“The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.”

Psalm 37:32, ESV

Our hearts were broken by the assassination of Christian conservative leader Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, September 10. Charlie was a friend of JDFI. He shared Dr. Dobson’s love of Jesus Christ. He believed in faith, family, and freedom, and he took that message to America’s university campuses where he engaged in civil debate with leftist students.

Charlie Kirk’s murder is a significant cultural moment in our country. Of course, it has political implications, but its reach is larger than that. Charlie’s alleged murderer has been radicalized into left-wing ideology. His “partner” and roommate was a transgender individual attempting to become a “woman.” Both men were active in radical, violence-oriented “chat rooms.” Etchings on bullet casings and the recovered weapon promoted transgender themes and suggested that Charlie Kirk was a “fascist” simply because he spoke biblical truth.

In the aftermath of the assassination, it was heartening to see numerous social media posts from people saying the event was leading them to a personal spiritual awakening. Many shared that they were going back to church for the first time in years or beginning to read the Bible again. In an amazing national address, Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, urged people to honor her husband by joining a Bible-believing church. She said, “Our battle is not simply a political one. Above all, it is spiritual.”¹

Here in the Washington, DC suburbs, our family attends Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia, whose senior pastor is Gary Hamrick. Attendance at Cornerstone on the Sunday after the murder was reportedly unprecedented. We hope you experienced the same thing at your church. (Let us know if you see anything encouraging there.)

In the days that followed the assassination, there have been more references to “Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior” and “our Lord and Savior, the Son of God” than I have heard in years. That is the truth Charlie Kirk brought to our college campuses. The first question he took at Utah Valley University where he was killed was about his faith. In his response, he boldly presented the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, Charlie’s murder also exposed the nihilism and moral rot that is eating away at America. Many people literally celebrated his murder on social media, including well-educated professionals—doctors, teachers, entertainers, and others. These people were so detached from reality and consumed by hate that they actually assumed their friends would agree with them, and perhaps even join them, as they gleefully “danced” on Charlie Kirk’s grave.

We also saw further evidence of the growth of a violent subculture in transgender ideology. They not only reject biology and what we believe as Christians, but they intend to be gods unto themselves by choosing what gender they want. They have relentlessly tried to force us all to be part of their lie.

This debate has been rocking the country now for several years, and transgender activists have been losing. Sick men claiming to be women insist they have a right to walk into your daughter’s bathroom or locker room. They want to force you to use pronouns that are lies, calling a man “her” or even “they.” Of course, we, as Christians, must not lie. Nor is there anything compassionate about surrendering to the demands of a delusional person and, thus, affirming their delusions.

The hate that led to the killing of Charlie Kirk is the result of years of constant demonization of those of us who hold normal Christian and conservative beliefs. Today, when we say, “Marriage is between a man and woman,” the Left says, “You’re a fascist who hates gays!” When we voice, “Our borders should be secure,” the Left responds, “You’re a bigot who hates immigrants!” As we express our love of God and America, the Left says, “You’re a Christian nationalist and a danger to democracy!” When unhinged people repeatedly hear that “fascists are trying to destroy our democracy,” they resort to violence.

Thankfully, there have been signs of a recovery in our society. For example, many major corporations are firing people who celebrated Charlie’s assassination with callous and ghoulish remarks.

Professional sports leagues also showed signs of renewal. It was only a few years ago that the NFL was embracing Colin Kaepernick and his protests during our national anthem. Hundreds of football players were “taking a knee,” refusing to respect our flag and our nation. But over this past week, multiple NFL teams, baseball teams, NASCAR drivers, and big-name musicians all paid tribute to Charlie Kirk.

For many of us in the baby boom generation, our world was shaken by the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy. But with those terrible events was a delay in transmitting the news. Parents could protect and shield their children from disturbing images. Sadly, within an hour of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, children across our country saw videos of life pouring out of him. We are living in an age where technology is magnifying everything—both good and evil.

Whether Charlie Kirk’s murder contributes to a religious revival in America or not, we cannot ignore any longer that we have a huge moral crisis in our country. It has been caused by a falling away from the God of the Bible and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It has been magnified by schools at virtually every level that have become indoctrination centers teaching hatred of America and accelerating the movement away from the values we need to survive as a nation.

If this crisis is going to be a real “turning point,” the church in America must provide Christian citizens with the wisdom and courage to get into the arena.

At JDFI, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, we said people should consider changing churches if their pastor, priest, or religious leader did not celebrate that victory for the sanctity of life. Likewise, we hope your pastor addressed the assassination of Charlie Kirk and used it as an opportunity to explain the clash between good and evil taking place in our country. This is also a time for pastors and church leaders to minister to millions of heartbroken believers.

Charlie Kirk was a committed Christian who regularly spoke openly about Jesus, and he was murdered—martyred. Charlie went into the “lion’s den” to face people who hated him for that reason alone. If our churches don’t speak about this, there’s something deeply wrong that must be corrected.

In this moment, the forces of good are quickening, but we would be fools to not recognize that the forces of evil are hastening, too. The battle goes on between those who believe “God is” and those who believe “God isn’t.”

With your continued prayers and support, JDFI will do everything we can to educate and equip Christian citizens to win the battle for faith, family, and freedom. Please join us in praying for Charlie Kirk’s family at this difficult time and pray that America will once again become “one nation under God.”

1. “Charlie Kirk’s Widow Makes First Public Comments since His Assassination: ‘The Movement My Husband Built Will Not Die’ | Fox News Video.” Fox News. Accessed September 15, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6379285675112.