I’ve waited to write this post after spending time to process the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The shock of this tragedy has left many of us reeling, yet it also calls us to deeper reflection on what it means to follow Christ in an increasingly hostile world.
Over the years, we’ve observed the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, and we’ve talked about how we can help our children count the cost of following Christ. Where we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech, we find it more difficult to know how to respond and how to help our children. We are so concerned about traumatizing them or causing our children to be afraid – and rightfully so. In countries where they face persecution daily, it is just a fact of following Jesus. I heard one father in the movie The Insanity of God say something like, “Why would I talk to my children about persecution. It is a fact of life. I do not take them to the window and tell them that the sun is rising each day. It is a fact of life.”
Maybe we are coming to this place as well. Even if we aren’t, as our children begin to follow Christ, we need to have some important conversations. As we read Scripture, we see again and again that people of faith often face death. This is nothing new. Those who oppose Christ and his ways oppose and hate truth. They hated Jesus, and they will hate us. We’re learning that our experience in the USA is the exception, not the rule.
So, how should we talk to our children about Charlie Kirk’s assassination? How do we talk to them about standing firm in Christ no matter what?
We must start with truth that is age-appropriate. For our younger children, we focus on praying for Charlie’s family and talk about how Charlie is in heaven. Everyone who follows Jesus will go to heaven forever.
However, when we talk to our older children, it’s important to share honestly about everything we’re feeling and experiencing as well as the fact that we may be asked to give our lives for what we believe. To not prepare our children for the attitudes of others as they head into their teens and college years is dangerous and can be disheartening to our children. The key is not to make them afraid or to expect bad treatment, but we do need to prepare them to love their enemies and pray for them. We need to gently help them think through how they would respond in these situations. What would they do if they were Daniel facing the lion’s den? How would they feel if they were David and King Saul was after them? What about Esther? If they were Esther, would they go into the King’s throne room uninvited? As we study about Paul and Peter in the New Testament, we can put ourselves in their situations in our minds.
In addition, we can memorize Scripture that will give us and our children strength and hope even in the face of derision and persecution. Consider these powerful passages from the ESV translation:
- Matthew 5:10-12 – “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
- 2 Timothy 3:12 – “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
- John 15:18-20 – “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
- Romans 8:35-37 – “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
- Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
- Hebrews 13:6 – “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'”
We can help arm and equip our children for what our world is becoming. We can strengthen their biblical worldview and help them become strong in the Lord.
What happened this past week with Charlie Kirk, school shootings, and the unbelievable attitudes of those on social media have shaken many of us to our cores. We must prepare and be strong and courageous. We must choose today whom we will serve. And, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we need to be able to say, “If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18, ESV). Like Esther, we can stand firm and say, “If I perish, I perish.”
Many of our children may feel called to take a stand for their faith like never before. Let’s help them do so with wisdom and strength.
I was going to write a post that gave ideas of how to help our children grieve and handle what has happened, but I couldn’t. I just keep hearing the Spirit say, “We need strong followers.” However, I also want to share a podcast that does give some great help for talking to our children and helping them process sad and scary times. Elizabeth Urbanowics of Foundation Worldview posted an episode you can check out here.
Even in our grief and uncertainty, we can trust that God is sovereign over all circumstances. He has not abandoned us, and He will equip us and our children for whatever lies ahead. Let us cling to His promises, prepare our hearts and minds with His truth, and remember that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven. His grace is sufficient to carry us through whatever happens. In the midst of darkness, we can be lights that point others to Christ.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – Philippians 1:21