lot of credibility speaking to his own generation.

So you could say maybe a prophet. from his generation, speaking to his generation, so to speak, a prophet in quotes there. Regarding the second part of your question about the accuracy. of this man's critique against pastors. I do think that there is a lot that popularly are called churches.

people who are popularly called pastors. that have no right to the title. And so because that has been dominant on the And I'll just say the conservative landscape and even the evangelical landscape: that there are men and women who have ascended into pulpits who have no right to be there, and many organizations or institutions or gatherings called churches that are not true churches biblically. I think it makes perfect sense that there are a lot of. Gen Zers and many other people who are crying out for answers.

They're crying out for truth and understanding. I'm not sure if that's who this man is kind of laying the charge against. He may be painting with too broad of a brush because it's a pretty. Complex problem, and summing it up with a simplistic portrayal of most church leaders. have huddled in the corner saying nothing about big issues, hoping silence attract people to Jesus.

Again, maybe among spineless men who are known for being nice and non-controversial, getting people to attend and stay in their churches, maybe there's some merit to that charge, but among Thoughtful, conscientious, God-fearing, Bible-believing pastor, theologian, warriors that I know, you know, and those that we stay near to. They're dedicated to shepherd the flock of Jesus Christ. They're dedicated to doing pastoral ministry. Christ's will in Christ's way.

So that means, contrary to the demands that Gen Zers and others. those who expect a pastor to express a public opinion about every single thing that comes across a social media feed. True pastors are doing different work. They're keeping their head down in the text, in the books, and shepherding people, ministering to needs. They're speaking truth.

They're just doing it a lot of times in a very quiet way because they're focused on their own congregation, their own flock. They've got the long view in mind. They preach timeless truths to God's people. They trust the Spirit of God to do an invisible work.

So I think we want to be careful that we don't try to condemn all pastors. I think there are some very good pastors out there doing a very good work, but they're not always seen and known. Unlike a man like Charlie Kirk. Charlie Kirk, and he's like every Christian in every field, in every profession. Charlie Kirk is a man who needed faithful pastors in his life who weren't chasing every fad, who were not trying to answer every question that came across a social media feed in order to be most effective to train Charlie Kirk and other people to think biblically, doctrinally, theologically, and inform his own efforts to address the culture with such.

insightful and incisive critique.

So when pastors do their jobs, Men like Charlie Kirk emerge and they have a specific role that pastors don't have.

So I think that. We don't want to contrast pastors with Charlie Kirk. He's a special mind and a special man that was raised up for a special purpose. And that's God's prerogative and God's doing.

So I rejoice in a man like Charlie Kirk and I rejoice in faithful pastors. I do want to see pastors continuing to mine the truth of scripture and dig out those truths and bring them to bear and help. all people, young and old, to think biblically about everything, about their lives, about their times, about the culture, and answer hard questions. Travis Allen, pastor of Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado, is our guest today. After this two minute break to tell you about some ministry resources and updates, we'll discuss the cold-hearted celebration.

Of Charlie Kirk's death that is being posted all over social media, along with the ideology. that is leading to this violence. I'm David Wheaton and you are listening to the Christian Worldview Radio program. Here's a preview of the September issue of the Christian Worldview Journal.

Soren Kern writes about the seven feasts God established for the Jews to gather and worship Him, and how the Feast of Trumpets, which typically takes place in September, may be when Christ raptures church age believers. International journalist Alex Newman writes about the history of U. S. government schools and how Christianity has been purposely discarded. And my column is on the importance of godly influence.

The Christian Worldview Journal is a monthly 12-page full-color print publication designed to sharpen your biblical worldview on current events and issues of the faith. The journal is mailed to all Christian Worldview partners who support this radio ministry at $10 or more per month. To become a Christian Worldview partner or order an individual issue of the journal, go to thechristianworldview.org or call 188-646-2233 or write to Box 401-Excelsier, Minnesota. Mm-hmm. Scripture commands that children are to be brought up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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Be sure to visit thechristianworldview.org where you can sign up for our weekly email, the Christian Worldview Journal, monthly print publication, order resources for adults and children, and support the ministry. Our topic today is, Lord, may the assassination of Charlie Kirk be a turning point. And our guest is Travis Allen. Pastor of Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado. Travis, one thing that has been just gut-wrenching and shocking, I guess, is the way I would describe it.

How much Celebration. There has been online TikTok videos even on X and another social media platform called Blue Ski. That's a lot of left-wing people over there. Here's just a short compilation of what that sounds like. Charlie Kirk just got put down like a fing dog in Utah and I could not be happier.

