Charlie Kirk was not just a public figure to me — he was a role model. If I had ever had a son, I would have been proud to call Charlie mine. There were very few things, if any, that I ever disagreed with him on. What made Charlie different wasn’t just his intellect or his influence — it was that he built his life, and his politics, on the foundation of Scripture.

Carrying the torch for Charlie Kirk means standing unapologetically on Scripture in a culture that hates truth with courage, love, and a resolve that does not waver.

I want to say this plainly: I will never apologize for what I say. My politics, my worldview, my convictions — all of them are built solely on Scripture. If biblical truth offends someone, that offense is not on me. It is the rebellion in their own heart. Charlie understood that. He knew the risks of standing for truth in a world that despises it, and he spoke anyway. That’s the kind of courage I want to emulate.

What Charlie Modeled

Charlie showed what it looks like to contend for truth without abandoning love. He stood boldly for the sanctity of life, the God-given order of the family, religious freedom, and government’s duty to restrain evil. He took God’s Word seriously, and that’s why he took every argument seriously.

The Bible commands us: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). And it reminds us to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15). Charlie lived both. He showed us that truth without love hardens, but love without truth deceives.

His assassination is more than just a headline. It’s a warning. It shows how far our society has fallen — how quickly political disagreement curdles into hatred, and how deep the darkness goes when truth is seen as a threat. Leaders across the political spectrum have condemned the killing, but the deeper problem remains: a culture that celebrates rebellion and mocks righteousness.

But hear me — refusing bitterness is not the same as retreating. The right response to darkness is not silence. It is brighter light. And that requires courage.

When Even Murder Becomes Partisan

One of the most disturbing things I’ve seen since Charlie’s death is how even the simplest statement — “Murder is wrong” — is being treated as a political provocation. I’ve watched friends lose friendships this week just for acknowledging the horror of what happened. People who rarely post about politics are being attacked, shouted down, and unfriended simply for saying that taking a human life in cold blood is evil.

That’s the society we live in now. The haters of Charlie Kirk — overwhelmingly on the Left — are so consumed by ideology that they can’t even agree that murder is wrong. If the victim is someone they despise politically, they refuse to condemn it. That reveals something far darker than political disagreement: It reveals spiritual blindness.

Honestly, it reminds me of what we see with Donald Trump. The hatred for him has become so irrational that if he said air was good, Democrats would stop breathing just to spite him. It’s the same hatred. It’s the same blindness. And it proves why this world so desperately needs the anchor of God’s Word. Without it, people will call evil good and good evil.

Carrying the Torch for Charlie Kirk

Carrying Charlie’s torch means carrying Scripture into the public square without compromise. It means:

• Standing firm on the Word. I don’t build on party lines and then sprinkle in Bible verses. I start with God’s Word and let it shape every political conviction.
• Speaking truth with love. Love is not the absence of conviction; it’s the manner of delivering it. Truth without love hardens; “love” without truth deceives.
• Refusing revenge rhetoric. Justice? Yes. Vengeance? No. We reject the nihilism that says the ends justify the means.
• Equipping the next generation. Charlie poured into young people. We honor him by teaching them Scripture, logic, history — and moral courage.

I’m unashamed to say this: much of the Republican platform aligns with Scripture, and the Democratic platform largely does not. The sanctity of life, God’s design for the family, ordered liberty, religious freedom, protecting Israel — these are biblical principles. Abortion, gender confusion, the sexualization of children, hostility toward the Church — these are not. This is not about partisanship. It’s about truth.

And yes, I know saying that will offend some people. It offends the flesh in all of us. But truth isn’t measured by how many people clap. It’s measured by whether it agrees with God.

Grief Without Surrender

I’m grieving. I’m angry at evil. But I’m not paralyzed. The right answer to evil is obedience. The right answer to hatred is holy courage. If you want to honor Charlie, then take your place — wherever God has stationed you — and be faithful there.

That may mean stepping into school boards and campus clubs. It may mean launching a Bible study at work. It may mean mentoring a teenager who’s drowning in propaganda and longing for purpose. It may mean writing, speaking, or simply refusing to bow when pressure comes. Whatever your sphere, be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, and be strong.

I will not traffic in conspiracy theories. I will not claim motives for the shooter that investigators haven’t confirmed. I don’t need rumor to make the case for righteousness. As of now, the suspect is in custody, formal charges are expected, and his motive remains under investigation. Those are the facts — and they are more than enough reason to call the Church to courage.

I will carry the torch for Charlie by carrying the cross of Christ into culture — publicly, consistently, and without apology. I will keep applying Scripture to the issues of our day. I will keep speaking truth in love. And I will keep calling men and women to repentance, faith, and obedience, because Jesus is Lord over every square inch of life — including the halls of power and the public square.

If that offends, so be it. If it costs me, so be it. Christ is worth it.

Arch Kennedy is a Christian author, social commentator, and former broadcast meteorologist with a degree in meteorology from Florida State University. After years in television, he now devotes his life to encouraging others in their walk with Christ, especially in the face of cultural opposition. Find him at archkennedy.com or follow him on X: @ArchKennedy