The High Cost of Freedom: Charlie Kirk, Political Extremism & Modern Spiritual Warfare

Charlie Kirk's passing has definitely rocked my confidence in the people of this world. It seems evident that some people can’t have healthy, spirited, respectful debates. What’s happened to respecting the views of others? What about free speech? How can a Christian express their views without fearing a similar fate?

What’s worse is the hateful speech rising up from the extreme left. I’m appalled that the anti-gun party is attempting to use guns to silence the opposition. The party of “love is love” is content with spreading hate. The party that preaches freedom without limits prefers to impose limitations on free speech. Is this a political blog? No. But I will use this space to take a stand against hate. I stand against violence. I stand against opposition. I stand against wickedness.

This is a moment of profound sadness for our country. It is also a powerful reminder of a spiritual truth. Charlie Kirk spent his life passionately advocating for what he believed was right and good, and in doing so, he became a voice for a generation. His death, a consequence of the very spiritual darkness we are told to fight, underscores the urgency of our Christian mission.

We are reminded that our time on earth is a gift, and how we use our voices and talents matters for eternity. Let's not let the sadness of this moment paralyze us, but instead, let it ignite a new fire to stand for truth, to speak with conviction, and to always put on the full armor of God. His work continues through all of us.

We must also focus on unity, love and forgiveness. Erika Kirk has shown a powerful example that should inspire us all. Our real enemy is not someone from the opposing political party. Or another religious person. Or even a hateful, wicked, evil person. Our enemy is the devil!

The Lies of the Enemy

There's a subtle but powerful lie the enemy uses to divide us: he convinces us that our fellow human beings are the problem. We start to see our opponents in arguments, those with different beliefs, or even people who have hurt us, as the enemy. We spend our energy and emotional capital fighting with each other, launching accusations and attacks, while the true adversary watches and rejoices.

But the Bible makes it clear that this isn't the real battlefield. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We are not at war with each other. We are in a spiritual battle, and the real enemy is Satan and his forces.

The Enemy's Schemes

Satan's goal is to steal, kill, and destroy. He uses deception, lies, and temptation to create chaos and division. He loves to see us turn on one another, because it distracts us from the spiritual fight we're meant to be winning. He sets traps of unforgiveness, bitterness, and pride, all designed to isolate us and weaken our spiritual defenses.

Think about it. When we're consumed by anger toward a spouse, a friend, or a coworker, who benefits? Not us, and certainly not them. The only one who gains is the one who wants to see us disconnected from God and from each other.

Our Call to Action

Instead of shooting arrows at each other, we must turn our focus to the "fiery darts of the evil one." This means we need to get serious about our spiritual lives. We need to be able to recognize Satan's schemes for what they are—deceptive and destructive—and resist him.

This isn't a passive process. We must take up the whole armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6. This isn't just a metaphor; it's a practical guide for daily spiritual living:

• The belt of truth to hold everything together.

• The breastplate of righteousness to guard our hearts.

• The shoes of the gospel of peace so we're always ready to share hope.

• The shield of faith to extinguish the enemy's attacks.

• The helmet of salvation to protect our minds.

• The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, as our offensive weapon.

Our call to action also includes a crucial component: prayer. We are called to pray for others who are caught in Satan's snares and suffering from his deception. They are not our enemies; they are casualties of the same war we are fighting. We need to pray for their eyes to be opened and for their hearts to be freed.

The Battle vs. The War

The battle is not over, but our victory over the devil and death is secure because of Christ Jesus. Thinking about the spiritual life as a "war" rather than a series of individual “battles” is crucial. When we only focus on isolated skirmishes—a moment of temptation, a disagreement with a loved one, a personal failing—we risk becoming discouraged and losing sight of the larger, eternal conflict.

The "war" perspective allows us to see these individual struggles as parts of a grander narrative of God's redemptive plan and Satan's relentless opposition. It reminds us that our primary enemy is not a difficult boss or a challenging circumstance, but the spiritual forces of wickedness that seek to distract and defeat us. By keeping the whole war in mind, we can develop a strategic mindset, taking up the full armor of God and engaging in prayer and community, not just for a specific problem, but for a lasting victory that is already secured in Christ Jesus. This perspective provides resilience, purpose, and a steadfast hope that transcends the temporary setbacks of any single battle.

Final Thought

When we stand firm in the truth, and fight the right enemy, we can be victorious in every sense of the word. We’ve got to stop fighting with each other and start fighting for each other. We are a family in Christ, united against a common foe. Let’s fight together. Side by side. To the very end!

I pray for the Charlie Kirk family. I also pray for the Tyler Robinson family. And I pray for the hundreds of witnesses who saw this tragedy unfold. Most of all, I pray we can emerge with a spiritual hunger to fight the good fight of faith.

You are loved.

Ray Reynolds, PhD

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