I do not and I will not ever ever ever ever ever feel bad when bad people get what the f they deserve. Charlie Kirk got shot? That's awful. That's so sad. Hope he recovers w w well.

I just heard that someone shot Charlie Kirk? Dang it. Yeah. Sharks Thoughts and prayers? You know, Travis, I debated whether to air audio of these sinful mockers.

but I thought it was important to actually hear them in their own words. But it wasn't just videos, it's what people have been writing online as well. Here's one quote whoever shot Charlie Kirk, thank you with an exclamation point. bleeding from the neck, laughing my blank off. Or another person wrote online, This is what my teacher said this morning about Charlie Kirk's assassination.

Not sure if this is college or high school or what, but this is what the teacher said reportedly by this post. Quote, He wasn't a tolerant individual, Charlie Kirk. At the end of the day, if you live by the sword, you might as well be killed. By the sword. In other words, Charlie Kirk's rhetoric and being strong and having convictions.

He deserved what he had coming to him. Or here's one from a A Muslim said, Charlie Kirk, an enemy of Islam, was assassinated. May he burn in hell for eternity. Following up on that, Travis, there was a post by a man named Josh Howerton. He said political violence Is a Feature Not a bug.

Of progressivism. And he explains what that means because progressivism is built on top of a critical theory lens that sees the world through oppressed versus oppressor categories rather than a Christian theology lens of right versus wrong. It trains people to see opponents not as mistaken. but as evil oppressors. And he said, if you believe someone is mistaken, You try to persuade them.

That's what Charlie Kirk did. If you believe someone is an evil oppressor, literally, Hitler, fascist. existential threat to democracy. Virtually everything and everyone is racist, except for them, of course. you will then feel a moral obligation.

to stop them. And then he closes by saying this is why there is radically disproportionate violence emerging. on the left. And so that's why I titled our segments today. This wasn't a senseless murder, as the media will often say.

But it was rather a purposeful murder that came from their worldview that sees having a moral obligation to stop a fascist or a Hitler like Charlie Kirk. this widespread celebration, Travis, of Charlie Kirk's death. Can you just explain where this kind of thing stems from, that there are no breaks inside of people anymore? Like I shouldn't say that, shouldn't even think that? What's interesting, you read the quote from the Muslim who said.

Charlie Kirk. An enemy of Islam was assassinated. And then this. May he burn in hell for eternity. Why would someone say that?

May he burn in hell for eternity. Whoever posted that is a believer of sin of some sort, is a believer in judgment of some sort. He believes that there is such thing as truth and error. He believes in such things as sin and righteousness. He's got a warp perspective, obviously.

But he does believe that truth and ideas have consequences. I think that it is true that truth and righteousness. These things matter and there is a dividing line. The Bible says You are dead in your transgressions and sins in which you formerly walked, and then that's according to the course of this world. And then according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that's now working in the sons of disobedience.

You know what Paul's saying about. The people of the world? They are walking according to Satan. They are animated and breathing in and breathing out. The spirit that's now working in the sons of disobedience, that's the devil.

Jesus said, About many of the political and religious leaders of his generation, said it directly to them. As a matter of fact, John 8:44, you are of your father the devil. And you want to do the desires of your father. He's a murderer from the beginning, doesn't stand in the truth because there's no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

If anybody saw things. more clearly than Jesus Christ. I don't know who that is. The Apostle Paul? As an apostle of Jesus Christ.

He saw the human condition. Clearly, he saw that some are on the side of God. and others are on the side of Satan. And yet, Jesus, when he spoke to these. vile religious leaders, these vile political leaders.

He tried to win them. through his love, telling the truth. preaching the gospel, confronting them. I see Charlie Kirk. trying to pattern himself after Jesus Christ.

In speaking to people that are following wicked, vile ideologies that do come as Paul speaks of them in 2 Timothy, they are. Doctrines of demons. They're being influenced by the evil one, their father the devil. who was a murderer from the beginning and a liar. Paul saw that clearly.

Jesus sees that clearly. I think that Muslim that wrote against Charlie Kirk. He's on the completely opposite side. And he's willing to do violence. against those who don't follow what he thinks the truth is.

But Christians, we're called to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We're called to tell the truth. About the human condition, that sinners are underneath a delusion that comes from demons and demonic teaching. And yet, we are to treat our opponents, we're to treat those who are under that influence, knowing that we ourselves have come out of that by God's grace. We're to treat people with kindness.

or to treat them with love and were to win them by preaching the gospel to them.

