Yet Again: Responding to Tragedy in a Broken World

Where does one begin? It is observably true that our world is full of trouble and calamity. It is also part of a Christian worldview, since the implication of the fall is that “in the world you will have tribulation (John 16:33). There is a kingdom of darkness and a kingdom of light, and as Christians we have been delivered from the darkness and transferred to the kingdom of the Son (Col 1:13-14).

And in the midst of the tribulation, Jesus has told us these things so that we can trust Him and find peace and courage (“take heart”) in the midst of the tribulation, because “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). We are in but not of the world (John 17). These truths are the larger picture of a biblical worldview.

Every individual tribulation or tragedy is grievous, as it affects someone, created in the image of God, and a larger network of family and people. But it is not possible to respond to every tragedy uniquely. However, it is important to respond to some tragedies, the impact of that tragedy, and to provide some biblical guidance in the wake of that tragedy.

The brutal assassination of Charlie Kirk last week is one of those tragedies that requires a response.

A step back...moral evil

As informed by Jesus, there are recurring tribulations and tragedies in this world. This is true whether it be a natural evil such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, etc., where God or the goodness of God may be called into question (wrongly), or more often, and more existentially challenging, moral evil such as humans sinning against another human being in theft, rape, murder, etc., where the goodness of human beings is called into question (rightly, since we are all born “in Adam,” and there is no one good but God alone).

And then when another act of moral evil happens, which is always wrong and justice in response is always right (even though it is only proximate and imperfect in this life, while we await perfect, ultimate justice when Jesus returns, cf. Rom 12:19-21), how does one appropriately address something without it becoming mere performative or virtue signaling or partisan? And unless you respond to everything, there is the appearance that you are selective in addressing some matters and not others, and you are called out and/or cancelled. This happens in the world, which is to be expected, since it is the kingdom of darkness. It also happens in the Church, which should not happen, since we have been transferred to the kingdom of the Son. 

What is one to do? More importantly, as a Christian, how is one to process such matters? And for pastors, how do they disciple and shepherd God’s people with the unchangeable, unshakeable truth in the midst of the chaos and carnage, as in Charlie Kirk’s assassination?

The same...

On the one hand, this is another murder in a long history of heinous murders of others. To put Kirk’s murder in a broader perspective of examples of the deadening impact of moral evil, here is a brief rehearsal of a few of the murders, several by shooting, in the past few months, and these are the ones of which we know, with many unknown happening daily:

• Melissa and Mark Hortman, former Minnesota House Speaker and her husband (June 14, 2025)
• CDC headquarters attack in which a police officer was killed (August 8, 2025)
• The stabbing death of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, on the light rail (August 22, 2025)
• The Annunciation Catholic School shooting during mass, killing two children and injuring several others (August 27, 2025)
• A(nother) school shooting in a Colorado high school with two injured and the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot (September 10, 2025)
• Charlie Kirk was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University (September 10, 2025)
• 24th anniversary of 9/11 (September 11, 2025)

All these reflect the kingdom of darkness, where the enemy lives “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a).

Many are processing the assassination of Charlie Kirk. There are few who have not written about or responded to it. On the one hand, it becomes another unnecessary obituary, the latest in what has become an all-too-common occurrence in our country, especially those who are in the “prime of life.” We do not value one life more than another. All are in the imago Dei. In that sense, it is the same. 

And we must not become calloused as if “this is just the way it is.” All these deaths will mean something to everyone, while some will mean something more to some than to others. It is not possible to address every new incident of a murder, killing, shooting, stabbing, even though all of them are moral evil that take lives created in the image of God which reflects the work of the evil one.

This raises the question: which ones do we address? If we address each one, and everyone has a certain perspective about which ones must and which ones don't matter, it becomes all we address. Sadly, often the way we respond or don’t respond to all these things becomes partisan and political. And then based on responding to what some or society think is important and feeling compelled to respond to everything happening culturally, or at least to what many others are responding, how does that not become performative or virtue signaling?

As a pastor, if you mention each one every Sunday, either during announcements or prayer time or the sermon, you would be mentioning something every week. We must be neither culturally deaf nor culturally driven. Rather, we are biblically grounded and theologically guided, and we prayerfully seek to be culturally aware, and pastorally discerning and wise.

