The world has been turned on its head this past week. Whether you agree with the things said and preached by Charlie Kirk or not, it has impacted almost everyone in one way or another.

I’ve seen a trend arise from this event as well as other major events, whether local, national, or worldwide, and it is the trend of “if you agree with XYZ thing that I think is bad, delete/unfriend/unfollow/separate from me in some way”.

I understand this sentiment and the emotion behind it. I get that people want to feel safe in expressing themselves and the safest place to do that is in an echo chamber where there is more agreement than disagreement. Echo chambers come with their own level of danger, though, and we must realize that if we call ourself a Christian, we were never called to live in one.

Jesus called us to go. We’re to go to the “highways and hedges” and those are almost assuredly going to be places where we are not agreed with, where were challenged, and potentially where were not welcomed. While healthy boundaries are a necessity for life, Jesus left us no excuses: we are to go and make disciples. We are to go and share the Gospel….. no matter the cost.

Romans 10:14-15 NKJV 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

How will they(unbelievers, the backslidden, even the baby in Christ) hear if we do not go? How will they hear if we do not speak? How will they hear if we shoo them away and say, “you don’t agree so therefore you’re evil”?

The reality is that if we want to live like Jesus, we must be willing to engage with those who may be hostile to us. We must be willing to hear them out and then lovingly present the truth of the Gospek to them. It is then their choice to accept that truth, but no one has ever been hated or maligned or shunned into a relationship with our Creator.

There is nothing wrong with paying respects to and mourning the loss of Charlie Kirk and leaders like him. It was a heinous act of evil and i pray for the salvation of his killer. However, I believe we have for too long relied on others to go and do the work for us, like pastors, evangelists, people like Kirk. This was never the intention of our Savior. He called us ALL to go and do and for that we must be prepared.

1 Peter 3:15 NKJV says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”

To be ready to give an answer requires us to study our Word and spend time in prayer. It requires us to carry our cross daily.

So now what? Well that’s up to you.

Do you need to start a relationship with Jesus?

Do you need to go back to church?

Do you need to get in your Word more?

Do you need to pray more?

Do you need to increase your time with the Lord?

Do you need to get more bold with your faith?

Only you can answer that. Seek Jesus friend, then go help someone do the same.