Dear Christians, This message is heavy on my heart so I decided to publish it as an extra post, not as my daily one-minute devotion.
The last few days have revealed how strongly Satan is ruling men's hearts. See Psalm 2:1-6 for an apt description of this situation.
We must be careful to get our facts straight and quit listening to worldly propaganda (Colossians 2:8).
Scripture tells us that Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot understand the truth (2 Corinthians 4:4). But I'm also hearing Satan's values espoused by professing Christians. I imagine some are fake Christians, but I think some genuine believers are also being deceived by anti-Christian definitions of love, hate, racism, etc.
I posted a short video of Charlie Kirk explaining his Christian faith on the Bible Love Notes Facebook wall. And a number of people identifying as Christians insisted he was racist, a white supremacist, hateful, etc.
I’ve not listened to Charlie Kirk long term. But in the last few years, I've appreciated his videos when I've come across them. There were times when I thought he could have expressed himself more carefully because his words could be taken out of context to mean something he didn't mean.
And in my research of anti-Kirk claims, every claim of racism or hatred was exactly that: a quote taken out of context so it conveyed a meaning Kirk didn't express.
I also found several quotes repeated throughout anti-Kirk posts that were never linked to a source, proving that one person can make a false claim and people will share it without checking it out.
One anti-Kirk article I read claimed Kirk was racist because he didn't embrace CRT definition of racism. CRT claims all whites promote racism even if they never mistreat a person of another race. And if you don't agree, CRT says you're racist.
It doesn't matter if your ancestors gave their lives to fight against slavery or if you were raised in poverty. According to CRT, if you're white you're privileged and you're promoting racism.
Here’s an example of true epicaricacy that a woman left on the Kirk video on the BLN page. I deleted this comment, but I copied it before deleting it because it is such a good example of hateful hypocrisy. I didn't correct the grammar errors:
“It's sad when you cautiously follow so called ‘Christian’ pages and realize that they are just another cover for racist. Yall idea of Christianity is why I no longer consider myself a Christian. Yall don't follow Christ and don't serve God. I kinda wish He still gave yall leprosy. At some point there has to be some consequences.”
This woman defined the BLN page as racist even though we have never shared one racist post in our 14 years on Facebook. She judges all Christians as ungodly, and she wishes we would all get leprosy.
That’s hate speech. This woman and many others like her are inspiring violence against Christians.
And her words and attitude don't resemble anything Charlie Kirk said. He stood for his beliefs, but he welcomed discussion from those who disagreed.
If you know what happened during Christ's lifetime, you know that He was hated and many false claims were made about him by those who eventually had him crucified.
I believe that those who celebrated Kirk's death would also have celebrated Christ's death:
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’” John 15:18-25
I'm not comparing Kirk to Christ. He was a human being. I'm sure there are areas where we wouldn't have agreed.
He's been speaking out since he was 18, and I'm sure some of his explanations lacked maturity or solid truth. I have read that his Christian faith became more real to him as he matured. But in the debates I’ve listened to in the last 3-4 years, Kirk didn’t speak rudely to those who disagreed with him. In fact, he had amazing self-control at times when he was reviled with hate speech.
We are living in a time when Christian values are called hateful, racist, violent, evil, unloving, etc. And this proves that Satan’s lies are destroying truth in our world. But the most tragic part to me is when Christians buy into the lies and condemn their brothers and sisters in Christ.
If you believe Charlie Kirk was racist or hateful, I suggest you listen to 10-20 of his videos and write down specific things he said (in context) that prove he is hateful. Then listen to 10-20 videos of those who express their negative feelings about Kirk and write down specific things they said (in context) that prove they are hateful. If you're honest, I think you'll see which side incites violence and hatred.
If all you read is anti-Kirk posts, you'll be propagandized.
We must get our definitions of right and wrong and love and hate from our Lord and we must remember Christ's warning:
“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” ~ Jesus, Matthew 10:22
I highly recommend you listen to this very short video as well: 30 Seconds to Live.
I also recommend Mike Winger's video: Why I Deeply Respect Charlie Kirk.
Image: By Gage Skidmore
I fully agree. I have been following Charlie for about two years and I was truly impressed by his self-control in the face of people shouting insults and real baseless hatred against him and Christianity in general. Even when they made completely absurd and unfounded claims, he respected the people and did not allow the audience to boo them. Always respectful of opinions different from his.
ReplyDeleteAs a black woman, I disagree. I found many of his comments to be racist, and veiled in supposed Christian values, but were completely antithetical to Jesus’ teachings. What about Jesus suggests that our skin color determines our life’s value, or intellectual ability? That’s not what Jesus taught. No where close to his teachings. In fact, the Bible doesn’t mention race. We are either Jew or Gentile. And while Jesus never condoned sin, he sat with sinners and publicans and converted them with his love. It’s not about the people Charlie Kirk debated with, it’s the people he debated about.
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca,
DeleteI agree with you 100% that racism is evil and ungodly. It grieves the heart of God. In fact, I encourage you to check out my Devotions About Racism
When I first read a list of quotes by Kirk, I also thought he was racist, but I decided to research those quotes and every one I found was cut out of the context and it misrepresented what he'd actually said.
In addition, I found a number of black people who knew Kirk personally defending him against claims of racism. I encourage you to check out the links below.
Terrence K Williams
Rob Smith
Isaiah Robin
Very well written Gail! I have watched Charlie's videos and his ability to bring the message of Christ to the campus was truly of God. I learned a great deal from him.
ReplyDelete