The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a horrible tragedy, first and foremost for his wife, children and loved ones but also Turning Point USA and his large following. He was a charismatic leader, a young man in the Rush Limbaugh tradition who thrived on controversy and gave voice to many young people within the conservative movement. His death is not only a tragedy for those who subscribed to his political views but for anyone who really cares about freedom and justice.              

      There should have been no rejoicing or finger pointing after the tragic murders in Minnesota of Melissa Hortman and husband Mark, nor now. Bring the temperature down in the room. We must return to the idea that we are one country. We mourn the loss of anyone of us and understand that the world is not a children’s storybook.  Life is filled with complicated people, not the good guys and the bad guys, my guys being good and everyone else being bad.                                                

      Kirk’s message was controversial. But in American we have long prided ourselves on the fact that free speech (with certain restrictions) is important. We pray, not only for his family but all Americans who are victims of needless violence. Stop shouting at each other and start listening and finding common ground. If leaders refuse to do so, then it must come from the people. There are troubling indicators that violence, even in schools, continues to be an issue in American, Coupled with the polarizing political climate, this is a toxic cocktail.                      

     We must recover who we really are, and that begins at the individual level.

      Acknowledge who Christ is and then seek daily to be like him. The fact is, he was loving and kind, not just to the disciples (his Tribe) but to others along the way (Samaritan woman). He refused to be held captive. He was a Jew who also taught the necessity of loving non-Jews. He was a man who taught his followers to have respect for women . We must seek to be more like him.

     Do not ignore cruel, vulgar, abusive language because it comes from someone in authority. Do not give them a free pass. Do not make excuses for their behavior. Call it out for what it is and help set a higher standard of expectation from elected officials. Is this really what you want your children to see in leadership? Let them see a parent who does not laugh and agree with calling people names but someone who says, “You know that is not a good thing to do, and we don’t want to do that in this house.”

     Limit your family’s exposure to violent, racist, and ungodly programming in media.  Spend time talking about how this does not represent your family and why. Talk together, walk together (, have fun as a family. Demonstrate not only abstract values but show them through your own actions what respect, loyalty, honestly and Christianity look like. 

       Live like a disciple of Jesus.

     We must make a difference, and it begins with each one of us. The answer is not more guns,(without the love of Jesus this can only mean more deaths) . We do not need a return to tribalism but a return to God.  The devil cares less about what we call ourselves and more about how we live. If we are Christians, they will know us by our love.

      We must live like Christ. We must walk like Christ. We must treat others the way Christ would have us to treat them.

      Lord, help us to be like you.