Let's evaluate the 'Charlie Kirk effect'

[Michie]

During the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, “Charlie started a political movement but unleashed a spiritual revival.” Many people have, in fact, used the word revival to describe what has happened, especially among young people, since the September 10th assassination of the Turning Point USA founder.

According to a FOX News article published a few weeks after his death, pastors and religious leaders across the U.S., including Arizona where Kirk was based, reported a 15% to 30% increase in church attendance, and many of the new attendees referred to Kirk’s death as a wake-up call about mortality and faith.

JP De Gance, the founder and president of Communio, a ministry that helps churches strengthen marriages, told The Christian Post,

Continued below.

https://breakpoint.org/evaluating-the-kirk-effect-2/

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

If church attendance has increased as a result of Mr. Kirk's passing, it raise concerns within the American Christian community. Mr. Kirk was primarily recognized as a political activist who promoted youth engagement in politics, rather than as a pastor or minister whose primary mission was preaching the gospel or theology that inspire people to come to Christ the savior.

Should individuals be attending church due to Mr. Kirk’s death instead of the foundational message of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, they will depart for similar reasons as their initial motivation fades. Political activism alone will not fulfill the deeper spiritual needs of congregants, potentially leading to eventual disengagement from the church.

It is concerning that some Christians consider this is a good news. Prioritizing the influence of a political activist over a focus on Jesus as Savior will not provide lasting inspiration or engagement within the church community.

 

[askesis]

It is concerning that some Christians consider this is a good news

It's concerning but not surprising. Much of Christianity in the US has become synonymous with MAGA/Republican politics.

 

[chevyontheriver]

If church attendance has increased as a result of Mr. Kirk's passing, it raise concerns within the American Christian community. Mr. Kirk was primarily recognized as a political activist who promoted youth engagement in politics, rather than as a pastor or minister whose primary mission was preaching the gospel or theology that inspire people to come to Christ the savior.

Should individuals be attending church due to Mr. Kirk’s death instead of the foundational message of Jesus Christ's sacrifice, they will depart for similar reasons as their initial motivation fades. Political activism alone will not fulfill the deeper spiritual needs of congregants, potentially leading to eventual disengagement from the church.

It is concerning that some Christians consider this is a good news. Prioritizing the influence of a political activist over a focus on Jesus as Savior will not provide lasting inspiration or engagement within the church community.

I think the assassination of Charlie Kirk can serve as a wake-up call for a wider audience than just the political right wing. As can things like the kidnapping of Nigerian Christian schoolchildren. The end result does not have to be merely an increase in the MAGA tribe. It can be better than that. It isn't a zero sum game.

 

[Vambram]

Charlie Kirk was far more than an effective political activist. Charlie Kirk was also a very effective and very outspoken speaker and witness of the Gospel of Christ as well as practical doctrines in the Bible for Christian faith and godly living.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

I think the assassination of Charlie Kirk can serve as a wake-up call for a wider audience than just the political right wing. As can things like the kidnapping of Nigerian Christian schoolchildren. The end result does not have to be merely an increase in the MAGA tribe. It can be better than that. It isn't a zero sum game.

Coming to Church for reasons other than Christ Himself is ultimately Zero some game.

Individuals attending church in response to Mr. Krik's passing is primarily honoring his memory rather than drawn to Christ himself. Their engagement appears to be driven more by political motivations than genuine interest in Christ, and it is likely that their attendance will diminish as those interests subside.

 

[Richard T]

Without good survey data it is hard to know how strong the relationship is to Kirk's death and increased church attendance or bible reading.. Bible sales were up already 22% from 2023 to 2024. No matter the motives, if someone attends a church there is a chance that the Holy Spirit will draw them further and they can become active Christians. Other possible catalysts promoting church and bible reading are the wars, weather events, economic stagnation or even upheaval for some Americans as well. Let's pray this spiritual awakening is real, lasting and goes deeper.

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

Without good survey data it is hard to know how strong the relationship is to Kirk's death and increased church attendance or bible reading.. Bible sales were up already 22% from 2023 to 2024. No matter the motives, if someone attends a church there is a chance that the Holy Spirit will draw them further and they can become active Christians. Other possible catalysts promoting church and bible reading are the wars, weather events, economic stagnation or even upheaval for some Americans as well. Let's pray this spiritual awakening is real, lasting and goes deeper.

You are correct; attending church rather than staying at home watching television can be viewed positively. Even if a person's initial motivation is not ideal, by coming to church and hearing the Word of God, there is the possibility that the Holy Spirit may influence their heart.