Yet different

And yet, there is something different about Kirk’s death. His assassination is in a different category than the murders and deaths of others, prompting a response. It is not that his life is more important or that his life is more valuable than any of the others. All human beings are in the imago Dei, meaning all have worth and dignity and ought to be loved and valued. But there is something to a cultural influence or impact that ought to be considered and addressed. This was Charlie Kirk.

Charlie had a huge influence through social media and his in-person “Prove me wrong” gatherings on college campuses. He resonated especially among the younger end of the Millennials (ages 29-44) and the older end of Gen Z (ages 13-28). He exuded confidence and hope that many of the younger generation were eager to hear. He was willing to receive questions, hear objections and engage in debate while portraying boldness and courage in responding to those who disagreed with him. He was a model and mentor-from-a-distance to many.

And it is important to state: killing someone with whom you disagree is never right. In our culture today, many consider someone of the other political or cultural perspective an existential threat to their personal safety and well-being, which influences how one does or does not respond to that other person. This negates the truth that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

Prior to his murder, Kirk wondered if we have moved from a cancel culture to an assassination culture. I am quite certain he never would have imagined he would be literally assassinated. That is what puts this murder in a different category. And yet, as we process this, we must remember that Jesus compares the judgment of hating your brother to the judgment for murder (Matt 5:21-22; 1 John 3:15), and that hatred is reflective of the devil who “was a murderer from the beginning” (John 8:44).

Kirk was a conservative political activist and a provocateur. Because of his influence, almost everyone has commented on or has a perspective about him and this assassination: some have valorized him while others villainized; some consider him a martyr while others a miscreant; some are tempted to divinize him while others are quick to demonize. With all the hours of video clips, one can find a clip or two in which Kirk said something and then judge his whole life based on those one or two clips. One must not do that. Life does not consist of sound bites. There was plenty about which one could agree and disagree, and that from both sides of the political perspective.

Most importantly, he was a professing believer in Jesus Christ, and he unashamedly confessed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the truths of the Christian faith and the morality that was an entailment of that faith. In a context in which Christian truth was drowned out or silenced, he spoke boldly and courageously. He discipled many. And he was a husband, and father. And tragically, being gunned down at 31 means his wife is now a widow and his two children are without their father. In what has become almost larger than life, we must not forget that this has to do with real life.

A cultural inflection point

Kirk’s assassination has been referred to as a “turning point,” a “hinge point,” a “cultural inflection.” Whether these terms accurately reflect this moment will only be known in time, since it only becomes clear looking in a rearview mirror. My sense at this moment is that a better way to describe it is as a flashpoint. In time, we will know if it was actually a turning point or cultural inflection.

Regardless of how we refer to the impact of Kirk’s murder, the overwhelming response to his death indicates this is something different that carries more cultural and societal weight. Some have celebrated his death. That is sinful and reflects moral depravity. Many have grieved. Untold numbers have been influenced or impacted. Because of the ubiquitous nature of social media, Kirk’s reach and message were huge.

Sometimes when things like this happen, rather than being compelled to respond, as everyone else, I feel like the time at which Job’s friends responded wisely as they simply sat silently with him. And then when they opened their mouths, they spoke ignorantly. But remaining silent when God’s people need or seek guidance would be wrong. Of all the voices, and there are many, to which ones do we listen? Who will help to guide? These are important responsibilities for parents in the home, and pastors and elders in the church.

Regarding the reason this murder may be in a different category than others, I found Utah governor Cox’s early response to the significance of Kirk’s “political assassination” insightful.

"I think it's important that we, with eyes wide open, understand what's happening in our country today. I've heard people say, 'Well, why are we so invested in this?' There’s violence happening all across our country and violence is tragic everywhere and every life taken is a child of God who deserves our love and respect and dignity. This is certainly about the tragic death, assassination, political assassination of Charlie Kirk. But it is also much bigger than an attack on an individual. It is an attack on all of us. It is an attack on the American experiment. It is an attack on our ideals. This cuts to the very foundation of who we are, of who we have been, and who we could be in better times. Political violence is different than any other type of violence...because in the very act that Charlie championed of expression, that freedom of expression that is enshrined in our founding documents in having his life taken in that very act makes it more difficult for people to feel like they can share their ideas, that they can speak freely. We will never be able to solve all the other problems, including the violence problems that people are worked up about if we can’t have a clash of ideas safely and securely. Even especially those ideas with which you disagree. That's why this matters so much."