Well said. And again, I don't know if listeners want to go looking around online for some of these videos, but it's just truly shocking. Absolutely vile, isn't it? The darkness of the human heart when it hasn't been transformed by Christ. Travis Allen is our guest today here on the program, talking about the murder of Charlie Kirk.

Now Beyond just political assassinations, and we don't exactly know that was at work here, Charlie Kirk, but I think it's very, very likely that it was. There have been Other recent shocking murders in this country from those who side with the left. And yes, I know, I'm sure there's some murders that are right-wing motivated as well, but just recently. There have been so many with Political motivations from the left, like the healthcare executive in New York who was just shot dead. on the street by someone who didn't like the big health care industry.

And the young couple who were Jewish believers who worked for the Israeli embassy in Washington DC were shot dead as well. from someone who was likely against Israel and pro-Hamas or something. The Catholic school shooting just took place recently here in Minneapolis. It was by a so-called transgender. person who's on the left.

Travis, you probably saw this. Recent murder that has come to light. In North Carolina, where this Ukrainian woman had come here from Ukraine to start a new life here, she was just sitting on a train. And just looking at her phone, And the man behind her just gets up and stabs her to death just for no impetus at all.

Someone who'd been released because of left-wing Criminal policies, I think, like 14 times or something. He's out on the streets. And then we get to Charlie Kirk, and as I mentioned, I think it's very likely that this is a politically motivated. assassination.

So, what does this say, Travis, about what our society has become? Despite the fact that we have a President who is at least trying to restore some form of law and order and close the borders from illegal immigration and be more friendly toward traditional values of America, what does it say about where we are now? It's a very sad commentary on where we are. It is always every time we see it, it's shocking. All those instances you mentioned of the murderous violence that we see.

In fact, it just seems that school shootings are happening almost on a weekly basis. They're almost like the weather report these days. They go in one ear, out the other ear, and we're hardly even shocked anymore. I remember when the Columbine shooting happened here in Colorado. that we were aghast, as we should be.

but now it's become so commonplace on the day of charlie kirk's murder That There was a shooting at the Evergreen High School here in Colorado. A number of students were injured, but it just was completely eclipsed in other stories. It's just become so commonplace.

So what does it say about our society? We're desperately sick. It's Isaiah's commentary. We are desperately sick from the head to the soles of our feet. We are in bad, bad shape.

So it's shocking every time it happens. But it's actually when we look back over our more recent history, the last 50, 60, 70 years. It's hardly surprising. This is what Paul scoped out in Romans chapter 1. as God gives over a society.

to its sin. Evil has been progressing in this country for decades with no-fault divorce, infidelity, covenant breaking. When you break the covenant with your wife, and you do violence to that covenant. that agreement before God. you won't hold anything to be sacred.

When you commit sexual immorality, God then hands over Romans chapter 1 gives them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity. Then, when they don't repent, he gives them over to dishonorable passions. Their females exchanging natural function for that which is unnatural in the same way also. Males abandoning the natural function of the female, burning in their desire toward one another, males with males committing indecent acts, receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. When they don't repent from there, God hands them over again.

When they don't see fit to acknowledge God, Romans 1.28, God gives them over to an unfit mind. to do those things which are not proper. and it goes on to just describe basically What's daily news? Daily news in our country.

Now we see the transgender ideology. It's just absolutely backwards and people acting. On what's Totally Strange. It's dehumanizing. And it does violence to humanity itself.

It is a death culture. that we've embraced. And I think now that you have a president who is trying to restore some law and order. He's trying to close borders. He's trying to restore order on the streets.

of our left-run cities.

Well, they're not run anymore. They're being run by the criminals. But when our president steps in and tries to stop that. It's no wonder that there's going to be violence and opposition to his resisting evil. That's what resistance to evil looks like.

is people breaking out against the law. Travis, you mentioned the transgender issue. And it's being reported in this murder assassination of Charlie Kirk that the. The assassin had messages of pro-transgender on his ammunition. And this is in following with other cases.

Covenant School, I think it was in Tennessee, the one here in Minneapolis. There have been a lot of murders committed by those who consider themselves transgender, which, of course, no one is transgender. They're the sex God made them, but they're in this mental state of confusion. Here's a short clip of a trans influencer, a man dressed as a woman. The sympathy for Charlie Kirk is weird.

