Love Your Enemies

By: Steve Huston

Many are still reeling from last week’s assassination of Turning Point USA’s founder, Charlie Kirk. He, by faith like Abel of old, “offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice” – the “living sacrifice” which Paul calls “our reasonable service” – and we are witnessing that “he being dead yet speaketh.” No, I am not attempting to canonize Charlie Kirk, but I do find that he would appropriately fit in the list of Hebrews 11, commonly known as “The Faith Chapter.”

“He being dead speaketh.” What did he say?

The left is busy mischaracterizing him, twisting his words, and accusing him of exactly what they are doing – rewriting history. Take this Federalist article for instance: GLAAD Smears Charlie Kirk, Puts Target On Back Of Other Conservative Activists. The left often doesn’t care if they can supply proof to their accusations or not, and their minions seem to just regurgitate what they’ve heard with much feeling but little to no thought. Beth Brelje writes: “It should be easy to find examples because Kirk produced so many videos, but perhaps The Advocate failed to show any of Kirk’s ‘vitriol’ because they don’t exist. When Kirk engaged with the LGBT community, it was always with respect. He saw the humanity in people who desperately want to be seen, heard, and understood.”

They say he spoke hatred, yet he spoke truth and of the only way to true peace – following after righteousness. He encouraged teens and young people to honor their parents – respecting and giving weight to their words – even if they disagreed. He encouraged love, boldness, thinking and talking through issues, America’s founding ideals, and Biblical morals and ethics. Yet, these same leftists, like Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-D) and others who accuse Charlie of hatred, are continually saying that he got exactly what he deserved. At what point did we, as Americans, begin to be so hard-hearted as to not feel for someone’s widow and fatherless children?

There are those “on the right” who say they condemn political violence, yet their words have no teeth. They’ll speak the “right” things, but where’s the deterrent when there are no consequences for condemning the justification or even glorification of such a vile act as that which took Charlie Kirk’s life last week Wednesday? Just as one example, another Federalist headline states: Johnson Has No Plans To Punish Omar For Comments Justifying Charlie Kirk’s Murder. Yet, there are some who desire to see those who justify violence be held accountable for their words and actions.

“He being dead speaketh.” What did he say?

Monday, Vice President J.D. Vance spoke powerfully while hosting The Charlie Kirk Show. He reminded us of what Charlie Kirk said and what he DIDN’T say. He reminded us of Charlie’s belief in Jesus and who this Jesus is. VP Vance spoke of unity and disunity, of possibilities and impossibilities: “…There is no unity with someone who lies about what Charlie Kirk said in order to excuse his murder… There is no unity with the people who celebrate Charlie Kirk’s assassination. And there is no unity with the people who fund these articles, who pay the salaries of these terrorist sympathizers, who argue that Charlie Kirk, a loving husband and father, deserved a shot to the neck because he spoke words with which they disagree…”

He reminded us where unity is found. “But unity – real unity – only can be found after climbing the mountain of truth.”

The Vice President ended with his heart’s desire that our nation be “united in condemnation of the actions and the ideas that killed my friend.”  But unity cannot be had at just any price; Vance declared that we can only have unity, “with people who acknowledge that political violence is unacceptable, and when we work to dismantle the institutions that promote violence and terrorism in our own country.” (I would urge you to watch the entirety of this strong, encouraging 14-minute clip.)

“He being dead speaketh.” What did he say?

Charlie, from his faith and love for his fellow man spoke words of warning – NOT hate, but warning – because THIS IS AMERICA, a nation founded on truth with a constitution and political founding to protect truth, freedom, liberty, and life. He spoke these words to encourage AND EXHORT believers. That’s why Charlie spoke these words earlier in September:

“The spiritual battle is coming to the West and the enemies are woke-ism or Marxism combining with Islamism to go after what we call the American way of life.

“The American way of life is very simple. I want to be able to get married, buy a home, have kids, allow them to ride their bike till the sun goes down, send them to a good school, have a low crime neighborhood, not to have my kid be taught the lesbian, gay, transgender garbage in their school. While also, not having them have to hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. That’s important.

“We want the American way of life, which is, by the way, Christendom. Christians, our sacrifice, our toil, our vision, the outgrowth of the Scriptures gave us western civilization. And this is where, I think, is a great rallying cry. It doesn’t matter if you’re Hispanic, doesn’t matter if you’re Asian, doesn’t matter if you’re black or white. Everybody, if you are Christian and Jesus Christ is your Lord and Saviour, these two threats are combining forces to come after us. And it’s time that the Church stands and rises up against it.”

“He being dead speaketh.” What WOULD he say?

Always affirming the person and comparing one’s choices with truth, I know of no one who better exemplified Jesus’ personage of being full of grace and truth. This should be our prayer and our daily effort in growth. Charlie would say, “In all that you do, be like Jesus. Speak truth AND show love.”

Political violence is reprehensible because all are image bearers of God and life is sacred. Charlie would be quick to agree, encouraging us to live out Christ’s words: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?” (Matt. 5:43-46)

Vice President J.D. Vance shared the best way to let Charlie’s voice continue to be heard: “I can’t promise you this is going to be easy. I can’t promise you that all of us will avoid Charlie’s fate. I can’t promise you that I will avoid Charlie’s fate. But the best way to honor him is to shine the light of truth like a torch in the very darkest places. Go do it!”

 

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