Beyond Violence: A Call to Prayer and Repentance”

Yesterday was a very tragic day in America. Charlie Kirk, a brother in Christ, was assassinated in plain sight right in the heart of an American university. Free speech–the right of every person to speak their mind–is a fundamental right, granted by the First Amendment. Charlie Kirk firmly believed in that right. And he believed that anyone who disagreed with his views and his faith had that right as well–and was tragically murdered at an event geared to allow such people to engage with him.

The cold-blooded killing of Charlie Kirk is a symptom of a much deeper sickness: the spiritual and moral decay of our nation. While this horrifying murder is unjust and the cheers of his demise are despicable, we have also witnessed a reaction that seeks vengeance. May it not be so.

The legacy of Charlie Kirk is rooted in the belief that debate, dialogue, and engagement can prevent violence. He once said, “when you stop having a human connection with someone you disagree with, it becomes a lot easier to want to commit violence against that group. . . . What we as a culture have to get back to is being able to have a reasonable disagreement, where violence is not an option.” 

Bloodthirst for revenge will not heal our deepening cultural divide. Our nation will not be fixed by better policies, smarter politicians, or more law enforcement alone. Rather, our core issue is a nation that has not submitted itself to God, as exemplified through Christ Jesus. It is only in Christ that the weight of government is on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 22:28). Flesh cannot overcome flesh; human effort alone cannot reverse the festering sickness of sin. Only a spiritual answer can.

We are a nation that gives homage to prayer without actually praying. Our world does not believe in its power, because we do not. We idealize godly values without seeking His face. We value pride while the Bible calls for humility. Rarely do we acknowledge our wrongdoing. We have become a nation of blame-shifters, choosing to point the finger outward rather than looking inward. As Abraham Lincoln put it:

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.” 

Clearly, we have tried many options and have been frustrated by our own efforts, and yet many remain deceived into believing that human wisdom holds the answer to our nation’s spiritual decay.

We anticipate an atmosphere where tensions will be very high. But we must see our weakness and acknowledge that only Christ can save and heal this nation. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven…” (2 Chronicles 7:14). The posture of humility, seeking God’s face, and repentance is not a message for those who do not know the heart of God, rather, it is a call for His people, known by Him, to embody this posture.

Much of our nation will analyze what has gone wrong. Many will call for action and put hope in the power of our voice. However, rarely does a prominent voice call a nation, especially His people, to prayer and repentance. As the late Dr. Kim would say, “extraordinary circumstances require extraordinary prayers.” We are in a spiritual battle for the soul of our country. A tipping point where young people will be tempted toward vengeance and take matters into their own hands. We pray that these young people would instead follow Charlie Kirk’s own example of being forthright but never angry, and always grounded in the Holy Scriptures. Reaction born of anger is not Spirit-led wisdom.

Let us pray for Erika Kirk and her two young children, who are experiencing unspeakable loss. And may God have mercy on this nation. May we call upon His name. May we seek His face. Now more than ever before.

Executive Leadership Team

JAMA Global