There seems to be this weird emphasis on taking the moral high ground and that you are somehow a better person if you're like, ugh, I feel bad for his family. This is the world he wanted and the world he was building. This is a white supremacist who wanted both of us dead. He was shot in the middle of saying something transphobic about trans people. And yet, you want to have sympathy.

You don't have to like violence, but I'm confused as to how you thought the revolution was going to be magically bloodless. Travis, what is it about trans ideology that appears to be more willing to commit violence than other members of the sexual perversity movement like homosexuals or lesbians. Going back to the homosexual lesbian mindset as well, that's also doing violence against God's sacred institution of marriage. And Paul says they receive in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Some people think that that has to do with disease that comes along with the AIDS epidemic and things like that. And that there may be some of that there, but I think they're receiving the due penalty for their homosexuality. It has to do with just the completely wrecked soul, the wrecked life of a homosexual. It's not only the vileness of the act itself, but it's what it does to the heart. It's what it does to the soul.

It just completely hollows them out. They're not happy. Gay is the worst misnomer to apply to a homosexual ever. because they are not happy in any way. But I think when it comes to the Transgenderism, that just takes that homosexual ideology down another step in the path of rebellion against God.

And it goes so far among those who pursue the transgenderist ideology that they not only deny natural categories that God designed into the fabric of creation. You know, like the male-female binary that you see in every species. They're willing to act on that ideology.

So they do violence to their own bodies by chemical castration or surgical castration and mutilation. If their own bodies will not stay the madness and stay the hand of their violence, and they'll do violence against themselves, and they'll do violence against children to pursue this ideology. What prevents them from perpetrating violence against others? What prevents them from shooting a bullet at Charlie Kirk? Nothing.

They are wrecked inside. They have no. regard any longer to humanity, though they are created in God's image and they are image bearers, no matter what they do to themselves, they've lost that sense. And so that takes away.

So much restraint. and they are basically willing to destroy themselves and willing to burn the world down with them. Yeah, I think that word restraint is a good one. There's not much restraint left in our society today. Again Travis Allen is our guest, the pastor of Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado.

We need to take a short break to tell you about some ministry resources and updates.

Next, I'll ask Travis if rhetoric by politicians, media, and social media on the left is inspiring these acts of violence. and how Christians should think and respond to all of this. I'm David Wheaton and you are listening to the Christian Worldview Radio program. What is the Christian Worldview Radio program really about? Fundamentally, it's about impacting people.

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Soren Kern writes about the seven feasts God established for the Jews to gather and worship Him, and how the Feast of Trumpets, which typically takes place in September, may be when Christ raptures church age believers. International journalist Alex Newman writes about the history of US government schools and how Christianity has been purposely discarded. And my column is on the importance of godly influence. The Christian Worldview Journal is a monthly 12-page full-color print publication designed to sharpen your biblical worldview on current events and issues of the faith. The journal is mailed to all Christian Worldview partners who support this radio ministry at $10 or more per month.

To become a Christian Worldview partner or order an individual issue of the journal, go to thechristianworldview.org or call 188-646-2233 or write to Box 401, Excelsior, Minnesota. Yeah. Welcome back to the Christian Worldview. I'm David Wheaton. Be sure to visit thechristianworldview.org where you can sign up for our weekly email, the Christian Worldview Journal, monthly print publication, order resources for adults and children, and support the ministry.

Our topic today is: Lord, may the assassination of Charlie Kirk be a turning point. And our guest is Travis Allen. Pastor of Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado. the mainstream media and particularly social media. There's so much.

vilification of those who who have conservative or right wing Values, beliefs, and it goes back the other way as well, too. But I just think it's way stronger on the left toward against. the right and many are saying that This vilification and not only dividing the country, But it's also Contributing to these violent acts. Do you think that's the case, just talking about violence actually leads to something like what happened to Charlie Kirk? I think people have been very irresponsible with their words, yes.

And I do think that words are powerful. Words convey ideas. They carry ideas and they influence people to follow ideas. And those ideas can either be good or bad. They're righteous or unrighteous, evil and wicked ideas.

And there's so much of that. Those who are irresponsible about their language, uncareful about their speech.

Some of them are empty heads. They just want to be voted in.

So they'll say whatever they think is popular, no conviction of their own. They become pawns, then they're just empty vessels to do the bidding of more nefarious forces, whether human or angelic, you know, demons love to fill an empty vessel and use that vessel for their purposes. Yeah, I think that people uncareful with their speech. It's going to have an effect and it shows up in society, in culture. We need to be very careful stewards of our words.

