Michael Demory
It has been several months since Charlie Kirk was assassinated while holding discussions with university students over various subjects. Something he has done for over twelve years since the founding of his Turning Point USA organization. I must admit that he had not been on my radar except occasionally in the past year when he became involved in the 2024 re-election of President Trump. I listened to him here and there through YouTube videos and appreciated debating ability, something the majority of people today are not willing to do, especially denominational preachers. Debate was once viewed as a part of normal conversation between individuals, but not anymore. Today debate is seen as unhealthy, even mean spirited, but only to those who are unable to defend their positions, or university professors who are grooming students to become a compliant class of citizen who never questions anything.
Enter Charlie Kirk, the “fly in the ointment,” a “thorn in one’s side,” encouraging students to think for themselves, to question all things and to debate. Liberals hated him for it, because if it caught on, they would not be able to hold on to their automatons, who spew out their venom without knowing or questioning why. Denominations are filled with such individuals, so the Universities are only trying to catch up, using their model. But the fly in the ointment has acquired a following over the past 12 years that liberals detest. What gave him the right to oppose abortion, DEI, LGBTQ “rights,” and to stand for the second amendment? Not to mention controversial positions (only to the left) where he criticized the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, Martin Luther King, the electoral fraud in 2020, and COVID-19. Then his “Christianity” that, God forbid, sex is only allowed in marriage between a man and a woman, among other issues. Yes, he had to be stopped!
Many academics and students hounded him about his not having received a college degree, and yet he was able to out debate them on any subject. It was his life’s ambition to challenge our youth who would become the future leaders of society. Having listened to several videos of his campus appearances, I was amazed at his astuteness on many subjects. He claimed to have read 100 books on different subjects every year, and his knowledge appears to prove that. Since his death, TPUSA has received over 32,000 inquiries about starting new chapters of Turning Point in their cities and campuses. Many people have been inspired by his life and example that religion has become important to them, causing them to read the Bible for the first time and even attend services. Even Joe Rogan said this is something he thought he would never do, but is slowly warming up to the idea. While a renewed interest in God and debate is wonderful, it is through another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9) that such finds its foundation. While I appreciate all that Charlie stood for secularly, and this will be hard to hear for many (John 6:60), religiously, Charlie was not even in the ball park of true New Testament Christianity. What I do pray for, is that Charlie’s insistence with the young people he spoke to, that they question everything and not be afraid to debate will stick with them. That they will take that seriously, and question whatever churches they choose to align themselves with at the beginning. If I could contact Mr. Rogan, I would try to help him understand the truth in order to lead him to the true and right way.
Charlie was very ecumenical in his religious beliefs. Though an evangelical Christian who belonged to the Calvary Chapel Association, he joined Rob McCoy’s Pentecostal church accepting speaking in tongues, direct operation of the Holy Spirit and miracles existing today. He also believed people are saved by faith alone, which the Scripture deny, and he believed we will inherit the earth in the end. He believed in creationism, intelligent design and a young earth which is a plus. There are many other things he believed and accepted as true, but sincerity is not enough to save anyone. The apostle Paul was sincere, when he as Saul of Tarsus received letters from the Jewish leadership to round up Christians in Damacus to be returned to Jerusalem to be put to death (Acts 9:1-2; Gal. 1:13-14).
The hype over Charlie Kirk and now his wife Erika is inspiring to say the least in that they have and continue to have influence over our youth and some older Americans to think about God and questioning their beliefs. It is my hope and prayer that this will continue for sometime, but that serious religious debate will take place. That hearts and minds will be as open to hearing the truth about the church, God’s true plan of salvation as much as they will be to change their thinking about abortion, socialism, Marxism, DEI, LGBTQ, and evolution to name a few. Charlie definitely has people talking about a number of issues, both positive and negative. Sadly it took his assassination to wake more people up to what he was and is all about. It would have been nice to take the opportunity to debate him religiously, and hopefully turn him to the truth, but he made his choice and his fate is now sealed.
He is not in heaven with Jesus as most people falsely believe. The Bible teaches that no one is yet in heaven. If it were true that the dead go to heaven now, then what would be the purpose of Jesus’ second coming and Judgment Day? Why would the Holy Spirit lie to us about men and women rising out of Hades to meet Jesus in the air for judgment when He returns a second time (Matt. 25:31-46; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)? The temporary realm of the dead (Sheol in Hebrew, and Hades in Greek) is where everyone who has ever lived now reside awaiting Christ’s return (Luke 16:19-31). Jesus will not return with His saints, but with His mighty angels, taking vengeance on everyone who has not truly known God or obeyed the gospel of Christ (2 Thess. 1:6-8). Of all the denominations that exist today and will continue to grow in number until Christ returns, not one of them existed in the first century when Christ established His one and only church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4; Acts 2:47).
The Kirk phenomenon is like the Great Awakening of the 18th century. A renewed sense of conviction and redemption and increase in church attendance. While we applaud Charlie for remolding the minds of some of our youth as concerns questioning what one is taught, and being inclined to debate it, we should not applaud his acceptance of denominational style Christianity. Like the 18th century Great Awakening, the Kirk phenomenon has had the opposite affect of seeking the truth. More false doctrines and churches sprung up with the Great Awakening as will, I’m afraid, the same occur, unless Americans take to heart Charlies’ call for debate, and challenging the norm. If that does come to fruition, then members of the church should stand ready for that bellwether and be prepared to take every opportunity to debate and teach the lost. This just might be what we have been waiting for, a renewed sense of religious fervor and willingness to truly search the Scriptures daily to make sure the truth is being taught.
While I can’t agree with Charlie or Erika’s religious beliefs, I do strongly defend their choices. As God does not force anyone to obey Him, neither should we, but simply try to nudge them in the right direction for their souls sake.
