This situation has indeed been complicated. Initially when I heard the news my thoughts were “he asked for it”. I’m still not sure his hateful rhetoric didn’t bring about his demise. I began to feel like that stance was harsh so I thought some more. I came to a place where I could acknowledge “ok, this is sad and shouldn’t have happened the way it did”. However, I just couldn’t bring myself to feel real grief. That is still more or less where I find myself. However, this has been a convicting read. I can recognize that my current mood/thoughts on the situation are not quite Christlike. That being said, it remains a conundrum. I still have no idea where my stance and heart will eventually land. I’m processing
Dear Pastor Beau; This is the finest most eloquent piece I’ve read today. It is also the hardest. The love Jesus commands of us is not easy. How do I love someone whose life was built on hate and divisiveness, who hated me and my husband just because we love each other. Of all the things Jesus requires of us, loving our enemies is the most difficult. Thank you for your beautiful words.
I couldn't sleep, either. Waves of grief for all, including the walking wounded, injured (or broken) by flawed theology and cruel politics. And (not but)... in the wake of this violence that is never The Way, my heart is cracked wide open for a human with the Thumbprint, and his family. Whatever we do or say, we belong to God and to one another.
Also... your humility and graciousness in response to comments (fellow wrestlers) is light in the darkness. Thank you.
Thank you, Laura. I don’t want to become numb to the violence…but it’s also so exhausting. There was another school shooting yesterday too. We are so broken. Lord, have mercy. 😞
Thoughtful discussion of a difficult topic. This line struck me as uncomfortably true. "Some of you are grieving today, others are conflicted about feeling anything at all." I grieve because any loss of life is tragic. I'm angry because he will now be considered a martyr for the conservative cause after years of spewing hate. And I'm saddened by the fact that I'm angry. Conflicted might not be a strong enough word for what I'm feeling.
You aren’t alone in those feelings. Thanks for being bold enough to share them. I’m sure others will find comfort in knowing they aren’t alone. I appreciate it, Joanna.
I did not sleep much either. Charlie rejected personal accountability for his hate. Maybe Charlie did not deserve this but he did ask for this. He played the white male victim asserting he was superior because of his gender and whiteness. Charlie promoted violence against women, LGBTQ+, people of color and many more. Contrast him to MLK who did not promote violence or superiority. This is going to eat at me for a long time and we are going to live with this for a longer time. 90% of everything we hear or read about this will be bullshit. The other 10% will remain in the cowardly shadows. Charlie did not deserve this but neither did we deserve Charlie.
You're right, Doug. I appreciate you taking the time to name those feelings and thoughts. I am struggling to process this and to do so in a Christlike way.
I understand the complexity of emotions here, but still believe human life must be held in regard and valued. Violence should not be applauded, or tolerated.
The path we are slithering down, is no longer a slippery slope. It’s a diamond ski run. We should all be terrified at where we’re heading and what we’ve become.
I agree, Susan! I told my wife last night that events like this are bad for everyone. Unfortunately, there will probably some sort of retaliation. I pray there isn't.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Before yesterday, I'd never heard of Charlie Kirk. At the same time I heard of his assassination, I also heard news of a school shooting in CO, which is where I live. I have no thoughts to add to Kirk's death, but I'm feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness about the violence in this country. It feels unbearable.
I am far away from all this, in South Africa, but have two comments. I am not sure we properly critique what "being His" means. This view that we are Jesus' regardless of what we do seems a bit loose and untested. I would like to see this idea tested. Yes, we are to love everyone. Yes, Jesus loved everyone. But can we say he never rejected anyone, and won't ever? Its a bit more complicated for me. Second, there is truth in what you reap you sow. So why is this reaping wrong if what was sown is anger and hatred? Again, more of a critique, please. Perhaps a third comment. Is there, I wonder, a genuine understanding of the effects of the discord sown among the targeted by people like Kirk. We speak of hurt, but do we really understand how damaging years of being at the sharp end of comments from this peanut gallery have been? Real things were said and felt, and this is a not unexpected outcome - even if a very sad one.
Thank you for this thoughtful critique from South Africa...I appreciate you wrestling with these hard questions rather than offering easy answers.
You're absolutely right to push back on my "being His" language. I was drawing from the idea that we're all made in God's image (imago Dei), but you're correct that this doesn't mean Jesus never rejected anyone. The rich young ruler walked away. Jesus spoke harsh words to religious leaders who used their power to harm others. There's a difference between being created by God and choosing to follow Him.
Your second point about reaping what you sow cuts deep. Charlie did sow division and his words caused real harm...that's not something I want to minimize. The "natural consequences" argument has biblical weight. But I keep coming back to this: if we accept that some people deserve to be murdered for their words, where does that line get drawn? Who decides? And what does that do to our souls when we start celebrating or justifying political violence, even against those who've caused harm?
