Pastors, Evangelical leaders react to the killing of Charlie Kirk: 'A Christian martyr'
Greg Laurie
Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in California and Hawaii mourned the loss of Kirk and hailed his courage and "unwavering voice for biblical truth." He also reminded believers of the assurance of salvation and that those who put their faith in Christ will one day be reunited with their loved ones.
"I'm sure many of you have heard the heartbreaking news — Charlie Kirk has died.
"This is an incredible loss. Charlie was such a courageous young man. He was not only a bold and unwavering voice for biblical truth in our culture, but also a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a family man. He will be deeply missed.
"As shocking as this news is, we can take comfort in knowing that Charlie is now in Heaven.
"The moment he took his last breath here on earth, he took his first breath in the presence of the Lord. That is the hope we hold on to as believers — eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.
"Please join me in praying for Charlie's wife and children during this unimaginable time. May the God of all comfort surround them with peace and strength."
In an interview with TBN Wednesday night, Laurie, who shared that he was among the pastors who spoke at Turning Point USA's Faith Forward Pastors Summit in California in early August, said he was in a state of "shock and deep sorrow." But he also encouraged Christians to reflect on the message of Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom, who is credited with saying, "A life is not measured by its duration, but by its donation."
Laurie reflected on all that Kirk had achieved in his 31 years of life: starting TPUSA at age 18, followed by his most important roles as a husband and father.
"I just spoke at one of their events only a few weeks ago. And then I said to the pastors who gathered how important I thought Charlie's voice was. And as it has been said, he was such a profound voice on political issues, but also on spiritual issues," he added. Illustrating his point, Laurie noted that although the media often describe Kirk as a "political activist" or "right-wing activist" … "first and foremost, he was Charlie Kirk Christian, and then he was Charlie Kirk, husband and father."
Lauding Kirk's masterful ability to debate people of opposing views and even be conciliatory when some spewed insults at him to try to rile him up, Laurie said, "he would come back and respond logically and calmly to the inflamed rhetoric."
But for Laurie, whose son, Christopher, died at age 33 while driving to church one Sunday morning, he offered his thoughts from the perspective of a father and pastor in moments like this that don't make sense. "I know at a time like this, we ask why. Why would God allow a young man with so much life ahead of him, with so much promise, with a beautiful young family, two children, to die such a horrific death? …
"Let me just say, Charlie is in Heaven. I think that's very important to remember. He's in Heaven. The moment he took his last breath on Earth, he took his first breath in Heaven. Charlie is safe in the arms of Jesus because he put his faith in Christ."
While there are no answers to the "why?" question, Laurie focused on the "what," reflecting on how Kirk unabashedly shared his faith "without any hesitation."
He advised those who followed Kirk to continue his legacy by emulating his example of boldly sharing the Gospel: "Be bold for your faith. Speak truth to the culture. Don't be ashamed. Don't be embarrassed. Charlie was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ."
"Charlie lived a full life. He lived his life well. He made a great donation, but we thank God that he lived his life well."
