Opinion: He was probably not killed for preaching the gospel. Don’t let your faith be weaponized.

A Warning to Christians

What made Charlie Kirk such a divisive figure isn’t that he preached the message of Christ, it’s that he preached that morality is equivalent to being Republican.

Yes, there are true martyrs of the faith, but is that what this was?

I don’t get involved in politics, and CK is one of the many reasons why. As followers of Christ, it is so easy to be manipulated because of our faith. We are easily weaponized because there are so many of us. Large numbers mean power, and power can be exploited.

Please, I beg you to study how this has happened in other political movements throughout history. Keep your eyes on Christ, not on political parties.

As someone who only just learned who this man is, it’s striking how clearly you can see the radicalization that takes place when faith and politics become intertwined. And yet, it’s incredibly easy to get pulled in.

I’ll be honest. When I first listened to some of his talks about Christ, I thought, this sounds like truth. But the more I listened, the more I noticed subtle distortions, truth mixed with ideology and an agenda that, at its core, doesn’t seem inherently good. We all carry our own biases, which is why we have to be especially cautious when blending political ideals with spiritual convictions.

When someone speaks with passion about what we hold most sacred, especially in a time when public expressions of faith are rare, it can be tempting to align ourselves with that person as if they are the ultimate voice of truth. But that is a dangerous path. Christ alone is the truth, and no movement or personality should take His place.

CK would think I’m in error for not being involved in politics. He believes that pastors who don’t speak out about the moral issues of our time are complicit in the moral decay of the nation. But is it really about a lack of moral discussion?

No. He is actually speaking a lie that sounds dangerously close to the truth, one that many Christians are easily drawn into. When someone who appears to be walking with Christ tells us that we must fight for a political party, it becomes deeply concerning. Voices like this often gain influence quickly, and that influence can begin to feel like spiritual authority. That is why he is being elevated while others are being forgotten. I don’t think it’s primarily about him being white. At its core, the power behind his platform is that he is leading what functions as a political army.

To those who are on the other side, so angry at the masses who have been pulled into this, please hear this. Consider, you are just as subsceptable to this from your political affilation. I don’t think this vulnerability is always rooted in something bad. I think many people are genuinely desiring goodness. They watch the constant news cycles from whichever station they prefer, often without considering other points of view. Their desire for goodness becomes lament for the state of the world, and that lament often turns into anger. That anger is not necessarily wrong, but it is then slowly weaponized against them, and they often do not even realize it. That anger is used to divide, it is preyed upon, and it leads to the weaponization of people to try and force others under their will through policy. It plants hatred in our hearts. Us versus them. Good versus evil.

But it is not that black and white. Politics wants you to think it is. Maybe for God it is, but not for man. We are not God. Man is unable to rightly judge many things because of our fallibility and lack of full knowledge. That is why He assigned all to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all. Condemning others is also condemning ourselves.

When CK says pastors are complicit, what he is really saying is that pastors are complicit if they are not tying morality to choosing the correct political affiliation. He repeatedly criticizes pastors who are not involved in politics.

Why does morality equate to being Republican or Democratic? God’s law is not bound to this world. It is backwards thinking to assume Scripture can be neatly contained within a political platform. Many core biblical values are reflected across the political spectrum. God is not inherently political, and anytime we claim that He is, we are no longer focused on the Kingdom.

Elevating political preference to theological mandate risks confusing Christian formation with political loyalty. The mission of the Church is spiritual transformation, not behavioral control through legislation one way or another.

I truly pray that this resonates with someone. That you will step back from pledging allegiance to political personalities or movements, and instead commit yourself to the slow, deep work of becoming more like Christ. That is how we bring His light to others. If you believe your faith is tied to your political affiliation, you are being spun in a circle. Christ is not the author of confusion.

And for those who are ready to get involved ask yourself, what has the messaging been since CK’s death? Did his wife stand before the nation and ask us to pray for the shooter to find Christ? Did she ask us to pray for those who rejoice in death, that they might come to know goodness in Christ? Did she repeat the words of Jesus, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”?

No. The message was an advertisement for a political party. Her grief was used to rally people to politics, not to Christ. Yes, she mentioned God, but talking about God is not the same as planting truth. The Bible can be, and has often been, weaponized. History shows us this clearly. That is not even up for debate.

This is not a condemnation of her or him, it is a call to those who seek the fruit of the Spirit. Do not let your emotions be preyed upon in order to sow more hatred and division. We are no longer living under the Old Covenant, we are living in the New.

Do not condemn those who rejoiced at CK’s death while also calling for his killer to be executed. That is not what Christ taught. An eye for an eye is not the gospel.

Turn off the noise. Step away from the media cycle. Focus on your own transformation in Christ, so that you can love others well. That is the only path that leads to peace nad goodness.