Your third comment is perhaps the most important. I don't think I adequately honored the real damage done to LGBTQ+ Christians, immigrants, women, and others who've been at the "sharp end" of Kirk's rhetoric for years. That damage is real, ongoing, and traumatic. When I call for love and grace, I'm not asking people to forget that harm or pretend it didn't matter.
Maybe what I'm wrestling with is this: how do we hold space for both the real damage Charlie caused AND our call to reject violence as a solution? How do we love our enemies without abandoning those they've wounded?
I don't have clean answers. But I do know that bullets solve nothing...they only create more trauma, more division, more reasons for people to retreat into their corners with weapons drawn.
“how do we love our enemies without abandoning those they’ve wounded?” …you’ve just voiced something i didn’t have words for but have wrestled with for years. thank you.
This is the best piece I have seen on Charlie Kirk that acknowledges the complexities and humanity at the same time. I appreciate your words so much 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you, Beau. A month afterwards, this is what I needed to read and hear and remember. Thank you for putting this into words as expresses the exact jumble of emotions I'm feeling right now but am unable to articulate myself.
Thank you for this. I am also challenged with the dissonance of the faith Charlie professed and the manner he spoke/debated about his political passion. God’s mercy & patience are great, and I am leaning into that truth these days.
Well said. However, I do not believe that Charlie Kirk, though he professed to be Christian, loved Jesus Christ. He preferred the violent God of the Old Testament, Whom he believed said we should stone people to death for sin and such. I think we need to be careful not to mistake loving our enemies for glossing them over. Jesus loved everyone, but spoke out in plain terms against many.
I can’t judge Charlie’s heart or his relationship with Jesus…that’s above my pay grade. But I absolutely agree that we shouldn’t confuse loving our enemies with excusing their actions or staying silent about the damage they cause.
The challenge for me is holding both things: rejecting harmful theology while still grieving a life lost to violence. Maybe that tension is exactly where we need to be.
Beau Stringer: “I absolutely agree that we shouldn’t confuse loving our enemies with excusing their actions or staying silent about the damage they cause.”
Dave Weber Centreville Va Congressional District 11: We are basically in a contest where the winner is decided by which color, red or blue, gets the most votes in a variety of elections. The big one is the presidential. I voted Blue in ‘72 having turned 21 two years before; Then Blue every time 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24. Being a rational theist and starting out low income no assets working class I voted Blue every time because Blue always was the color for the lowest income working class including minorities and a majority of women. And I always voted against the religious right because I believe very deeply in freedom of conscience which is the ultimate objective of separation of church and state.
So, how do I determine who are my political enemies. That’s easy. I have none until a political party violates the law. Of all the elections I voted in, only 2020 stands out where the sitting first term president, a republican, attempted by violating four laws for which he was indicted to overturn the election and insert himself into power for another four years. That is not really an enemy. That is the act of a criminal. The Supreme Court corrupted justice because three of the conservative judges were appointed by the convicted felon who tried to overturn the election. They made no ruling, but they slow walked appeals, ultimately depriving me of my right to see Donald Trump appear in court and face the charges for which he was indicted.
Charlie Kirk assisted Donald Trump in trying to overturn the 2020 election. And that makes him in my view a lawless American because he supported Trump for four years echoed the lie that Trump won the election and did all he could to put Trump back into power in 2024. Unfortunately, he did win.
I abhor violence. I reject violence I would never participate or encourage violence so the only action I know of right now to ensure that this four years of lawless Republican Party rule comes to an end is to organize and vote them out of power.
If you don’t think we are headed for more violence going into the midterm elections next year with Charlie Kirk’s choice of president practicing putting federal troops into blue cities you have your head stuck in the sand.
I am trying to find out where the liberal church stands in general and finding a way to organize and work to win to defeat what you say are harmful actions to Christians and non-Christians and every lower class person trying to get ahead in this country.
Talking about how bad Charlie Kirk was changes nothing. We need action. We need community, peaceful, intelligent, rational, but powerful action holding each other‘s hands doing this together no matter race religion or level of income or wealth.
This situation has indeed been complicated. Initially when I heard the news my thoughts were “he asked for it”. I’m still not sure his hateful rhetoric didn’t bring about his demise. I began to feel like that stance was harsh so I thought some more. I came to a place where I could acknowledge “ok, this is sad and shouldn’t have happened the way it did”. However, I just couldn’t bring myself to feel real grief. That is still more or less where I find myself. However, this has been a convicting read. I can recognize that my current mood/thoughts on the situation are not quite Christlike. That being said, it remains a conundrum. I still have no idea where my stance and heart will eventually land. I’m processing
It's so challenging, huh. You are naming why I couldn't sleep last night. I have been wrestling with this since it happened.
