Keep Speaking the Truth

Mike Tyson said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Yesterday, America got punched in the mouth. Somehow, in a society which seemed to have become immune to the endless barrage of tragedies, the assassination of Charlie Kirk ripped off the callouses and forced us to feel pain again. It was unfathomable, and yet, here we are. You and I woke up this morning, and Charlie Kirk did not. He is with God, and his life on this earth now belongs to history.

All human lives are short when measured against the vast backdrop of eternity, but I believe Charlie maximized his impact in the brief 31 years he walked this earth. His death has left a gaping wound, but his impact will continue for decades. Ironically, I suspect his assassination will be a “Turning Point” for the United States, but exactly which direction we turn remains to be seen. Similar moments have undeniably changed the course of American history, and we have endured many: the Boston Massacre, the firing on Fort Sumter, Lincoln’s assassination, Pearl Harbor, Kennedy’s assassination, and countless others. 

I had planned to write today about another national tragedy, the terrorist events of September 11th, 2001. It was another “punch in the mouth” and “turning point.” It was also a test of American principles. The American Revolution tested our desire for freedom, the Civil War tested our unity, World Wars I and II tested our strength, and on September 11th, 2001, the terrorists tested our resolve. Their violence asked, “Is America willing to defend its principles?” Because patriots answered “yes,” we now celebrate Patriot Day on September 11th. And as long as courageous patriots continue to answer with a “yes,” America has a future. 

I have long stood by the belief that the American public does not have the stomach for war--a weakness our enemies regularly exploit--but also understand the absolute necessity of a willingness to defend our national principles. The United States of America represents a faint glow of freedom in a world that prefers oppression, slavery, and tyranny. There are many, both foreign and domestic, who would gladly extinguish the flames of liberty, and yesterday they tried. The assassination of Charlie Kirk is an assault on America’s freedom of speech, a freedom foundational to our country’s existence. The execution of a patriot for engaging in free speech on the eve of Patriot Day should sound the alarm for all Americans: Our republic remains under attack, and the fight for the future and soul of this nation is far from over.

I have much more to say about this, but sometimes words fail to carry the full weight of the emotions and ideas they signify. Language is a powerful medium of communication, but it has its limits. Perhaps that is at the center of it all. When words fail, then what? If we cannot adequately articulate or understand positions on an issue, do we just kill those who disagree with us? That seems to be the position of many in the world today. Disagreement carries a death sentence. Discomfort carries a death sentence. Inconvenience carries a death sentence.

This sad reality has left many with a mindset of “go along to get along,” but God calls us to a higher standard. We are to speak truth, even when it is uncomfortable, inconvenient, or dangerous. The 2020s are part of the Hebrew “Peh” decade--the decade of the mouth. Over the first five years of this decade, we have seen a relentless onslaught of attacks against our mouths. Speakers’ mouths have been masked; their words have been censored, suppressed, and twisted; and artificial words have been added to the public discourse through AI and disinformation campaigns. Now, people are being assassinated not for their legislative decisions or the power they possess, but for the words they speak. Regardless of who all was involved in this assassination (I do not believe the shooter acted alone), we must recognize that it is fundamentally the work of demonic powers attempting to restrict our ability and willingness to speak words of truth and power in our spheres of influence.

As believers, our ultimate allegiance is to the kingdom, but we have responsibilities as citizens on this earth. One of these responsibilities is to speak. We are speaking spirits made in the image of God, filled with His breath, and given His authority on the earth. Our words are powerful, and if the enemy cannot get us to use them for his benefit, he will do everything in his power to try to stop us from using them. But I have good news. Satan is defeated, and we are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Greater is He living inside of us than he who is in the world. So keep speaking the truth. Be bold, courageous, and fearless in the face of adversity. Out of any time and place in human history, God chose to put you here and now. You were made for such a time as this, and you are uniquely equipped to advance God’s kingdom. This may be your finest hour.

Charlie Kirk fought a good fight, and died doing what he loved and what God put him on this earth to do. While my heart goes out to his widowed bride and the children that will grow up without knowing their daddy, I am grateful for the time he was here. I believe Charlie has now heard the Lord say, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.” May the rest of us live in a manner worthy of the high calling of Christ, so that we may hear the same when it is our time to meet Him face to face. God bless America.