There are many historical events that cause a person to freeze in time. Everyone alive at the time could tell you where they were when JFK was shot, when man landed on the moon, and when the Twin Towers were attacked. Charlie Kirk’s assassination will go down as one such event.
I will never forget where I was when I first heard. My husband texted me the news of the shot while I was sitting at my sewing table working on a gown for my soon-to-be-born son. I immediately put the fabric down and was glued to social media trying to find out what happened. I watched the assassination video in shock and disbelief. But I immediately knew this shooting would mark a turning point in the United States. I knew the country would not be the same.
Why? For one thing, this was the first political assassination to be videoed in high definition, up close, and circulated to everyone’s personal phone. For two days, you could not pull up any social media app without seeing Kirk being shot in the neck in graphic detail.
Another reason is that it became the moment when every conservative realized that there is no appeasing the left, no matter how much kindness and civility are shown to them. They want our blood. Kirk stood for respectful and civil debate. And he was more moderate or middle-of-the-road than most conservatives. Yet he was shot because “some hate cannot be negotiated with.”
And thus the turning point.
I’ve seen it in two areas: politics and religion.
The political shift is nothing short of fascinating. For a long time, conservatives were the silent majority. They don’t like to rock the boat. Instead, we let things play out at the ballot box and wouldn’t dream of taking the avenues the left takes to win. But now, all bets are off.
Conservatives are reporting those celebrating Kirk’s death, forcing them to be fired. They are reporting networks and hosts who lie about Kirk’s assassin. Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s show because he said, despite all evidence to the contrary, the shooter was MAGA and the right was using him to score political points. Just two weeks ago, you never would have seen a person on the left so much as reprimanded for speaking a false word. The right is collectively standing up and shouting, “We’re not going to take it anymore.”
Of course, not all the shift is good. In some instances, people are becoming further entrenched. It didn’t take an hour before people on the left started saying Kirk deserved his death. An MSNBC commentator said that before Kirk’s body was even cold. I even had friends on Facebook doing similar things – the least calloused only dreaded what the right would do, the most calloused celebrated his death. It is almost unbearable to scroll through X right now, because it’s not just prominent left-wing figures, it’s also people in our communities. 1819 News has numerous stories of teachers being fired or under scrutiny for celebrating Kirk’s assassination.
Yet some Democrats are now leaving because they see what it’s become – a political party taken over by the tumor that is the violent left, a left that calls speech they don’t agree with “hate,” and is by the numbers more accepting of political violence. A recent YouGov poll showed that 24% of those who identify as very liberal think it is always or usually acceptable to celebrate the death of someone you oppose. A quarter of very liberal citizens believe violence is justifiable against Americans with whom they disagree. In both cases there was a disturbing margin of unsure people. Those on the right had the lowest number of people who felt violence was justified or should be celebrated. It seems insignificant, but if you’re in a room with liberals as a conservative, how comfortable will you be?
Another change has been in the spiritual realm. Numerous reports emerged of church parking lots packed out this weekend. Churches had standing-room-only crowds, and social media is filled with stories of people who hadn’t been to church in years returning because of Kirk.
Kirk was not just politically motivated; he was gospel driven. His reasoning was infused by biblical theology. He preached the gospel as much, if not more, than political theory. He was constantly urging people back to biblical principles, not to take over the government but so that they would live better lives. He told people to go to church, get married, have children, raise them in the Lord. This is not a power grab. This is what will make the world a better place!
What the killer sought to silence was amplified and the result was probably millions of people returning to church and saying it felt great. Praise God. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Never have we seen so quickly how Christ can be glorified by senseless and violent death, how God’s cause can be seen even when horrendous and evil things occur.
Erika Kirk, in what I can only describe as one of the most heroic speeches of all time, praised God, extolling His love and goodness just days after the murder of her husband. A true act of evil caused her to lose the man she was supposed to spend her life with, but she stood before the nation and gave glory to God. The strength of her faith is unfathomable. But it impacted the nation. I pray that this change lasts and isn’t just a fad. I pray this revival stays and grows. Because it is this revival that will heal the division mentioned above.
Without God, political violence will grow, becoming more acceptable. The problem is the heart. And the only one who can fix the heart is God.
This revival is necessary. In God’s mercy, He exposed the problem of the heart by highlighting the divide, but also provided a path for revival. My earnest prayer is that America takes this turning point towards revival and the restoration of a culture in which there is no place for political violence.
Laura Clark is a wife, mother, and community activist. She currently serves as the interim president of Alabama Center for Law and Liberty, a conservative nonprofit law firm that fights for limited government, free markets, and strong families in the courts. Anything written by Laura for this publication does not constitute legal advice.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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