It’s truly a mess. I want to just ignore it all but I feel like my heart still isn’t right on the matter.
Dear Pastor Beau; This is the finest most eloquent piece I’ve read today. It is also the hardest. The love Jesus commands of us is not easy. How do I love someone whose life was built on hate and divisiveness, who hated me and my husband just because we love each other. Of all the things Jesus requires of us, loving our enemies is the most difficult. Thank you for your beautiful words.
This means so much. Thanks for reading!
Brother, you have wrestled well here. Really.
I couldn't sleep, either. Waves of grief for all, including the walking wounded, injured (or broken) by flawed theology and cruel politics. And (not but)... in the wake of this violence that is never The Way, my heart is cracked wide open for a human with the Thumbprint, and his family. Whatever we do or say, we belong to God and to one another.
Also... your humility and graciousness in response to comments (fellow wrestlers) is light in the darkness. Thank you.
Thank you, Laura. I don’t want to become numb to the violence…but it’s also so exhausting. There was another school shooting yesterday too. We are so broken. Lord, have mercy. 😞
Thoughtful discussion of a difficult topic. This line struck me as uncomfortably true. "Some of you are grieving today, others are conflicted about feeling anything at all." I grieve because any loss of life is tragic. I'm angry because he will now be considered a martyr for the conservative cause after years of spewing hate. And I'm saddened by the fact that I'm angry. Conflicted might not be a strong enough word for what I'm feeling.
You aren’t alone in those feelings. Thanks for being bold enough to share them. I’m sure others will find comfort in knowing they aren’t alone. I appreciate it, Joanna.
I did not sleep much either. Charlie rejected personal accountability for his hate. Maybe Charlie did not deserve this but he did ask for this. He played the white male victim asserting he was superior because of his gender and whiteness. Charlie promoted violence against women, LGBTQ+, people of color and many more. Contrast him to MLK who did not promote violence or superiority. This is going to eat at me for a long time and we are going to live with this for a longer time. 90% of everything we hear or read about this will be bullshit. The other 10% will remain in the cowardly shadows. Charlie did not deserve this but neither did we deserve Charlie.
You're right, Doug. I appreciate you taking the time to name those feelings and thoughts. I am struggling to process this and to do so in a Christlike way.
I understand the complexity of emotions here, but still believe human life must be held in regard and valued. Violence should not be applauded, or tolerated.
The path we are slithering down, is no longer a slippery slope. It’s a diamond ski run. We should all be terrified at where we’re heading and what we’ve become.
I agree, Susan! I told my wife last night that events like this are bad for everyone. Unfortunately, there will probably some sort of retaliation. I pray there isn't.
I’m worried as well, Beau. 🙏🙏
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. Before yesterday, I'd never heard of Charlie Kirk. At the same time I heard of his assassination, I also heard news of a school shooting in CO, which is where I live. I have no thoughts to add to Kirk's death, but I'm feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness about the violence in this country. It feels unbearable.
Same here, Jackie. “Unbearable” is exactly how I’m feeling as well.
I am far away from all this, in South Africa, but have two comments. I am not sure we properly critique what "being His" means. This view that we are Jesus' regardless of what we do seems a bit loose and untested. I would like to see this idea tested. Yes, we are to love everyone. Yes, Jesus loved everyone. But can we say he never rejected anyone, and won't ever? Its a bit more complicated for me. Second, there is truth in what you reap you sow. So why is this reaping wrong if what was sown is anger and hatred? Again, more of a critique, please. Perhaps a third comment. Is there, I wonder, a genuine understanding of the effects of the discord sown among the targeted by people like Kirk. We speak of hurt, but do we really understand how damaging years of being at the sharp end of comments from this peanut gallery have been? Real things were said and felt, and this is a not unexpected outcome - even if a very sad one.
Thank you for this thoughtful critique from South Africa...I appreciate you wrestling with these hard questions rather than offering easy answers.
You're absolutely right to push back on my "being His" language. I was drawing from the idea that we're all made in God's image (imago Dei), but you're correct that this doesn't mean Jesus never rejected anyone. The rich young ruler walked away. Jesus spoke harsh words to religious leaders who used their power to harm others. There's a difference between being created by God and choosing to follow Him.
Your second point about reaping what you sow cuts deep. Charlie did sow division and his words caused real harm...that's not something I want to minimize. The "natural consequences" argument has biblical weight. But I keep coming back to this: if we accept that some people deserve to be murdered for their words, where does that line get drawn? Who decides? And what does that do to our souls when we start celebrating or justifying political violence, even against those who've caused harm?
