I watched Charlie Kirk’s Memorial
In 2018, I watched Billy Graham’s funeral.
Here in 2025, I am watching Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Service.
You see, I connect to Billy Graham and Charlie Kirk. Graham and Kirk were different from each other, as I am from them. So what is it that connects us?
I understood the language of both men.
That language, at its simplest, is called the Gospel. It goes like this.
“Jesus is God in the flesh. He was born to become the ultimate sacrifice, seen in his death on the cross, so that we may be redeemed. Redeemed from what? Sin. And what is sin? Sin is what robbed us of the life we were created to live. So here we have Jesus offering us an opportunity to live as intended. To know life is to know him, and to know him is to repent of your sin and accept his salvation.”
Graham spent his life sharing this message and became a world-class preacher. Kirk also shared this message, and in listening to the various people who spoke at his memorial, he too impacted people's lives with it.
I find my mind wandering over the stories of brothers who were very different. Physical brothers like Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and Joseph and his brothers. In the New Testament, we have spiritual brothers Paul and Barnabas going their separate ways.
So although we may share the same faith, our journeys take us to different places.
I could hardly believe what I was witnessing last night as I watched the Memorial. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, who wanted to be part of the service. The contemporary style of worship is one with which I am familiar. What may have been seen as fringe in other countries was unashamedly centre stage in a stadium of over 60 thousand people.
With no dog collar in sight, we had numerous members of President Trump’s cabinet speak, and not just speak, but preach. This service went on for five hours.
Yet from what I witnessed, it was mainly white. Sure, Ben Carson spoke.
I was aware that the Congressional Black Caucus put out a statement on the Charlie Kirk Resolution, which you can read if you click the link below.
The full tragedy of his death was felt as his wife, Erika, spoke. And while speaking, she forgave his killer because Jesus commands all those who have been forgiven to forgive others. That too is a testament to the power of her faith.
So while I share a faith and feel the tragedy of a young man’s murder by another young man, I feel that we all must be careful not to tie our faith to a political cause.
I am aware of the danger of it because, as a youth, I was guilty of it. When we claim God for us, what happens to those who are not us?
I am reminded that the peace agreement that occurred in Northern Ireland only happened when people recognised the humanity of all and the right of others to exist, even if some didn't practise or agree with what others did.
The tragedy of Northern Ireland was that many lost their lives as we took our time to recognise each other. That same tragedy occurred when Charlie Kirk was shot dead by another young man.
g
