“A Bullet Can Silence A Voice But Not The Truth”
Jarrod M. Jacobs
I am sure our dear readers are familiar with the assassination of Charlie Kirk. In addition to his work on podcasts and Turning Point USA, as well as other social media outlets, Charlie spoke on numerous college campuses across the United States. In fact, he was scheduled to be on the IU campus in October of this year. (Prov. 27:1; Jas. 4:13-16 – I cite these passages as a reminder to us!) While his speeches encouraged and promoted conservative politics, if one listened closely, the primary focus in his work was on God, on morality, the sanctity of life, and having a purpose for living by focusing on Christ. I do not understand him to be a New Testament Christian, but he was someone who believed in God, Christ, the Bible, and encouraged the type of morals and righteous living the Bible teaches. Kirk was killed while speaking at the Utah Valley University campus in Orem, UT, on September 10. While his death has made headlines all over the world, please understand he was not the only person killed last week. There was a school shooting at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, CO, on the same day. In this shooting, two students and the shooter himself were killed. 2 more students were severely injured.
The nation stood in horror and shock at the death of Kirk and those students in Colorado. The public execution of Charlie Kirk took place while the cameras rolled and while many thousands had gathered to hear him speak. How could someone be gunned down in such a horrific way? Those killed in Colorado were just trying to go to school, learn, and live life. They were innocent victims. How can this happen in America?
Sin
In the coming weeks, many will conjecture as to the “why” behind these killings. Many ideas and theories will be batted around (mental problems, gun control, lax laws, etc.). The truth is that sin is at the heart of these killings, and any other time people are harmed or killed.
It is a sin to murder others (Rom. 13:9). Thus, we know sin is at the center of the murders of September 10th and any murder that has ever been. When we dig deeper, we see that the sin of murder (and any sin) results from yielding (Jas. 1:14) to the lusts of the flesh, and eyes, and the pride (vainglory) of life (I Jn. 2:15-17). Envy and ignorance have contributed to murders in the past as well (Matt. 27:18; Mk. 15:10; I Cor. 2:7-8).
What motivated the young person to kill his schoolmates last week? What motivated someone to kill Charlie Kirk? Perhaps we will never know all the answers, but rest assured, their motivations were based and born in a sinful attitude we noted above. The killers gave in to lust (desire) and yielded to Satan and sin when they should have resisted (Jas. 4:7-8)!
Opposition To A Message
Perhaps we do not see this as much in the Colorado killings, but Charlie Kirk spread a message, and a bullet has silenced his voice. This is not the first time in history that such actions have been taken. It is just the most recent example. When will we learn that silencing a voice will not silence a message when it is the truth?
In years gone by, when a king received a message he did not like, he was apt to kill the messenger for bringing it to him. This act gave rise to the phrase, “Don’t kill the messenger!” Messengers were even protected by laws in ancient Greece and later in Rome from being harmed or killed when giving the ruler news he did not want to hear. This is because killing the messenger will not change the message. In modern times, this is like being mad at the mailman for delivering bills to your mailbox! I can assure you that the message spread by Charlie Kirk in his short life will continue to be spread by others who are interested in bringing back morality and goodness to our country.
Spiritual Applications/Lessons From The Events Of September 10th.
Why were those young people killed in Colorado? What crime had they committed? The fact remains that sometimes there are innocent people who suffer at the hands of the wicked. This disparity has been noted numerous times in Scripture, from Psalm 73 to Ecclesiastes to Job and many other occasions. “Time and chance” happen to us, and as hard as it is to accept, there are times when bad things happen to good or innocent people. It is not what we want, but it happens in this life.
What about those who are killed for spreading a message, specifically the gospel? The fact remains that as long as we are on this earth, the conflict between God and Satan will continue! If I wish to follow the Lord and spread His message, I will be opposed by those who do not want to listen. This has been a problem for centuries. Unfortunately, we can see how God’s messengers were killed for bringing folks a message they did not want to hear. “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.” (Heb. 11:35-38). In addition to these, we might add the death threats and harmful actions taken against heroes like Elijah, Micaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and others.
Let us not forget John the Baptist (Mk. 6:24-29) and Jesus (Matt. 27; Mk. 15; Lk. 23; Jn. 19) were killed because folks did not like their message! The apostles (except John) were executed for preaching the resurrection of Christ. John was exiled for the same message (Rev. 1:9).
Please do not misunderstand. I am not comparing Kirk or any of the shooting victims last week to the apostles, Jesus, or anyone else. My point is that men have not changed! From Biblical times to today, when people do not like the message we speak, they will try everything they can to silence it, including resorting to violence against the speaker.
In more modern times, I have known men personally who have faced this kind of opposition and danger. One had a knife pulled on him while standing in a group of several brethren who were ready to harm him. Another brother wore a bulletproof vest into the pulpit to preach. There were three preachers I knew who told of preaching in a tent meeting in the 1960s, where the police surrounded the tent in their cars to protect them from threatened violence. Another brother I did not know personally was said to have been pushed down the concrete steps at the post office, resulting in his death. On and on we could go with this. An old Arkansas preacher, Joe Blue, had dynamite put under the pulpit, and the only thing that kept him from dying that day was that the perpetrators used a faulty blasting cap!
A Bullet Will Not Silence The Gospel Message.
I am thankful that in the examples above, the various preachers escaped violence. However, had all of those attempts been successful, the gospel message would continue to be sounded (II Tim. 2:2)! Just as in the case of the prophets, John the Baptist, Christ, the apostles, and so many others, killing the messenger will not silence the message!
It is evident that the message of Christ, the message of reconciliation (II Cor. 5:18-19), is not welcomed in many places. This does not give us permission to be silent, though! When we preach the word, we need to do this “in season and out of season” (II Tim. 4:2). This means preach the truth when folks like it and when they do not like it! Preach it when folks’ actions agree with the Bible and preach it when their actions do not!
We are in a time when folks very well may resort to violence against us for preaching the truth. It has gone on in other countries, and we are not immune to that happening here. Let us, with determination and resolve. Be dedicated to preaching and spreading God’s word far and wide, and let the chips fall where they may! If we die for the cause of Christ, let us not be afraid but remember Matthew 10:16-28. Remember Romans 1:16 and II Timothy 1:7-8. Let these words comfort us and keep us going as we walk that “strait and narrow” path that leads to Heaven (Matt. 7:13-14)!
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