Your third comment is perhaps the most important. I don't think I adequately honored the real damage done to LGBTQ+ Christians, immigrants, women, and others who've been at the "sharp end" of Kirk's rhetoric for years. That damage is real, ongoing, and traumatic. When I call for love and grace, I'm not asking people to forget that harm or pretend it didn't matter.
Maybe what I'm wrestling with is this: how do we hold space for both the real damage Charlie caused AND our call to reject violence as a solution? How do we love our enemies without abandoning those they've wounded?
I don't have clean answers. But I do know that bullets solve nothing...they only create more trauma, more division, more reasons for people to retreat into their corners with weapons drawn.
What are your thoughts on holding that tension?
“how do we love our enemies without abandoning those they’ve wounded?” …you’ve just voiced something i didn’t have words for but have wrestled with for years. thank you.
I’m so glad it resonated, Elizabeth! Thanks for reading. 😊
We may not agree but I will say this is THE BEST POST I have seen.
Great commentary. I believe that we as a society have to learn how to communicate and work through hard topics without resorting to violence.
I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks for reading!
This is the best piece I have seen on Charlie Kirk that acknowledges the complexities and humanity at the same time. I appreciate your words so much 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
This means so much. Truly. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment something so kind.
Thank you, Beau. A month afterwards, this is what I needed to read and hear and remember. Thank you for putting this into words as expresses the exact jumble of emotions I'm feeling right now but am unable to articulate myself.
Thank you for this. I am also challenged with the dissonance of the faith Charlie professed and the manner he spoke/debated about his political passion. God’s mercy & patience are great, and I am leaning into that truth these days.
This is awesome! Reflects a lot of my thoughts. Thank you!
Thank you, James!
Well said. However, I do not believe that Charlie Kirk, though he professed to be Christian, loved Jesus Christ. He preferred the violent God of the Old Testament, Whom he believed said we should stone people to death for sin and such. I think we need to be careful not to mistake loving our enemies for glossing them over. Jesus loved everyone, but spoke out in plain terms against many.
I can’t judge Charlie’s heart or his relationship with Jesus…that’s above my pay grade. But I absolutely agree that we shouldn’t confuse loving our enemies with excusing their actions or staying silent about the damage they cause.
The challenge for me is holding both things: rejecting harmful theology while still grieving a life lost to violence. Maybe that tension is exactly where we need to be.
Beau Stringer: “I absolutely agree that we shouldn’t confuse loving our enemies with excusing their actions or staying silent about the damage they cause.”
Dave Weber Centreville Va Congressional District 11: We are basically in a contest where the winner is decided by which color, red or blue, gets the most votes in a variety of elections. The big one is the presidential. I voted Blue in ‘72 having turned 21 two years before; Then Blue every time 76 80 84 88 92 96 00 04 08 12 16 20 24. Being a rational theist and starting out low income no assets working class I voted Blue every time because Blue always was the color for the lowest income working class including minorities and a majority of women. And I always voted against the religious right because I believe very deeply in freedom of conscience which is the ultimate objective of separation of church and state.
So, how do I determine who are my political enemies. That’s easy. I have none until a political party violates the law. Of all the elections I voted in, only 2020 stands out where the sitting first term president, a republican, attempted by violating four laws for which he was indicted to overturn the election and insert himself into power for another four years. That is not really an enemy. That is the act of a criminal. The Supreme Court corrupted justice because three of the conservative judges were appointed by the convicted felon who tried to overturn the election. They made no ruling, but they slow walked appeals, ultimately depriving me of my right to see Donald Trump appear in court and face the charges for which he was indicted.
Charlie Kirk assisted Donald Trump in trying to overturn the 2020 election. And that makes him in my view a lawless American because he supported Trump for four years echoed the lie that Trump won the election and did all he could to put Trump back into power in 2024. Unfortunately, he did win.
I abhor violence. I reject violence I would never participate or encourage violence so the only action I know of right now to ensure that this four years of lawless Republican Party rule comes to an end is to organize and vote them out of power.
If you don’t think we are headed for more violence going into the midterm elections next year with Charlie Kirk’s choice of president practicing putting federal troops into blue cities you have your head stuck in the sand.
I am trying to find out where the liberal church stands in general and finding a way to organize and work to win to defeat what you say are harmful actions to Christians and non-Christians and every lower class person trying to get ahead in this country.
Talking about how bad Charlie Kirk was changes nothing. We need action. We need community, peaceful, intelligent, rational, but powerful action holding each other‘s hands doing this together no matter race religion or level of income or wealth.
Thank you, Beau, for your thoughtful response ♥️
I appreciate you reading, Emily. 🫶