The Blood of Charlie Kirk Speaks: A Missionary Perspective

Where were you when Charlie was shot?

Where you were when major world events happened is important. I remember my parents telling me where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated and when Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed.

We first learned of the planes striking the World Trade Center in New York City when we were going down the stairwell to leave our apartment in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Our landlord’s son was watching the coverage on CNN and calling to us that our country was at war. As missionaries just entering our second year on the field, we were stunned about these events happening back home.

When Charlie was shot it was 3:23 AM on Thursday in Siem Reap, Cambodia (Wednesday, 2:23 MDT). We were up very early and preparing to take our American guests to see the famed sunrise view at the Angkor Wat temple complex. When we learned of the shooting and Charlie’s immediate death, then saw the video, we were truly shocked. It reminded me of how I felt on September 11, 2001. When horrible events of such import happen and you are far away from home, it lends itself to a different perspective on those events.

We have been surprised by how much of a global event this is.

Christians here in our small city in rural Cambodia, almost none of whom speak English, began to ask us about what happened with Charlie Kirk. They wanted to know why his death was such big news and if they had the facts on what had happened. Events that rock America make waves throughout the whole world, even more remote places where people are connected online.

It has been surreal how millions around the world have erupted in protest against oppression and injustice in post-Christian countries that once knew freedom of speech and greater political freedom. When Kirk, known for free speech, kindness, and fair debate, met his death this way by a radical leftist, it seemed to shake people up around the globe, especially countries most influenced by Western culture. When I saw how the million-man march in London against mass immigration and cultural suicide gained huge momentum after Charlie was shot, I knew this was really big.

Remember that most of the world has never known free speech.

The freedom of the press and public debate which Charlie Kirk fought for and exemplified is fundamental to American traditional values protected in the Constitution. He effectively exercised and promoted freedom of dialogue and communication, the privilege of constructive criticism in the public square. And he did this in a respectful and kind way.

Have you ever stopped to think that most nations and peoples throughout history have never experienced freedom like this? Totalitarianism, Communism, Muslim societies, dictatorships, oppressive kings, empires, and tribal chiefs, etc., have kept most of mankind from enjoying freedom of speech, genuine liberty of conscience, the ability to challenge ideas and actions of those in authority.

In Southeast Asia, people regularly go to prison, disappear, or conveniently commit suicide for objective journalism or speaking out against injustice or oppression. Even what we might consider to be a relatively innocent social media post that casts a negative light on the government can land you in jail and/or face extreme financial penalties in many places. This is true in more countries today than many realize. This causes many oppressed abroad to see Charlie Kirk as a champion for what they wish they had.

America has had these rare freedoms since its founding, and it has been eroding. Charlie Kirk and his movement have revived the beauty and privilege of these rights that have been moving toward extinction in recent years.

Much Gospel Truth Remains in the USA!

Consider our context.

As I said above, we recently took our guests to Cambodia’s major tourist destination, a mind-blowing architectural wonder of the ancient world, the Angkorian temples. These are Hindu/Buddhist temples that are the national symbol and pride of Cambodian culture. Cambodia’s 17.5 million people are at least 97% Folk Buddhist. Buddhism, ancestor worship, and animism/spirit worship dominate the land. That is why we came here as church planting missionaries back in 2000.

When we first came, most of my evangelistic endeavors meant introducing people who had no clue who Jesus is to their Creator and Savior. Almost every person was a blank slate of knowledge about God. Twenty-five years later, after an incredible amount of sowing and watering of Gospel seed, a small but growing church exists in this country. Many more people than before have some sort of knowledge about Christianity—it has something to do with a Creator, Jesus, a cross, and no idol worship.

We serve in a truly pagan land. In our small city of 60,000, there might possibly be 100 Christians. This is considered an unreached people group. We are grateful the Lord has allowed us to serve Him here.

This past week was the annual Festival of the Dead where almost all Cambodians give themselves to Buddhist rituals and ancestor worship, followed by mass drunkenness. Christian churches here are small outposts for Christ in a land of great darkness.

Consider what happened at the memorial service.

My wife and I watched the memorial service of Charlie and we could not believe what we saw and heard. Not only was the memorial service very plainly and openly evangelical Christian for Charlie and Erika Kirk’s sake, but it was watched live by 100 million people! 100 million people watched a gospel-centered Christ-glorifying memorial service! It included Erika forgiving her husband’s killer.

The most powerful political leaders of the most powerful nation in the world attended this Christian man’s memorial service. But that is not what is most significant. What is incredible is that numerous key and influential leaders openly testified of faith in Jesus Christ and actually explained the Gospel in their speeches! There were a few general speeches that were religious and vague, and rightly so, since not all the speakers were Christians. Others named Jesus Christ as Lord and gave bold testimony for Him.

No matter what your critique might be of each political figure’s sincerity, understanding of the Bible, or motivations, it is jaw-dropping to consider how much Bible was quoted. And most of those Scriptures were taken in-context and explained accurately. Some even gave very clear and bold testimony to truths of Jesus Christ, including salvation and repentance. These included America’s Vice-President, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, and the Secretary of Homeland Security. The President himself honored Kirk’s testimony and was clear in his appreciation of Christian values. As a Christian, as a cross-cultural missionary, this reminded me of why America is still a missionary sending nation!  

We need to praise God for His mercy through Charlie’s testimony.

Not only have the hundreds of millions of people who have watched the coverage of Charlie’s memorial service heard the Gospel, but the many millions now looking at his life and listening to his podcasts and reading his articles are getting the Gospel. The scale of gospel seed being planted and watered through what is taking place is incredible. People all over the world, especially the Western world—America, Canada, U.K., Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand—are being challenged to look to God and turn back to Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30).

Yes, much of this is intertwined with politics. Yes, some people are and will abuse Kirk’s legacy for personal and political gain. Even so, God has chosen this moment and Charlie’s testimony to be a significant time of mercy. God is calling people to repent and turn to Jesus in a time when Western nations have been rapidly declining into deep darkness. This is a moment of God’s grace, undeserved kindness, as God speaks through the testimony of this special man’s life.

There are definitely legitimate concerns about confusing nationalism with the Gospel, fears about ecumenism, and temporary and emotional false conversions, etc. Don’t let those concerns rob you of seeing the grace and mercy of God at work in these things. I would argue that if you are a Christian and can’t see God’s grace at work here, seeing only concerns, you have a real problem. The apostle Paul certainly would have had concerns, but he would also be rejoicing (Philippians 1:17-18).

This may be a time of large-scale revival. It is definitely a special time of God’s mercy and grace. Many will come to saving faith in Jesus Christ as God blesses His Word that is going out. We need to be ready to use questions about Charlie and conversations about him to point people to his Savior.