The sun’s just come up and I’m sitting on the back porch with the dog. The fog hangs low.  Dew clings to the grapevine.  I can hear morning traffic on the main road while everybody heads to school or work. And I can’t stop thinking about Charlie Kirk‘s memorial yesterday.  Maybe you didn’t agree with his politics or maybe he said hard things that you just didn’t really want to hear, but he loved the Lord and many in this generation heard the gospel because of him.  They heard it on his podcast, they heard it in his debates under the tent and they heard it over and over and over again yesterday at his memorial service. One after another spoke to hundreds of thousands of listening ears about Charlie’s love for the Lord and about the Lord‘s love for all of us. I watched as a stadium packed to the brim with people worshiped in unison, hearts broken with loss, hands in the air. Many said they were expecting a funeral, but this was a revival.  

There was a shift in the atmosphere 12 days ago. You can feel it. Or you should feel it.  And if you don’t feel it, then I might encourage you to check your heart. Make sure your politics aren’t getting in the way.

Charlie said hard things. Was he always right? No. But who of us is?  He did however get out there and do what most of us don’t. He boldly and loudly and PUBLICALLY spoke truth in love.  He also welcomed opposing dialogue and invited discussion. Most of us have forgotten how to do that.  Actually have civil conversations with people who don’t agree with what we believe. 

When it was his turn to speak at the memorial, President Trump rambled a lot, bless him.  I mean he usually does, but especially yesterday. It’s one of those moments where you just keep trying to say the right thing, but what even is the right thing in a moment like that? But one thing he said that hit me was something to the effect of when words are considered violence, then it only can be expected that people will use violence to silence words.  When I grew up, we had a saying. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. I know that’s not true. Of course, words hurt. But we never considered words to be violence. I remember the first time I heard that. That words had somehow become considered to be a violent act towards another. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. But because we didn’t want offend anybody with our violent words, we let it go. Suddenly everything had to be politically correct because people couldn’t tolerate words anymore. People couldn’t tolerate someone disagreeing with them or their beliefs or their lifestyle. Suddenly disagreement was considered violent.

And now a young man with hate in his heart and a rifle in his hand has used violence to shut the mouth of a man who spoke about doing what you can for your country, about being honorable and not taking advantage of the system, about loving your spouse and taking care of your family, about honoring your parents and loving the Lord and living right.  Those words were too much. They made too much sense. The truth he spoke was too bright and the darkness had to snuff it out.  Or at least try to. 

But at yesterday’s service, what I saw wasn’t darkness and despair. It wasn’t concession. It wasn’t rolling over and accepting defeat. No. It was unity.  Hands were raised in worship.  The gospel was preached over and over.  The gates of hell did not prevail.  And they won’t.  God took a thing the enemy tried to use for evil and He used it for good.  And He’ll keep doing that. 

Many have said Charlie’s murder is a turning point for this nation and I would have to agree.  It’s seems to have shaken us from our slumber. I pray we will keep our eyes wide open.  That the shift in the air will set us on a right course and get us off this path of crazy we’ve been on for a while now.  I pray that those who heard the gospel yesterday and chose to follow the Rabbi will have a fire ignited in their bones that the enemy can’t put out.  I pray that we all remember who we are and Whose we are and what we’re here for.  Lord stir the hearts of your people.  Remind us to arm ourselves with Truth.  Give us courage and boldness to push back against the darkness.  Here we are.  Send us.