Standing Strong: Reflections from Charlie Kirk’s Memorial and the Call to Wear God’s Armor
The memorial service for Charlie Kirk was more than a time of remembrance—it became a rallying cry where faith, courage, and truth were lifted high. Again and again, speakers testified not only to the life Charlie lived but also to the eternal hope that sustained him and the power of Jesus Christ that marked his legacy. Here are my reflections on what I witnessed.
The Power of Jesus Exalted on a Global Platform
Early reports estimated that over 20 million people watched the memorial on television and streaming platforms, with some claims suggesting a global reach beyond 100 million. However you count it, the witness of Christ was broadcast to the world.
God is the God of the impossible, and He uses His own methods to deliver His message. In our seasons of loss, weakness, or heartache, God often turns pain into the very platform where His glory, power, and love shine brightest—whether through His healing touch, His sustaining grace, or His promise of ultimate redemption.
Scripture shows us this truth:
Lazarus’s death – John 11:4
The man born blind – John 9:3
Paul’s thorn in the flesh – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Job’s suffering and restoration – Job 1–2; Job 42:10–17
In Charlie’s passing, we are reminded again: these things ultimately happen so that the glory of God may be revealed.
Throughout the service, the name of Jesus was exalted. His power was declared boldly. Tears flowed, but so did hope, as the gospel was proclaimed to the grieving and the searching alike.
The Witness of Leaders to the World
Rarely in history have both governmental and spiritual leaders united their voices to lift high the name of Jesus.
Vice President J.D. Vance admitted:
“I always felt a little uncomfortable talking about my faith in public. As much as I love the Lord, and as much as it was an important part of my life, I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public life.”
He captured Charlie’s passion for spiritual battle when he added:
“He would tell me to put on the full armor of God and get back to work.”
Pete Hegseth described Charlie as:
“A soldier of the faith, who put on every single day the full armor of God with a smile—as the Scriptures tell all Christ followers to do.”
Dr. Ben Carson quoted Jesus from John 12:24:
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.”
Senator Marco Rubio drew the parallel between Charlie’s faith and the hope of Christ:
“God took on the form of a man and came down and lived among us, and He suffered like men, and He died like a man, but on the third day, He rose unlike any mortal man…”
These words cut through the sorrow, reminding all listening that Charlie’s strength came not from himself, but from the God he served.
Erika’s Remarkable Forgiveness
Perhaps the most powerful moment of the day came from Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow. In her grief, she modeled the very heart of Christ when she declared of her husband’s assassin:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do to that man. I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do.”
This was not weakness but holy strength—a testimony that forgiveness is the ultimate weapon of the Spirit. In forgiving, Erika broke the cycle of hatred and shone the love of Christ into the darkest of places. Her words pointed every listener back to Jesus—the source of strength, the reason Charlie’s legacy endures, and the call upon every believer to forgive as Christ forgave us.
The Call to Battle
The memorial underscored a deeper reality: the Christian life is not casual—it is a daily battle. Yet God has not left us defenseless. Ephesians 6 reminds us that He has given us armor: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer.
Just as we would never leave the house without clothing, we should not attempt a single day without clothing ourselves in the armor of God. To live strong in Christ means to be battle-ready.
Equipping with the Armor
Charlie’s legacy, the leaders’ challenge, and Erika’s forgiveness all point to one truth: this moment in history calls for courage, faith, and strength. That’s why we created the Christian Strong Teaching Spiritual Armor Series.
This series walks through each piece of God’s armor and shows how it applies to everyday struggles—in our families, our culture, and our personal walk with Christ. Just as Charlie was remembered as a soldier of faith, our prayer is that you, too, will be equipped to stand strong and shine brightly for Jesus.
We invite you to engage with the series at ChristianStrongTeaching.com. Let these teachings build you up, encourage your heart, and prepare you to live with unshakable faith.
An Invitation to Stand Strong
For years, Jerry and I have researched why strength within the church is faltering, why biblical literacy is declining, and why so many young people are disaffiliating—even in the midst of revival stirrings. That research birthed our legacy project: The Power and Influence of Christian Strong™ (TPICS).
Since 2015, we have devoted nearly a decade to this work—traveling over 100,000 miles, conducting 100+ interviews across leading universities and with the foremost apologists, sociologists, philosophers, atheists, skeptics, and Christian leaders. One startling finding: only 1 in 5 believers rate their faith as strong. Therein lies the problem, and we believe The Power and Influence of Christian Strong is the answer.
Our mission is to reverse decline, train believers to construct strong faith, reach the lost, and raise the next generation for Christ. This is your invitation to partner with us and champion this movement. Together, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we can fight the good fight, take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), and stand Christian Strong.