However, we should be cautious when people come to church and believe that revival is occurring simply because of certain events. Not everything results in revival or leads people to Christ.

Willo Cheek Church, founded in 1975 by Bill Hybles, played a significant role in the rise of the American megachurch. Bill Hybles is widely recognized as an influential leader in developing megachurches across the United States. Unlike other megachurches, such as Lakewood Church in Texas, Willo Cheek is not known for preaching the prosperity gospel. Instead, it is considered a true Bible church, strongly rooted in biblical principles. I have attended services at this church many times over the years.

At the peak of Willo Cheek's success, when weekly attendance averaged around 17,000 members, Hybles commissioned several studies to determine whether the congregation was genuinely experiencing spiritual growth. These studies were conducted between 2007 and 2008, and some of their reports may be found online.

A study found that people are drawn to the church because of its excellent children's ministry, youth programs, adult Bible studies for men and women, and prayer groups. These activities allow families to participate together. The church also offers a vibrant music ministry, outreach initiatives for communities, and support for the poor and needy, while sharing the gospel locally and internationally. There are many opportunities for members of the congregation to dedicate their time in service to the Lord. As more programs are created, attendance at the church continues to grow.

However, the study actually found that these programs and levels of participation resembled "Parables of the Sower." Many congregation members attend church for various reasons, and while they initially receive the message with joy and may appear fruitful, their engagement is not genuinely rooted in Christ. Rather, it is often manifested as outward activity that aligns with what the world perceives as Christian living.

Ten years later in 2018, Hybels was accused of sexual harassment and resigned. Other scandals also emerged at that time, resulting in more than half of Willow Creek's congregation leaving; some joined other churches, while others stopped attending church altogether.

A similar situation occurred with Hillsong Church in Australia: the church grew until the first scandal, after which many members left.

In contemporary America, Christianity is frequently evaluated based on factors such as an individual's stance on pro-life issues, opposition to same-sex marriage, political party preference in recent elections, frequency of church attendance, and willingness to publicly advocate for Christian values under political pressure. Currently, these criteria are often considered markers of being a good Christian, rather than the quiet, daily commitment to "taking up one's cross." Many Christians focus more on outward expressions of faith than on deepening their spiritual growth in Christ.

Consequently, since the onset of Covid-19, churches have experienced division and fragmentation. Some long-standing members left their congregation of thirty years due to disagreement with the pastor's decision to reopen the church early during lockdown, while others departed because the pastor chose not to reopen and adhered strictly to local government mandates.



The real question is;

Are people attending church for genuine reasons, or not? And when they do, are they receiving meaningful spiritual guidance, or just witnessing empty displays of faith?

 

[BobRyan]

If church attendance has increased as a result of Mr. Kirk's passing, it raise concerns within the American Christian community.

The "all news is bad news " theme is not appealing to a lot of people. I can take that renewed interest in church as a good thing

Mr. Kirk was primarily recognized as a political activist who promoted youth engagement in politics, rather than as a pastor or minister

Charlie never claimed to be a pastor or a minister. And yet he started to speak out on the need to take time out and worship God. He began to talk about what the Bible says about what the Bible calls "The Holy day of the Lord" and "The Sabbath of the Lord thy God".

A lot of American Christians that I meet , find those messages to be encouraging and positive.

whose primary mission was preaching the gospel or theology that inspire people to come to Christ the savior.

American Christians are not accustomed to the message "If you are not a pastor don't speak to us about Christianity, worship, the Bible etc"

Should individuals be attending church due to Mr. Kirk’s death instead of the foundational message of Jesus Christ's sacrifice

A lot of Christians were killed by the pagan Romans and were killed in the dark ages by some extreme Christian groups. "Blood of the saints is seed of the martyrs".

It's called the "persecuted church model" and is very different from the "victorious nation church" model in the Old Testament

, they will depart for similar reasons as their initial motivation fades. Political activism alone will not fulfill the deeper spiritual needs

If Kirk had not gotten so focused on the Sabbath, and revival and the Bible, renewal, then his death would be just like all the other tragedies that happen in politics where people lament the monsters that go around shooting people and look for ways to get more laws against violence, or laws against gun ownership etc.

That scenario is a dime-a=dozen. It is not like we are short on that sort of material

It is concerning that some Christians consider this is a good news.

