Living At Peace With All
Charlie Kirk’s murder shocked me to the core.
Although greater leaders have been assassinated in recent times – MLK, JFK, RFK, Malcolm X
– these all happened before I was born or shortly after, so I never had the opportunity to feel any kind of a personal connection to them. I was too young and distracted when Reagan was targeted. Because I never knew them until they were shot, I was not as powerfully impacted after the attacks on the Hortman’s of Minnesota and Ms. Gifford.
But I felt like I knew Kirk.
His strong stand for the sacredness of life and marriage, his bold proclamation of the gospel of
Jesus Christ, and his interest in the Bible Sabbath were features that resonated with me.
I did not know as much about him as many others did but I felt like I knew enough and as a result his death hit me hard. It made me ask once again, What kind of world is this where it is unsafe to express an opinion? Am I myself going to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and be gunned down by a crazed mass shooter?
While these thoughts ran through my head, I was even more rudely awakened to discover the strong and varied reactions to his death. I was blissfully unaware of the gale force winds of controversy surrounding him. The online reactions have run the gamut of human emotions, from grieved and reverent…to nuanced and conflicted…to hateful and contemptuous.
As I watched more of his videos I discovered more to admire and also some other things that concerned me. I had to admit that I did not agree with him on all points. But as Christians we can affirm a person’s talent, sincerity, and dedication even if we don’t affirm all his arguments.
No person is just one thing. We each have many different sides. And because of that, getting along can be hard work. “If it is possible,” wrote the apostle, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Rom. 12.18). We don’t have to agree but we can be agreeable in tone and spirit.
By Barry Kimbrough
Pastor of Gold Beach, Brookings, and Cave Junction Seventh-day Adventist Churches