A response

Much more has been written and said since this statement, about Kirk, about the shooter, about our processing and about our response. For us in the EFCA, in all this we remain tethered to the text of Scripture and grounded in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is expressed in our Statement of Faith. Although you know it, at this moment it is important to be reminded of these truths we affirm: We affirm our belief in God (Article 1), the truth of His Word (Article 2), the dignity and worth of all created in the imago Dei, the sinfulness and depravity of all human beings, the hope of being rescued, reconciled, and renewed only through Jesus Christ (Articles 3-5), the new life we have by faith in Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit (Article 6), who creates new life in a family, the Church (Article 7), which grounds and guides our lives as we love God and love others (Article 8), as we await the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ (Article 9), the time at which all the wrongs will be made right in the new heavens and the new earth to the praise of God’s glorious grace (Article 10).

In sum, and at this moment, let’s together affirm we believe that the good news of the Kingdom of God, announced and embodied by Jesus Christ, is the ultimate and final solution to the problems of this world. Love for God and love for our neighbor, to which the gospel calls us, requires that we seek the welfare and common good of our communities and nation. And we also believe the Church is the new community created by God, the “pillar and buttress of truth.” Our primary ministry and mission is to proclaim the gospel and to make disciples among all people, as salt and light in the world as we await the glorious return of Jesus who will complete the transformation he has begun. 

It is good to reiterate these truths, so that we can be reminded that the gospel of Jesus Christ “is the ultimate and final solution to the problems of this world.” We also affirm “the Church is the new community created by God, the ‘pillar and buttress of truth.’” We profess these truths, we believe these truths, we pray these truths, and we will live out these truths.

One EFCA church is living out the reality of these truths now. CenterPoint Church, Orem, Utah, is located at ground zero of this tragedy. Most of us are processing from a distance. This church is located less than a mile from where the assassination took place on the campus of Utah Valley University.

This past Sunday, as the church gathered, pastor Mike Smith began, “What we experienced last week wasn't distant news to us. It was right here. We get it and we're grieving with you. We're coming with you and we're here for you. And whatever you walked in here with, whatever difficult emotions you carry with you. It's OK to be not OK today.” Although he acknowledged Kirk’s murder will be remembered, he also mentioned something he will also remember: “I witnessed people choose love in the face of hate. In a critical moment, you chose the Jesus way, and you responded. Now, I want to be very clear. We still have an enemy whose name is Satan.” And importantly, despite the diversity of the congregation and the various political views and perspectives, he reminded them of the truth that by faith they are united in the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “We don't all think the same. We don't all vote the same. And that's OK. Because the thing that unites you and me and us here is the personal work of Jesus Christ.”

We thank God for the gospel and for this church that is proclaiming and living out the truth of the gospel and the life and hope it offers as the pillar and buttress of truth. Pray for Pastor Mike, the staff, the elders and the church as they minister to others. May God bring growth to the planting and watering of the gospel that is happening in the midst of this tragedy, and may the fruit be renewal and revival in our churches and our country. 

And let’s remember, many of those impacted and pondering responses are young. To hear of the responses of students in the wake of this tragedy and to hear of the openness to the gospel at this church (and others) at ground zero is encouraging. It is critical that we prayerfully and boldly use this moment to love others by sharing the gospel with them, so that they will be captured, compelled and controlled by the love of Christ (2 Cor 5:14) and not any other ideology or -ism.

Might this be part of a renewal in the church among the young, similar to what happened during the days of cultural and moral upheaval and chaos and the tragedies and assassinations of the 1960s, from which God the Holy Spirit birthed the Jesus Movement? Might this be a cultural Jesus moment that births another Jesus movement?

A final prayer

Sadly, we hear from some that they do not want prayer in the face of tragedy. Others are making the response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination a litmus test of one’s Christian’s convictions, and some use it to determine if they will remain in the church based on what the pastor and leaders either said or did not say.