Paul tells us in Ephesians chapter 4. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. And the word for unwholesome there is a word that can portray like the effect of acid. As it works through a metal and destroys it, it can refer to something that degrades and decays something.

So it's not just swear words, but it's an. unedifying or breaking down kind of a word. Don't let any of those proceed from your mouth, Paul says, but instead, here's how we're to use our mouths. Only such a word is as good for building up. what is needed so that it will give grace to those who hear.

That's not just Christians who have that command given to them. That's God's expectation of all people. The mouth that he gave us. He can give us to use it. autonomously however we want to Our mouth is to be an instrument of righteousness, to do his will.

So we're not to use our mouth to degrade, to tear down, to disintegrate, to act like a corrosive in society. And many people are using their mouse and their keyboards in exactly that way. Instead, we're to use our mouse. in a targeted way and our words in a targeted way to build people up. Our mouths are to be vehicles of the grace of God to other people.

If our society could just Grab onto that concept and pursue that concept. That's radical change. everywhere instantaneously. Yeah, you're right. Pastor Travis Allen from Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado, joins us today.

Final question for you, Travis. We'd just like to get a pastoral exhortation to close our conversation. What is the Wrong response. To this assassination of Charlie Kirk by Christians in the church. What shouldn't Christians be thinking you're doing at this point?

Conversely, what is the Right response: What should Christians in the church be thinking and doing in this moment? And perhaps. When you finish answering that, you could just close our time with a brief word of prayer for the family of Charlie Kirk and just our our nation broadly. Let me start with what I think the right response is because Paul says this. Our right response to this.

reprehensible, vile evil that's taken the life of this. Fantastic young man, and robbed his children of their father, robbed his wife Erica of her husband. It's evil and a righteous response to this is righteous indignation and righteous anger. In fact, Paul commands us to that very thing in Ephesians 4.26. He says, be angry.

We're not to be indifferent to evil and injustice. We're not to be dispassionate about it. We're not to take some academic posture in reaction to these clear manifestations of evil and speak as if we're talking about a science experiment or something. We're to speak clearly about it. We're to speak clearly against it and oppose it and confront it.

I think the right response and right. Thought of Christians and all people ought to be to support and fund and encourage law enforcement, military, all those institutions God has given in the government to restrain evil and punish evildoers. And anybody who is in power who tries to resist the God-designed purpose of government. We've got to remove those people. Through the legislative process, not with violence, but with the legislative process.

But Paul doesn't leave it there, be angry. He goes on to tell us what to do with our anger or what not to do. He says, be angry and yet do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger and do not. give the devil an opportunity.

James 1.20 follows up with that. He says, the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

So we need to be very careful that when we are righteously indignant, if that festers and we don't think about our anger righteously. it will turn into Giving the devil a foothold in our hearts, and then that festers and it becomes merely the anger of man, not a righteous indignation, and that does not achieve the righteous purposes of God.

So we can't let the sun go down our anger, meaning we can't continue to brood. And to let it stew inside of us and let a root of bitterness grow, we need to take our anger to God in prayer. And then we need to act out of that righteous indignation and be a means of God's answer to our prayers by getting up from our knees and praying and then turn to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute. and bless and do not curse, the antidote to human sin and the answer to wickedness and depravity, the remedy to all evil, the rescue from God's just wrath for all sins. There's one answer to all of that.

It's the love and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Amen. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Every single one of us has the potential in our hearts to do exactly what that assassin did to Charlie Kirk. It's just given The right opportunity, we're a number of steps away from committing the same kinds of heinous acts because it's in every human heart.

We all have anger, we all have lust, we all have covetousness, we all have greed and fear and unbelief and pride. And jealousy. envy. We all have these sins in us. And given the right set of circumstances, the right opportunity and the right festering.

That stuff comes out. And God justly condemns that to hell. Any sin against His Holiness is a sin that merits eternal hell because we sin against an eternal one, an infinite person. The only just punishment for sinning against an infinite person is an infinite penalty, and that's the penalty of hell. God gave his one and only son, the beloved Lord Jesus Christ.

to live a perfect life. that we could not live and then to die the death that we deserve to take our sins on himself so that anybody who believes will have their sin forgiven in the death of Jesus Christ for our sins on the cross. God poured out his wrath on him. He absorbed it for us.

So that he could take our sins on himself, forgive us of our sins, and then... cover us in his righteousness. Reconcile us to God. and make us whole. That's what that assassin needs.

That's what. Charlie Kirk needed, that's what Charlie Kirk preached.

