If you’re a Christian - what are your thoughts on Charlie Kirk?

[ondemand]

There’s been a lot of very fiery discussions on other boards about the life and (horrific) death of Charlie Kirk. I’m a Christian (and regular MN name changer) but I’m intrigued to know what other Christians thought of him too?

In my circle of (Christian) friends, the reaction is a bit mixed. Most would say they knew he was a Christian as he regularly shared about his faith, some agreed with him on everything and others didn’t like his political views at all.

I’m not looking to start a debate (I promise!) but curious to know what other believers think.

I give up. 🤦‍♀️

@LeaningOnTheEverlastingArms ...And for that the man was assassinated.
Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr.

He spoke God's Truth and was murdered for it. He is indeed a Christian martyr. Even after his death he is still being misrepresented ... but then, I'm bound to observe, he is in good company with his Lord and Saviour.

I'd already given up. 🍿

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/11/charlie-kirk-quotes-beliefs

I do not rejoice in Charlie Kirk's death. Views like his are better confounded by argument and taking life in the way his was cannot be justified.

This is about what he said though, because if he's being called an actual martyr they do invite examination

If I’m dealing with somebody in customer service who’s a moronic Black woman, I wonder is she there because of her excellence, or is she there because of affirmative action?
– The Charlie Kirk Show, 3 January 2024

Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people, that’s a fact. It’s happening more and more.
– The Charlie Kirk Show, 19 May 2023

I would ask those who believe that he was speaking "God's Truth" if they think the Lord Jesus Christ (who you put him in company with @Thegreatestoftheseislove ) would have said these, or many other things that CK did? There is only so far you can go with the "out of context"/"misrepresented" argument because many of us are far from convinced, by the evidence of his own words.

Edited due to misquote, apologies.

Goodness quite an eye opener there @Uricon2 I hadn't seen those particular examples.

About the discussion about the martyr. My cousin loss his life at just 20. He was stabbed on the streets by Muslims. They had an argument at college over tennis and they said there was an insult to a faith on both sides. They ended up stabbing up my cousin and being tried and going to prison. It is in the press. Now, my cousin wasn't perfect and I wish they didn't fight but reconcile. However, my cousin stood for his faith at 20. I think he could be a martyr. I read there is a level in heaven where martyr go. I think in Catholicsm which is Christanity I would doubt it a martyr has to be as perfect as some may think,

Blood of Martyr...strenght of confessors etc...

I myself am a ethnic origin and if was talking public about a black mormon it can be hard for how you grow up and no barriers like that...but in public speaking it can sound a bit strange..I don't think that would bar Christ from embracing him.

I am so sorry @Justmerach . What a terrible thing to happen to your cousin, and to you and your family. I trust that your cousin (and Charlie Kirk) is now with God.

So sorry for your loss @Justmerach

Thank you about my cousin. It was a very long time now, but it makes of the martyr situation. He was 20 and I was just 21 I am 52 today, but still remember the loss very well. This BBC article mention in 1995 for the arrest.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6206886.stm

This very much depends on what the things are that are disagreed on. All Christians need to hold to the core beliefs, for example, that Christ was fully human and fully divine, that He was resurrected, the virgin birth, the Holy Trinity, etc. These are the core beliefs and if you don't believe in even one of those you cannot be called a Christian and would need to repent. There are other things that Christians disagree on, some of them problematic for other parts of theology, but you would still be considered to be a Christian. For example belief in a literal 6 day creation vs other views.

When people disagreed in the NT we need to look at what they were disagreeing about and the response to that. For example the Galatians were described by Paul as being sound in their faith except for the fact they were requiring circumcision for new Gentile believers. Paul rebuked Peter over that subject too. Now, is that just a disagreement one could live with? Paul said no, because it was endorsing a works-based gospel.

Paul's words bear repeating: (Gal. 1:6-10) "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (ESV)

It's absolutely true that no-one is completely correct about every single aspect of the Christian faith, it's not humanly possible, but we do have to take care we aren't unwittingly falling into problematic beliefs because of secular pressure. We should constantly be on our guard.

Of course I agree with you @GentleSheep and I'm sure you can see in the light of this that some of what Kirk said was problematic?

I also remember hearing an old Wycliffe missionary speak once. He said we have a tendency to become so obsessed with orthodoxy / doctrine and believing the right thing that we set that above orthopraxy - doing the right thing. We can become divisive looking for disagreement when we should be pulling together. I think James and 1 Cor 13 cover this.

On that note I'll leave it there for this thread. I'm sure you won't agree but I don't want to argue. I wish we could focus on what we have in common but some people just like to look for faults in what people say.

I don't want to argue either @ChristmasStars, I'm not sure why you think I won't agree with what you've said, you appear to have formed an opinion of me based on a few posts I've written. I don't agree with all that Kirk said by any means, but we do have to remember he came from a totally different culture than what we have in the UK. It's almost like another planet. For example I can't understand gun culture and why that is often closely linked with Christian beliefs.

My house church is based in the US. I chat with them about things that happen in the UK and hear about life in the US. Some of what I hear beggars belief. I decided that I can't judge people over there as I simply don't understand what it's like living in that culture and with those years of history. What we do have in common is our core Christian values, a very precious thing, and we all have a thirst for Scripture and learning more about our faith.

Very true @GentleSheep I'm glad we can focus on those things.

I did not know his name and tbh all the Americans and English speaking evangelicals posting about it - it was ok but too much

To this day I don't know much about Billy Graham, tried listening to few of his sermons but don't get the vibe

this does not mean that the people who knew them have less right to appreciate them , post about them etc but for me I know other names and other stories , so in all honesty, my heart is pure.....

I know some online fb christian nationalists and they are not very pure Christians. If Charlie Kirk was that - no, I am glad I did not know him or listened to him.

As a migrant in the UK, happy to be independent but married woman standing up for herself, against guns I think again, am glad I did not know about his theories

It was all too American if you ask me, right. Their weird problems

if you want a great Christian with political wisdom, go and find out who Sister Vassa Larin is. Good luck

Sister Vassa, an Orthodox nun in Austria, speaking on European topics and namely on the war with Russia and Ukraine, we are here, this is what interests us, why we all have to bow down to the weird and distorted American reality, like it has something to do with us

Charlie Kirk, if he was a Christian, rip just like any tortured, raped and killed Nigerian Christian happen to be in the 100s of 1000s

American christian nationalism is just not Christianity at all. It is a sect

Heaven forfend that an American should have been so… so… AMERICAN!

🤦‍♀️

There's nothing wrong in reflecting one's own culture through one's Christianity. That's not just inevitable- it's a very good thing and is how people come together from different backgrounds while continuing to be themselves. It's true tolerance.

The problems come when Christian identity is used as a tool to serve a narrow, nationalist interest instead. The apartheid government in South Africa identified as Reformed Protestants and had 'Soli Deo Gloria' on the coinage while beating and shooting people in the townships. That wasn't true Christianity at all: it was just a social identity to help circle the wagons.

I agree @Catullus5 I think this comes back to being in the world but not of it. Using our culture to connect with people is one thing, thinking any culture is particularly Christian can be dangerous.