I wrote several years ago, and I remind myself of this now again: “Most of us in the Church believed that what united us was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Over the course of the past few years, I am not sure it was. The fissures and fractures sadly reflect that it maybe was not the gospel that united us, but something else. If it were truly biblical truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ that united us, and the Holy Spirit who indwelt us, it would enable us to remain in unity—for which Jesus prayed (John 17), died (Eph 2:14-16), rose again (1 Cor 15:3-4), and we are eager and diligent to maintain (Eph 4:3)—despite differences of opinion on how to engage in culture and political ideology.” 

There are appropriate times to divide (cf. Gal 1:6-9; cf. also 1 Cor 11:19). But not all divisions are good or godly (1 Cor 1:10; Rom 16:17). As noted earlier, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10a). As a murderer, he is all for killing. That is the case with Kirk. But we also note that he comes to destroy. This is evidenced in destroying unity among believers. Peter warns Christians of the work of our adversary, the devil, who seeks to devour: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet 5:8). Our adversary’s deceptive tactic and influence among believers is that they turn and devour one another. Paul writes, “‘For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:14-16). 

As John continues in this text of Scripture, to the contrary of death and destruction, Jesus “came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b). And in this abundant life in Christ, we love one another, which is enabled by the Spirit. When we do not, when we “bite and devour one another,” we are gratifying the desires of the flesh, not the Spirit. Brothers and sisters, because of the gospel, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28); “there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all” (Col 3:11). This includes breaking down the dividing walls (Eph 2:14) of differences in cultural engagement and political ideology.

Foundationally and fundamentally, we boldly profess and proclaim there is “no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) other than Jesus Christ. That it is only “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:10-11). Jesus Christ is Lord of our lives and Head of the Church. 

Additionally, not taking our cue from the culture or the world, we are those who pray. We believe God and His Word and we believe God has ordained prayer as a providential means of communing with Him, interceding for others, and a prompted means of accomplishing His providential and purposeful plan. It is not perfunctory. It is not performative. It is life-giving. One does not understand God or a God-centered world-and-life view if prayer is considered unnecessary.

Granted, prayer is not all we do, but prayer is foundational to what we do. A. J. Gordon rightly said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.” And as Oswald Chambers rightly states regarding prayer and work, “Prayer does not equip us for some greater works—prayer is the greater work.” So, brothers and sisters, in this flashpoint or cultural inflection moment, we pray!

One of the best explanations of petitionary prayer is from David F. Wells: Prayer: Rebelling against the Status Quo: Are We Angry Enough to Pray?

What, then, is the nature of petitionary prayer? It is, in essence, rebellion—rebellion against the world in its fallenness, the absolute and undying refusal to accept as normal what is pervasively abnormal. It is, in this its negative aspect, the refusal of every agenda, every scheme, every interpretation that is at odds with the norm as originally established by God. As such, it is itself an expression of the unbridgeable chasm that separates Good from Evil, the declaration that Evil is not a variation on Good but its antithesis.

Or, to put it the other way around, to come to an acceptance of life “as it is,” to accept it on its own terms—which means acknowledging the inevitability of the way it works—is to surrender a Christian view of God. This resignation to what is abnormal has within it the hidden and unrecognized assumption that the power of God to change the world, to overcome Evil by Good, will not be actualized.

Nothing destroys petitionary prayer (and with it, a Christian view of God) as quickly as resignation. “At all times,” Jesus declared, “we should pray” and not “lose heart,” thereby acquiescing to what is (Luke 18:1).

It must be asserted that petitionary prayer only flourishes where there is a twofold belief: first, that God’s name is hallowed too irregularly, his kingdom has come too little, and his will is done too infrequently; second, that God himself can change this situation. Petitionary prayer, therefore, is the expression of the hope that life as we meet it, on the one hand, can be otherwise and, on the other hand, that it ought to be otherwise. It is therefore impossible to seek to live in God’s world on his terms, doing his work in a way that is consistent with who he is, without engaging in regular prayer." 

Dear brothers and sisters, we engage in petitionary prayer!

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9-10).

“Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20).