Charlie Kirk: Man in the Arena

I do not feel the need to provide my commentary on every breaking news event, but occasionally, there are issues and individuals upon which it is impossible not to reflect deeply. The tragic death of Charlie Kirk yesterday is one of those events. Like 9/11, it will be a reference point for this generation. And it should cause us to consider the cause for which all of us are investing our lives.

While ministering in Southern California this week, I visited the Nixon Presidential Library. Prominently placed on one wall was the famous quote by President Theodore Roosevelt regarding “the man in the arena.” The words seem especially pertinent in light of the strong stand Charlie Kirk took for truth.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Charlie Kirk was one of God’s men in the arena, fighting for truth and advancing the message of Christ. Commentators have described him in a host of ways: conservative, intellectual, fearless. But there were repeated, conspicuous references to his spirit as “joyful,” “cheerful,” – he truly was “a happy warrior.” One observed that his power was more than the power of oratory and rhetoric; it was “the power of joy.”

As a believer, we know that Charlie is experiencing the greatest joy now…the joy of being in the presence of His Saviour. But he leaves behind a legacy of joy and a lesson for us all that we must stand courageously, faithfully, and joyfully for truth.

I’m sure there are some areas where I would not agree with Charlie Kirk perfectly. But he was a young man willing to give himself to impact his generation with the gospel. May God multiply his kind. Permit me to share three things I most admired and believe to be instructional for us all…

His boldness to speak for Christ.

It is important to know that conservatism and Christianity are not synonymous. One is political and the other is spiritual. To be sure, Charlie was unabashedly conservative, but his strongest words were always about his personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Scroll through his social media posts and listen to his interviews. They are filled with plain explanations of the gospel. If you have never settled your own relationship with the Lord, you should do so today. None of us knows when we are going to meet God. And those of us who know the truth must recommit ourselves to using every opportunity we have to point people to the message of Jesus.

His heart for young people.

The only way to impact a nation is to engage the next generation. One of Charlie’s greatest contributions was his engagement of young people on college campuses. A few days ago, I spoke in a Bible Seminar on a University Campus. This generation is hungry for truth; they are searching. Instead of writing them off, we must speak the truth to them in love. I still believe the college campuses are one of the biggest untouched mission fields in our world. If we truly want to see a spiritual awakening, we must begin by loving young people enough to kindly and logically give them the truth.

His willingness to dialogue.

Charlie Kirk was a wonderful example of what it means to be respectful to those who disagree and kind to those who are antagonistic. This was the Pauline method. In Acts 17:2 we read that Paul “reasoned with them out of the scriptures.” The word “reasoned” is the root from which we get our word dialogue. People do not need just a lecture: they need a conversation. Acts 18:4 explains that Paul “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.” Dialogue leads to persuasion! If we want hearts to change, we must be willing to engage minds with the truth of God’s Word. We must learn to listen, speak plainly on the issues, and answer questions from the unchanging Word of God.

Not all of us are to be political operatives and community activists, but all of can speak boldly about Christ. All of us can love and engage young people. All of us can have a conversation. In the words of Pastor Clarence Sexton: “You don’t have to be afraid of truth.”

Pray for Charlie Kirk’s family. Ask God to raise up many more good soldiers of Christ in this generation. He always has His man in the arena. Then, do what you can where you are to further the truth of the Word and the gospel of Christ.

Our home pastor shared some very wonderful things last night regarding the death of Charlie Kirk and its effects on our nation. I hope you will take time to watch these pastoral thoughts and join us in prayer for the spiritual awakening our nation so desperately needs at this time.