The Heart of Violence: What Charlie Kirk’s Death Reveals

Yesterday, news broke that Charlie Kirk, a young, outspoken leader, was shot to death while speaking to a gathering of college students on the campus of Utah Valley University.

This tragedy occurred on the eve of the 24^th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on Manhattan’s Twin Towers buildings, sadly reminding us again of the brokenness of the human condition.

Although he was only 31 years old, in his short lifespan, Charlie Kirk had already become an influential voice, challenging young people to think deeply about the issues facing our nation.

Whether we agreed with him or not, the loss of his voice is more than the loss of one man—it is a loss of the space for speech, public engagement, and freedom itself, all of which is necessary to proclaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sadly, this century has seen too much violence, whether it be school shootings, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, or a twenty-year war on terrorism. Our capacity as human beings to destroy one another seems boundless.

From our Christian tradition, we look to the Lord’s diagnosis: wickedness in the human heart. Jesus warned, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery…” (Mt. 5:19). What is so difficult to wrap our minds around, in times like these, is how some folks move from thought to action — how ordinary people cross that tragic threshold.

What leads someone from thinking evil thoughts to acting on them? How do we move to violent behavior?  What leads a person to coldly calculate the death of another?

John puts it plainly, “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). Hatred fuels ordinary men to act in violent ways. Hatred in the heart gives rise to violence, and he who despises his brother walks in the ways of murder (cf. Matthew 5:21-22).

While it’s tempting to point fingers at our nation’s political leaders whose speeches and rhetoric have led to our nation’s divide, as Christians, we must remember where to place the real blame: on the devil himself.

Jesus described Satan as a “murderer from the beginning…when he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Satan hates God and his image bearers, easily capitalizing on our sinful capacities. Yes, we are accountable for our actions. Yet because the human condition remains wounded by this dreadful problem of sinful rebellion, the distance an evil heart must travel to act on hatred is sadly not very far — but even there, in our weakness, Christ supplies mercy.

Charlie Kirk was only 31.

The victims of school shootings are often just children.

Innocent people are senselessly murdered while going about their day.

These lives cut short remind us that hatred frequently targets the vulnerable—those least able to defend themselves, those who bear God’s image in ways so often overlooked.

Charlie Kirk’s killer must face justice. But we must pause and remind ourselves that another young man, only slightly older, was killed for us. At 33 years old, Jesus was publicly executed by enemies whose hands were hardened by hatred, which led to his agonizing and humiliating death.

Yet in the final moments of his life, God’s character and capacity to hold both justice and mercy in tension were captured in Jesus’ final words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Our temptations in such times are many: to despair, to anger, to hastily blame. These emotions are understandable; they are human. But we are called to something higher: to forgive as Christ forgave, to love when hatred calls for retaliation, to speak truth even when voices shout lies.

Let us pray for Charlie Kirk’s family—may they know comfort only God can give. Let us pray for our nation—may we seek healing, unity, and a turning away from violence. And may we, in our own hearts, resist hatred, love our neighbor, and live out the peace Christ died to bring.

With sorrow and hope,

Dr. Jonathan Smith