Although the United States of America and Australia are a vast ocean apart, our core shared values mean that we often stand shoulder to shoulder through war, natural disasters and tragedy. Many people I have spoken to remain in shock, disbelief and tears over the assassination of Charlie Kirk. It is a reminder that speaking truth, particularly Biblical truth, is inherently dangerous in a world where truth sounds like hate to those who hate the truth.
In a world where, in 2024, a little over a third of Stanford students said using violence to silence speech is acceptable, it is clear that the unbelieving and hostile world has a problem with truth. Why? Because of their genealogy. I speak not of their biological family, but of their spiritual family. You see, when your spiritual inheritance comes from the father of lies, you will see truth as antithetical to the vitality of your family unit. Because the unregenerate sinner is spiritually dead, only death can come out of their mouth. There is no doubt they value the principle of free speech for themselves. However, what we must understand is that free speech is seen differently in the kingdom of darkness than in the kingdom of light.
To the father of lies and his children, free speech is designed to tear people down, spread lies, destroy the witness of the church and stoke violence against those who wish to bring light to the kingdom of darkness. After all, let’s not forget what Jesus said as recorded in John 3:19: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” They don’t just tolerate the darkness, they don’t just like the darkness, they love the darkness. Consequently, those who love darkness will hate the light because light is seen as the enemy of darkness and in their mind, an enemy needs to be destroyed.
In the Tribulation Period, we read of God’s two witnesses. After receiving news of their death, note how the “earth dwellers” (a name frequently used in Revelation to describe those who completely reject the things of heaven in favour of the things of earth) behave: “And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 11:10). In the Greek, the word for “tormented” is “basanizo”. It is a word which means that somebody is under severe and persistent distress of body or mind which is hard to bear. To the earth dwellers in the Tribulation Period, God’s truth causes such severe physical and mental pain, the death of the two witnesses will be celebrated as an international holiday. How could people act so wickedly? Wonder no more. The vile reactions which have flooded social media in response to the death of Charlie Kirk demonstrates that the same blackened heart which exists in the future earth dwellers is just as prevalent in the church age.
The American preacher Phillips Brooks once said, “Truth is always strong, no matter how weak it looks; and falsehood is always weak, no matter how strong it looks.” Right now, many children of the father of lies are celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk, wrongly believing that this moment provides legitimacy to the lies they are proclaiming. Believe that all you want, but the reality is that you suffer from the same deception that characterises your father. Your lies will be revealed to be just as pitiful and powerless as that which your father spoke to Eve thousands of years ago. Why? Because Charlie and those like him cling not only to the truth but to the Truth and He who is true is going to judge the wickedness of this world at His Second Coming. Revelation 19:11: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.“
So, if the majority of mankind hates the truth and hates the light, why do men like Charlie Kirk feel so convicted to share both in hostile territory? Martyred missionary, Jim Elliott, once said, “Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.” In the New Testament, you will find the Greek word “parrhesia”. It is often translated as boldness. For example, in Acts 4:31 we read: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” [parrhesia]. But “parrhesia” isn’t just speaking with boldness or confidence. It is outspoken confidence in the power, the plan and the purposes of God and those who possess it are ready and willing to make their convictions known in public without fear of repercussions. What sets “parrhesia” apart is a commitment to speaking the truth, even when it is dangerous or unpopular to do so. When the Holy Spirit empowers men and women to speak boldly, they will speak nothing but truth and fear nobody but God. What those in the kingdom of darkness fundamentally fail to appreciate is this simple fact: the kingdom of light does not fear the kingdom of darkness because greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.
Turning to Jim Elliott once again, he was quoted as saying: “I have prayed for new men, fiery, reckless men, possessed of uncontrollably youthful passion – these lit by the Spirit of God. I have prayed for new words, explosive, direct, simple words. I have prayed for new miracles. Explaining old miracles will not do. If God is to be known as the God who does wonders in heaven and earth, then God must produce for this generation. Lord, fill preachers and preaching with Thy power. How long dare we go on without tears, without moral passions, hatred and love? Not long, I pray, Lord Jesus, not long….”
Charlie, your work is done. Go rest high on that mountain. Perhaps you were one that God used to answer Jim Elliott’s prayer and if God sees fit to raise up others like you, let it not be one, but a million. When? As Jim Elliott, would say, “not long, I pray, Lord Jesus, not long….”
