THE DEATH OF THE ‘GODS’ AND THE DEATH OF CHARLIE KIRK

This past week, I’ve been sad, angry, and, dare I say, hopefully glad. Let me explain.

I am heartbroken by a recent school shooting, a young Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death on public transit, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk in broad daylight. These tragedies remind us that we are fallen people living in a fallen world — within broken families, towns, and cities. Sin, not mental illness or societal constructs, is the root of our brokenness. It alienates us from ourselves, each other, and the Triune God. Romans 1:18-32 describes the foolishness and consequences of sin, which can manifest as mental illness but remains sin at its core.

I am angry that a refugee escaping violence in her war-torn country loses her life in what should be the freest, most peaceful nation. I am furious that children dropped off at school are murdered or traumatized for life. I am outraged that Charlie Kirk, exercising his constitutional right to free speech on a Utah college campus, was assassinated, leaving behind a wife and two children. This week, as we marked the 24th anniversary of 9/11, the weight of these events feels even heavier.

What’s happening? The gods have been challenged, and they are not pleased. For decades, America has been pushing God aside. While our nation was built on biblical principles, we’ve replaced them with godless secularism. Prayer and Scripture have been removed from schools, biblical truths once widely accepted are now openly opposed, and secularism — especially on college campuses — has risen, detached from reality. We’ve redefined marriage, questioned what it means to be a man or woman, and placed faith in the state to solve all problems.

As the one true God is rejected, other gods emerge. It’s not a question of whether we’ll serve a god, but which one. The god that has replaced the true and living God is self. Self-made gods are the oldest form of idolatry (Genesis 3:5). These gods claim the power to create their own reality, define right and wrong, and reshape identity, even if it defies biological truth. For example, a biological woman may claim to be something else, denying reality to craft her own image.

But false gods are weak and crumble under scrutiny. When asked simple questions like, “What is a woman?” their answers are convoluted and unconvincing. Questioning these gods is seen as disrespectful or idolatrous. When Charlie Kirk challenged a transgender student to justify their identity based on biological reality, the responses were often hostile. Unable to provide coherent answers, some resort to name-calling, anger, or even violence. This echoes the story of Stephen in Acts 7, who was murdered when his gospel arguments exposed the weakness of false deities. Those who cannot answer questions kill the questioner.

Despite my sadness and anger, I am hopefully glad. God is sovereign. Nothing catches Him by surprise. While I don’t understand His ways, I trust His purposes. When Stephen was martyred, a young man named Paul was in the crowd, complicit in the act. Yet, the gospel seeds planted that day bore fruit on the Damascus road. Acts 8 notes that the enemies of the cross, thinking they’d silenced one man, instead sparked thousands to spread the gospel, turning the world upside down.

I pray our hope will rise, our courage will grow, and we will speak the gospel with boldness and kindness. When false gods are challenged, we entrust ourselves to the one true God, who knows all things and will bring them to a glorious end, even when they seem disastrous. Revival may yet come. Jesus reigns and rules. B&R