Charlie Kirk’s Death: Why Tragedy—Searching for Answers and Meaning
The sudden and heartbreaking death of Charlie Kirk has left many reeling. A believer in Christ, a husband, father, leader, and an influential voice in today’s culture—his absence feels unthinkable. His wife, Erika, even amid her unfathomable grief, has shown remarkable courage and faith, but for so many of us watching from a distance, the questions come rushing in:
Why did this happen? Why does God allow such tragedy?
Whenever a life is cut short, our hearts ache with grief. We are reminded of how fragile life truly is and how broken our world has become. It is in moments like this that the deepest questions rise to the surface, and we wrestle honestly with God in ways that polite religion never can.
I think back on my 17 years of speaking on 2,000 high school and university campuses throughout America. In those settings, standing before millions of students, I spoke about the raw realities they faced—suicide, addiction, fractured families, and despair. On Friday nights, after sharing the Gospel, countless young people gave their hearts to Jesus Christ. And yet, in nearly every gathering, the same question would emerge in one form or another:
If God is good, why does He allow evil and suffering?
This question is not new. It echoes through history, through Scripture, and through the cries of every human heart. While we will never have all the answers, God has given us truth that can anchor us when grief feels overwhelming. Let me share five reasons—five heartfelt reflections—that speak into this question.
1. Sin and Evil Are Ever-Present in Our Broken World
The Bible is unflinchingly clear: sin has fractured God’s perfect creation, and tragedy has its roots in sin and the fall. When Adam and Eve disobeyed, sin entered the world, and with it came death, suffering, and pain.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“Wherefore by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Some tragedies are the direct result of human sinful choices—violence, greed, injustice.
Even in the earliest pages of Scripture, we find God addressing the struggle of the human heart. When Cain was overcome with anger and jealousy toward his brother Abel, God spoke directly to him: ‘If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it’ (Genesis 4:7).
This picture of sin ‘crouching at the door’ is vivid—it is waiting, lurking, ready to pounce when we are most vulnerable. God wasn’t simply warning Cain about one decision; He was revealing a truth for all of us. How often do we feel that same struggle? Tragedy often enters when sin takes root—whether in our own hearts, in the choices of others, or in the brokenness of the world we live in. Yet even in this sobering warning, there is hope: God reminds us that we are not powerless. By His grace, we can resist the pull of sin and cling to His truth as our anchor.
Other tragedies are the consequence of living in a fallen world, one that groans under the weight of sin (Romans 8:22). Natural disasters, disease, and broken systems are not proof of a flawed Creator, but evidence of a fractured creation. The Bible uses the word iniquity to describe sin, and at its core, it carries the picture of something twisted or bent out of shape. It’s not just a single wrong action—it’s the inward crookedness of the human heart that leads us away from God’s straight path. Sin twisted what God made straight. Some translations describe sin as something “bent” or “twisted” within us that must be straightened out. Where sin misses the mark and transgression steps over the line, iniquity reveals the deeper problem: our nature is bent, and only God’s grace can make us whole again.”
Dr. Karl Menninger once asked in his classic book, Whatever Became of Sin? why our culture tries so hard to rename, excuse, or dismiss sin altogether. But the Bible never downplays it. Sin is the root of every tragedy, every grave, and every heartbreak.
2. Satan Is Real and Very Much at Work
Evil in this world is not only the result of sin—it also reveals the presence of a real enemy at work.
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
Scripture calls him “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), influencing ideologies, shaping cultures, and numbing consciences. He delights in destruction, despair, and division. Our modern world may laugh off or downplay his existence, but the Bible warns us not to.
Yet Satan’s power is not ultimate. At the cross, Jesus Christ already secured his defeat (Colossians 2:15). He rages still, but only because he knows his time is short. In every tragedy we face, we must remember this: Satan may be mighty, but only God is almighty. The enemy’s power is real, but it is always limited. God alone holds all authority in heaven and on earth. Even when life feels shattered and darkness presses in, we can rest in the assurance that the One who is almighty is greater than the one who is mighty. As Scripture reminds us, ‘Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world’ (1 John 4:4). Evil never gets the last word—God does.”
3. For God’s Ultimate Purpose to Be Accomplished
Here is where mystery meets hope: evil is real, but God is still sovereign and in total control.
Romans 8:28 assures us: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
This doesn’t mean every tragedy is good. It means nothing—not even the darkest night—falls outside God’s power and for His eternal purposes. He can and does use suffering to refine His people, awaken spiritual hunger, and call the lost to repentance.
C. S. Lewis once said the death of a loved one is like losing an arm—you feel the absence every day. The ache remains. And yet, God often works His deepest purposes through those very scars—shaping us, humbling us, and pointing us to eternity.
God also gives us freedom because love cannot be forced. That freedom can lead to rebellion and sin, but it also makes true love, faith, and obedience possible.
The greatest example is Calvary itself:
Human betrayal and violence crucified Jesus.
Yet through that evil act, God accomplished the greatest good—Jesus’ resurrection and the salvation of the world.
Evil did its worst, but God turned it into victory.
4. A Wake-Up Call to the Church
When tragedy strikes, it is not meant to leave us paralyzed—it is meant to stir us to action.
In her grief, Erika Kirk spoke words that pierced the heart: “You have no idea what you have done.” Even in her darkest hour, her faith became a living testimony before millions.
And this past Sunday, September 14, we saw something remarkable—churches across the country reported increased attendance. In the shadow of Charlie’s assassination, hearts that might not have turned toward God were drawn to gather, to seek, to listen. Tragedy awakened a hunger that comfort alone could never stir.
This is what the world is longing to see—not a faith that shines only when life is comfortable, but a faith that stands steady in sorrow, courageous in loss, and unshaken in trial. When people witness that kind of hope, love, and resilience, they are drawn to Christ.
But the world will never see it unless we live it. They will never hear the good news unless we open our mouths to speak it.
We must reach out with love.
We must proclaim Christ with urgency.
We must live as visible testimonies of hope.
5. Someday God’s Secrets Will Be Known
For now, we live with unanswered questions. The prophet Habakkuk cried, “Why, Lord?” Why does evil seem to triumph while the righteous suffer? God’s reply was simple and profound: “The righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).
James echoes this: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4).
Faith doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives us strength to endure until God’s purposes are fully revealed.
Contentment while waiting doesn’t mean pretending the hurt is gone. It means:
Resting in God’s character.
Trusting His promises.
Remembering His faithfulness.
Choosing surrender daily.
Allowing trials to shape us.
Fixing our eyes on eternity.
Like Habakkuk, who began with questions but ended with faith, we too can learn to say: “The just shall live by faith.”
Closing Thoughts: For Those Who Grieve
Charlie Kirk’s death has left a deep ache in many hearts. If you are grieving today, please know this: your tears matter to God. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).
I have sat with countless students who broke under the weight of despair. I have prayed with parents grieving the loss of a child. And every time, I return to this same unshakable truth: Jesus Christ is the only hope strong enough to hold us in moments like these.
He entered our pain. He carried our sin. He died in our place. And He rose again, proving that tragedy does not get the last word.
Yes, evil is real. Yes, tragedy is painful. But Christ is greater. One day, God will wipe every tear from our eyes, right every wrong, and make all things new (Revelation 21:4).
Until that day, may we walk by faith, love deeply, and cling to the gospel—the only hope strong enough to carry us through the loss of Charlie Kirk.
