Here we are again, in the shadows of still more senseless acts of violence. How have we arrived at this point? What has happened to cause this divisive rift that grows more pronounced with each passing day?

Yesterday (September 10) started out as a pretty normal day, I suppose, Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk probably started his day off as he did most other days. And I feel quite certain that he did not begin his day by thinking, “This is the day I’m going to die.” Those are not thoughts that we think, at least not usually. Under extreme circumstances I suppose the fleeting thought might pass through our minds, but it is certainly not something that very many of us would think on a regular basis.

Charlie Kirk’s assassination is appalling, to be sure. I encourage each one to lift his wife and children to the Lord in our prayers. Pray that His grace would prove once again to be sufficient for their needs in this present crisis. Pray that they will be surrounded by family and friends who will be able to console them in their time of grief. Pray for their strength to be sustained as they face the coming days, weeks, months and years.

But now I would like to turn our attention to something that happened in the hours after Charlie Kirk’s assassination. As U.S. senators convened on the house floor, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called for a moment of silence for the family of Charlie Kirk. After that time, shouts of protest began to ring out through the hall. The protests were obviously directed at a request of Colorado representative Lauren Boebart to have a time of prayer. To this request shouts of “No!” rang out through the hall, causing Speaker Johnson to strike the gavel several times calling for order.

There was a time in our nation’s history when prayer would have been freely and openly lifted to our Father in heaven because of the recognition that we are one nation, under God, indivisible. But those days are past. It appears that we are no longer one nation, but rather a nation torn in so many fragments that it is like the children’s nuresery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty. Now, Humpty is not an egg, falling off a fence, but a nation, broken into so many different pieces that it appears to be irreparable. A nation that once took a sense of pride in being directed by the Word of God, and by Judeo-Christian principles, has now begun to destroy the very foundation upon which it was built.

Second, no longer can we say that we are a nation under God – at least not the God of Holy Scripture. We now have elected officials who openly embrace the religion of Islam, the very people who believe that to kill those who disagree with them – specifically Christian and Jew – will attain some special reward in the after life. No, we are not one nation, under God.

And third, we are certainly not indivisible. We are divided, and the width of the divide, and the depth of the chasm is becoming more and more pronounced with each passing day.

I believe the assassination of Charlie Kirk will prove to be a watershed moment of grand proportion in the coming days, weeks, and years. Mr. Kirk was a man who, through communication and education, and through the creation of his organization, Turning Point, spoke at colleges and universities across our nation, trying his best to share with students a conservative point of view in light of the liberal education they are receiving in many educational institutions across our land.

I pray that it will not be in vain, but rather that the silencing of his voice might be the cause of the rising of many voices speaking up in opposition to the liberal tide that has swept our land. And please, let’s learn from Mr. Kirk’s example that we can do this in a civil manner, speaking with those who will listen.

And let’s all learn to do this without turning to violence. When did we lose the ability to discuss matters of difference without being divided? Why can’t we agree to disagree, and do that agreeably? I ought to be able to respect another person’s beliefs even if I adamantly disagree with them.

And finally, let’s learn from the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He never returned evil for evil, violence for violence, hatred for hatred. He loved – even enough to let people choose to reject the offer of His grace. He knew full well where it was all leading, and yet He kept His face set toward His fulfillment of His Father’s will.

Today, let’s continue to pray for the family of Charlie Kirk, for his organization, Turning Point, and for the ongoing impact his life, and death, will foster in our nation. Let’s not let his message be silenced, but in boldness let’s let the truth ring out loudly and clearly.

Blessings!