So that's exactly what we've got to share with. the world and we have to do it boldly. I think as Charlie Kirk tried to model. He tried to be respectful in speaking to people, but straightforward and fearless because he believed the truth. I think we have to do the same thing.

Thank you, Travis, for explaining that so well and for reminding us that sharing the gospel is the only solution to the wickedness in our hearts. Travis, could you just close us our conversation today in just a word of prayer for the Kirk family and for the country at large? Yeah, I'd be aligned to. Our Father, we thank you that you are sovereign and in complete control of all things. We know that the death of Charlie Kirk did not take you by surprise, but instead you called your servant home.

And what is a blessing for him and to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And what is a blessing for him is sorrow for his family, his dear wife, Erica, his children, his two young children. They are going to feel this loss. They will always miss him. And we just ask that you would comfort them with the comfort of Christ and your word.

Surround her and the family with family loving Christians, their church. please minister to them through many vehicles of your grace around them and restore them lord our hearts are are breaking for them just us having Wives of our own, kids of our own. We know what this must be like. We can imagine it.

So we just asked that you would comfort them. And Lord, if it be your will that you would. Stay the violence in our country. We know that it may become more severe and more, just as David was reading, some of those. tragic leftist evil responses to the death of Charlie Kirk.

It's just Unconscionable how anybody could think that way, and yet they do. And we know that those people need Christ so desperately. We just ask that you would. Bring salvation to many through the death of this man. And we pray that you would.

Sanctify your church, and that your church Christians would stand up and be strong and bold. That this would cause many Charlie Kirks to rise up and to be able to speak so that. They are more numerous than the assassins that would try to take them out. We just ask that you would raise up your church, strengthen it, help Christians to be bold, joyful witnesses to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because it's in Christ and Christ alone that we can be saved.

But we do pray, Father, just in a practical way that you would. Stay the hand of violence in this country, that you would restore law and order and give us a season of rest. and peace and prosperity.

So that we could make hay while the sun is shining and bring the gospel to many, many more. We want to see the preservation of life. And not the degrading of the image of God and humanity that brings sorrow to our hearts. Father, we want to see you glorified, and you are glorified most when Christ is exalted and honored. We love you and thank you in Jesus' name.

Amen. Travis, thank you for closing our conversation by bringing these pains of our heart to the Lord. And we thank you for your boldness and your courage in proclaiming the truth of the word and the gospel as well. Thank you for coming on the Christian Worldview Radio program today. All of God's best and grace to you.

and Grace Church and Greeley, Colorado and your family as well. Thank you, my brother. It's good to be in all with you again. Travis is such an insightful guest. He is informed about current events and brings a sound biblical foundation to what he says.

We have a link to his church, Grace Church in Greeley, Colorado, on our website, thechristianworldview. org. You can listen to his sermons or subscribe to his Pillar of Truth podcast. We title the program today, Lord May the Assassination of Charlie Kirk be a turning point. That of course is playing on the name of the organization he founded.

But we do need a turn in this country. Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God. And that's exactly what we need. Otherwise, there's going to be even greater division and violence.

Now very interesting. Charlie Kirk was asked the following question in notice his immediate answer about the most important turning point in one's life. I have 30 seconds left to live. I'm dying from a gunshot wound. But what would you actually want to tell me if I have 30 seconds left to live?

In 30 seconds, you're about to meet eternal judgment. And so you got 10 seconds left, you're dying from a gunshot wound. And there's only one way that you can get bailed out of that. And it's not all the good things you did or the moral scorecard. It's whether or not you have Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

That's the only thing that's going to be. You let him die? I want to be remembered for courage for my faith. That that would be the most important part. Most important thing is.

After Charlie Kirk was shot in the neck, I don't think he had thirty seconds. But he didn't need it. He didn't know he was going to die that day. but he was ready to die. because he had repented of his sin and trusted in Christ as his Saviour.

He knew And believed The gospel. I don't know if you know this, but everyone dies. It's important to remind yourself of that. that you face God, the judge, and he's gonna list everything you did wrong in your life. For those of you that have not given your life to Christ, I can tell you it is the most freeing.

liberating thing. that a human being can possibly do, the most important thing that you can do. The assassin may have ended Charlie Kirk's relatively short earthly life. But his eternal life in heaven has been Has just started, and he is alive and safe in the presence of his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. You too.

Can have that assurance when you repent. and put your faith in Christ. The Apostle Paul said in his letter to the Philippians For to me, To live is Christ. and to die is gain. Thank you for joining us today on the Christian Worldview.

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