A Christian man, who was 31 years of age with a wife and two children, was murdered on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Why was this Christian man murdered? His killer didn’t like that he, Charlie Kirk, spoke against the transgender movement, which is a deadly cult. The killer etched words of support for transgenderism and anti-fascism. Let’s have a thought exercise this morning, as Christians, because this is relevant for us all. How did we end up at such a point? Pastor Mike Riccardi, of Grace Community Church, writes, “In his excellent book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, historian Carl Trueman argues that the dominant worldview of the contemporary secular West is what he calls ‘expressive individualism.’ This is the idea that ‘each of us finds our meaning by giving expression to our own feelings and desires’ (46). The Enlightenment philosopher Rene Descartes is famous for the dictum, ‘I think, therefore I am.’ Expressive individualism is captured by the motto: ‘I feel, therefore I am.’ Or perhaps, ‘I am what I feel I am.’ ‘And,’ the reasoning goes, ‘in order for me to be my authentic self, I must give unfettered expression to those feelings. And because I am my feelings, any contradiction of my psychological beliefs about myself—any failure to affirm and validate those feelings—is a hateful threat to my very self. It is violence against my personhood.’ That is western culture over the last 15 years, especially as promoted by the political left. It’s why ‘speech’ is called ‘violence.’ It’s why words are spoken of as being ‘weaponized.’ Everything is a weapon if I am under attack when my feelings aren’t affirmed. Any lack of wholehearted affirmation and even celebration of my feelings—and certainly the notion that my feelings ought to change in order to be brought in line with objective reality—is virtually the same as wanting me to die. It’s not difficult to see the implication: I have to kill you before you ‘kill’ me. There is a straight line between the deification of one’s own feelings to the political assassinations (and attempts) that we are now seeing more of.”[1]
Why did the murderer think Charlie was anti-transgenderism? Because Charlie, as a Christian, believed and taught that God made two genders (two sexes), male and female, which are static and determined by God alone, prior to birth. Does that describe you this morning? Does that describe what you believe, that there are only two genders and they are determined by God alone, at a chromosomal level? If it doesn’t, then you are in direct contradiction of God’s holy Word and should repent of your sin.
Why did the murderer think Charlie was a fascist? First, let’s define fascism. Fascism is a form of totalitarian rule. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary contains the following regarding totalitarianism, “of or relating to a political regime based on subordination of the individual to the state and strict control of all aspects of the life and productive capacity of the nation especially by coercive measures (as censorship and terrorism).”[2] The Pocket Dictionary of Ethics explains totalitarianism as, “The political theory that invests the state with the right to exercise oversight or even control over all aspects of the lives of its citizens. The term was first put forward by Mussolini in describing the Fascist state as stato totalitario. Totalitarianism has been criticized by ethicists in general as being incompatible with the idea that the human person is the entity in whom *rights are ultimately invested and by Christian ethicists as usurping for the state prerogatives that belong solely to God.”[3] Hmmm… So, the persecution of Christian groups and conservative groups under the recent democrat presidents doesn’t fit this definition of totalitarian, but Charlie Kirk disagreeing with you does? So, because Charlie, as a Christian, disagreed with transgenderism, the LGBTQ+ agenda, homosexual marriage, feminism, Wokeness, social Marxism, etc… As a result, he was called a Nazi, a fascist, a racist, and an inciter of violence. According to this mindset, every person here this morning with a biblical view of marriage and sexuality would be considered a fascist. Good thing this criterion is not the arbiter of truth. This man proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ during his time on college and university campuses. He declared the inherent worth and dignity of the unborn. If you claim to be a Christian here this morning, and you are pro-choice or support abortion, you are at odds with the Word of God. It does not matter how you have rationalized it, you are wrong.
There are a number of people who are so far gone from logical discussion, that they blamed Charlie for his own murder. Because they have drank the Kool-Aid of liberal academia, the liberal media, and liberal politics, which openly communicates that a person is no longer accountable for his or her own actions. Friends, listen to what Scripture has to say, “But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Rom. 2:5–8).
Charlie was a strong supporter of the second amendment. As a result, many public-school teachers and employees, university professors and employees, and a large number of others who are on the political left, including members of the media have celebrated the murder of this Christian man declaring that he “got what he deserved.” The United States of America is in a desperate state morally and spiritually. This does not get fixed by Christians hiding their light (i.e. the truth) under a basket. It does not change by professing Christians adopting the ungodly, secular views and practices. Christians must live out the truth of God’s Word. Churches must live out the truth of God’s Word. Christians must proclaim the gospel, which starts with the standard of God’s law.
Charlie, as a Christian, taught biblical principles which directly contradict the message and practice of the secular humanistic culture, the message and practice of government schools, and the message and practice of the democrat party. So, if you are a Christian who believes that God’s Word is authoritative and yet you hold views and practices that are contrary to Scripture, you have a problem.
I have been praying for Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika, and his two children who are now without a father. May God give them comfort and peace.
[1] https://x.com/MikeRiccardi_/status/1966507105734873535
[2] Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).
[3] Stanley J. Grenz and Jay T. Smith, Pocket Dictionary of Ethics, The IVP Pocket Reference Series (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003), 121. * It appears elsewhere in the book as a separate entry