The first thing I want to say is this: I pray for Charlie Kirk, I pray for the grace and mercy of God to guide his soul to rest and to attain that which all who confess Jesus desire: resurrection and the life of the Age to Come.
The second thing I want to say is this: Political violence is, under no circumstances, acceptable. It doesn't matter what I thought of Mr. Kirk or his views, this act of violence is evil. It is always evil. It doesn't matter who perpetrates it, it doesn't matter who the perpetrator is or what they believed; it doesn't matter who the victim is or what the victim believed. All politically motivated violence is evil, and has no place in America. As a Christian, I want to go even further: Violence is unacceptable. Period.
The last thing I want to say is this: Since learning about what happened yesterday, I've been in a state of anxiety. And my thoughts are diverse and across the board. I am anxious, because I see political violence escalating, because the political divide is growing wider, deeper, and people are getting angrier, people are becoming more hateful. I see it everywhere. I am anxious because each thing that happens deepens it; it is throwing gasoline. I am not anxious because I am experiencing fear for my personal safety--but because it seems like the threads of our society are unraveling. I am anxious because what's the next thing that's going to happen? Our politicians are either inept or culpable; our media cares only about creating outrage and getting ratings; we are inundated with social media that boxes us in echo chambers where all we get to see is the ugliest sides of ourselves on full display.
And what's the fix? I have no idea.
-CryptoLutheran
