Responding to Tragedy with Biblical Wisdom
First, We Must Say This Clearly: Violence Is Sin
Before anything else, let me be crystal clear: harming another person to advance any cause—political or otherwise—is sin. Period. Full stop.
Every single person, including Charlie Kirk and even his killer, bears the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The commandment "You shall not murder" hasn't been repealed (Exodus 20:13). When Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, He wasn't just talking to one disciple—He was establishing a principle for all who follow Him (Matthew 26:52).
So when violence erupts in our public life, we don't wink at it because we happened to agree or disagree with someone's politics. We grieve it. We condemn it. And we commit ourselves to seeking peace (Romans 12:17-21).
If someone around you shrugs and says, "Well, they had it coming," please respond gently but clearly: "No—Christ calls us to protect and value life." This is true whether we're talking to our kids, posting online, or discussing current events with neighbors.
Our First Response Isn't a Take—It's Prayer
In moments like this, our first instinct shouldn't be to craft the perfect social media response or formulate our "take" on what happened. Our first response should be prayerful lament.
God is near the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and we're called to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). So let's pray:
For Erika Kirk and their children as they face unimaginable grief
For the witnesses, especially students who will carry this trauma
For first responders and medical teams who tried to save Charlie's life
For investigators working to find truth in the midst of chaos
For leaders making difficult decisions under intense pressure (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
And yes, even for the shooter's repentance, because Jesus commands it (Matthew 5:44)
Try this simple daily pattern this week: "Father, have mercy. Heal, comfort, steady, and guide. Guard our words and our hearts. In Jesus' name, amen."
Consider reading a Psalm of lament each day—Psalm 10, 13, 42, or 130. Maybe even fast a meal to focus your prayers more intentionally.
Slow Down and Pursue Truth
False witness isn't just perjury in a courtroom—it's also posting or forwarding information we haven't actually verified (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 12:22).
In moments like this, everything moves fast. Rumors fly. Speculation runs wild. But let's pause and ask ourselves: Am I calm right now? Do I actually know the source of this information? Is there corroboration from primary sources? Will sharing this help anyone obey Christ better (Ephesians 4:25, 29)?
If you shared something that turned out to be wrong, say so with the same visibility: "Earlier I shared X; it was incorrect; here's the correction." That's not weakness—that's obedience to our Lord who calls us to truth.
Truth requires patience. Love requires restraint. Both virtues feel counterintuitive when tragedy strikes, but they're exactly what the moment demands.
Leave Justice to God and Proper Authorities
I know the desire for answers, for someone to pay, feels overwhelming right now. That's human. But Scripture is clear: we don't take vengeance into our own hands. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
At the same time, God has established civil authorities to restrain evil and pursue justice (Romans 13:1-4). So we pray for investigators, prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and eventually jurors to do their work with wisdom, fairness, and courage (Micah 6:8).
No doxxing. No threats. No mob pressure. We stick to what officials release and trust the process, even when it feels slow.
Remember: forgiveness—releasing our demand to get even—and justice—pursuing proper accountability through legitimate channels—can and should coexist. In Christ, we don't have to choose between them.
Guard Your Heart and Your Words
Let's be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, because human anger doesn't produce God's righteousness (James 1:19-20).
Everyone we talk about—or talk to—is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27). That includes political figures we disagree with, witnesses sharing their stories, and yes, even the person who pulled the trigger.
Set some guardrails this week:
Don't post while you're emotionally escalated
Pray Psalm 131 before speaking about this situation
Ask a trusted friend to preview sensitive statements
When anger spikes, turn it into intercession—name specific people and pray for healing, justice, and repentance
Here's a simple test: Would I say this the same way if the victim happened to share my political views? If not, ask yourself why not.
Practice True Peacemaking
Peacemaking isn't staying silent when tragedy strikes. It's speaking truth with patience and courage, without cruelty (Matthew 5:9; Micah 6:8; 1 Peter 3:15-16).
This week, try having a conversation with someone who sees this situation differently than you do. Start with genuine care: "How are you holding up with all this?" Listen without interrupting. Reflect back what you heard. Share your perspective briefly, as someone who follows Jesus. Name what you both value—things like safety, truth, the dignity of human life.
Maybe end with a shared action: serve at a food pantry together, give blood, check on an elderly neighbor. Shared service lowers the temperature and builds what makes for peace (Romans 14:19).
Care for Those Who Are Hurting
We bear one another's burdens with practical love, both now and in the months ahead (Galatians 6:2; Romans 12:13).
If you're in Utah or connected to those affected, offer meals, rides, childcare, or lodging for out-of-town family. Listen more than you speak. Don't press people to retell their trauma. Share vetted counseling resources.
Put reminders on your calendar to check in at one month, three months, and a year from now. Grief doesn't follow our schedules, and people need care long after the news cameras leave.
Most importantly, protect people's privacy and ask consent before sharing updates about how they're doing.
A Final Word
I don't know what motivated this shooter. I don't know what comes next in our politics or our country. But I do know this: Christ calls us to be peacemakers, truth-tellers, and burden-bearers in times exactly like this.
We won't respond to violence with violence. We won't spread rumors or seek revenge. We will pray, grieve, seek truth, pursue justice through proper channels, and care for those who are hurting.
That's what it looks like to follow Jesus when the world feels like it's falling apart.
May the Lord comfort all who mourn today, and may His peace guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