Only for those that see an up tic in church attendance as "a bad thing"

Prioritizing the influence of a political activist over a focus on Jesus as Savior will not provide lasting inspiration

That is a false choice proposal. The idea that someone in politics who gets murdered while also influencing a revival in church attendance is like having a Lawyer that also attends church and revival meetings, a doctor who promotes Christianity, a carpenter that also promotes the gospel

 

[FAITH-IN-HIM]

The "all news is bad news " theme is not appealing to a lot of people. I can take that renewed interest in church as a good thing

Charlie never claimed to be a pastor or a minister. And yet he started to speak out on the need to take time out and worship God. He began to talk about what the Bible says about what the Bible calls "The Holy day of the Lord" and "The Sabbath of the Lord thy God".

A lot of American Christians that I meet , find those messages to be encouraging and positive.

American Christians are not accustomed to the message "If you are not a pastor don't speak to us about Christianity, worship, the Bible etc"


A lot of Christians were killed by the pagan Romans and were killed in the dark ages by some extreme Christian groups. "Blood of the saints is seed of the martyrs".

It's called the "persecuted church model" and is very different from the "victorious nation church" model in the Old Testament


If Kirk had not gotten so focused on the Sabbath, and revival and the Bible, renewal, then his death would be just like all the other tragedies that happen in politics where people lament the monsters that go around shooting people and look for ways to get more laws against violence, or laws against gun ownership etc.

That scenario is a dime-a=dozen. It is not like we are short on that sort of material

Only for those that see an up tic in church attendance as "a bad thing"


That is a false choice proposal. The idea that someone in politics who gets murdered while also influencing a revival in church attendance is like having a Lawyer that also attends church and revival meetings, a doctor who promotes Christianity, a carpenter that also promotes the gospel

I apologize to anyone I may have offended; that was not my intention, nor was I considering politics or Mr. Krik's influence when I posted few things on this thread.

I was not familiar with Mr. Krik until his passing. As is often the case with American media, coverage from the left tended to criticize his views, while the right regarded him highly. I have recently watched some of his YouTube videos and found that I agree with certain perspectives he shared, while I disagree with others.

My point is simple: we should be mindful if people aren't coming to church for the right reasons. Everyone is welcome, and it's positive when people choose church over watching TV on Sunday mornings. However, we need to guide them thoughtfully toward Christ Jesus.

Church attendance in the United States has experienced a notable decline over the past 15 years. The proportion of individuals attending church decreased from 43% to 33% during this timeframe, marking an unprecedented rate of change within such a short period.

As Christians, it is important for us to reflect on the reasons why many individuals are leaving the church or their faith. Too often, we may place the blame externally—on the media, societal morality, secularism, liberalism, socialism, or political groups—without first examining ourselves or addressing the underlying causes. Individuals are drawn to the church when they genuinely see and experience Jesus through other believers, and get to know Jesus as their personal savior. If people come to church for any other reason, their faith will be short-lived, like seeds that sprout in shallow soil but quickly wither.

 

[BobRyan]

Church attendance in the United States has experienced a notable decline over the past 15 years. The proportion of individuals attending church decreased from 43% to 33% during this timeframe, marking an unprecedented rate of change within such a short period.

Yes that is lamentable. Which is another reason why getting them to reconsider being present in church is a good thing. And once they are in church we don't blame Charlie Kirk if they then do not become on fire born again Christians, (in the case of those who don't do that), at some point the pastors and Christians in church are God's witnesses evangelizing all those who come walking in the doors.

As Christians, it is important for us to reflect on the reasons why many individuals are leaving the church or their faith. Too often, we may place the blame externally—on the media, societal morality, secularism, liberalism, socialism, or political groups—without first examining ourselves or addressing the underlying causes.

Also true. If we are feeding attendees "fluff", sodas, candy crackers , bar music, sentimentalism, rigid formalism instead of life transforming gospel messages, well then it is bad on us today just like it was bad on us in every age whenever we did that.

Individuals are drawn to the church when they genuinely see and experience Jesus through other believers, and get to know Jesus as their personal savior. If people come to church for any other reason, their faith will be short-lived, like seeds that sprout in shallow soil but quickly wither.

That is where we differ. No matter what reason someone walks in the door of the house of God, God is still there. When the sinner hears the Gospel he/she does not start out as a saint with pure motives. They start as a lost sinner with a sinful nature . Many people flocked to hear Jesus speak, see miracles, get fed the bread ... get healed. Purely selfish reasons. Jesus did not turn them away. Rather He healed them, fed them and taught them and some of them became born again Christians.

There is no quality control process at the door of the churches to ensure each one that enters is already of the highest quality. Our ministry is to the lost. Paul says in Romans 11 "if by ANY means I may save some".