In a Divided Moment: God, Sovereignty, and Bold Faith
Published September 19, 2025
When the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination broke, I was thousands of miles away—traveling through Singapore and Cambodia. Yet, even from the other side of the world, the shock hit hard. How could this happen in our nation, in our time, in such a public space? Even far away, I felt the heaviness. That disbelief quickly turned into lament, and then into prayer.
For Such a Time as This
A Divided Response
This past week I’ve seen pastors and leaders respond in very different ways. Some have said: “If your pastor doesn’t preach on Charlie Kirk this Sunday, find a new church.” Others have said: “We’re going to keep preaching Jesus—because He is bigger than politics.”
Both perspectives reveal the tension we live in. But Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 3 come to mind: “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos.” Are we not all of Christ? Not every pulpit will sound the same, and that’s okay. Each pastor must stand before God with a clear conscience, led by the Spirit, on what to preach and how to shepherd. What we must not do is turn churches into tribes and pastors into cultural commentators, dividing over who said too much or too little. That is not shepherding. That is division.
The body of Christ is not meant to fracture into cultural camps. Truth matters. Politics matter. Cultural issues matter. But when we weaponize pulpits and divide the flock over them, we forget the greater call.
The church doesn’t need more tribalism. The church needs unity. Not uniformity, but unity rooted in Christ. At the end of the day, the world doesn’t need a divided church shouting about who is right—it needs a united church declaring who is Lord.
The Sovereignty of God
This Sunday, September 21, we conclude our sermon series, Joseph: The Story of Reconciliation. How fitting it is that we end in Genesis 50:20: “You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.” Joseph lived in a world of betrayal, injustice, and hardship. He didn’t ignore evil—he named it for what it was. But he also trusted in the sovereignty of God. What man meant for evil, God used for good. That truth is what we must cling to today. We live in a polarized world where vengeance often feels like the only answer. Yet God’s Word reminds us that He is sovereign. He does not delight in tragedy, hatred, or violence, but He is able to redeem even the darkest moments and bring glory to Himself. He can awaken hearts, stir His people, and remind us of our mission.
What Charlie’s Death Reveals
As our nation grieves the loss of Charlie Kirk, we are reminded again of this truth. His death reveals the deep brokenness of sin and hatred in the world. Yet it also reveals something else—an uprising of faith, a hunger for truth, and courage among believers.
The world is hungry for truth. Young people are hungry for truth. They are weary of being coddled by culture and confused by shifting values. They long for clarity, for conviction, for hope.
That’s what Charlie Kirk stood for as he spoke boldly to young people on college campuses. He challenged them to live with conviction, not comfort. He often said: “God, family, country. In that order.” That wasn’t a slogan—it was his conviction. Put God first. Cherish your family. Serve your country.
Not everyone agreed with him. Some hated him for speaking truth. But we should not be surprised—Jesus said that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). Truth exposes lies, and Satan does not give up ground without a fight.
How We Respond
Scripture gives us clear instruction for such a time as this:
- “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
- “You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
- “But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy…” (2 Timothy 3:1–2)
- “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…” (Isaiah 5:20)
- “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
- “Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)
- “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
So let us:
- Pray for the Kirk family—for his widow and two children, that God would be their refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
- Pray for our nation—for healing, humility, and a hunger for truth.
- Pray for the church—to be bold in faith, clear in truth, and rich in love.
Charlie’s death is tragic. It is heartbreaking. But it reminds us of the urgency of the hour. We cannot live apart from our Creator. We need God—not just as Christians, but as humans. We need Him more than ever.
And here’s the connection to Joseph’s story: the Bible says “the Spirit of the Lord was with Joseph.” That is what marked his life. He was able to interpret dreams, lead with wisdom, and reconcile with his brothers because God’s Spirit was upon him.
That is what we need today. Men and women, boys and girls, students and young adults upon whom it can be said, “the Spirit of the Lord is upon them.” We need Christians who are so yielded to the Spirit of God that it is obvious His presence rests on their lives.
Go with His Spirit into the broken world. Step into schools, workplaces, families, and communities with courage, compassion, and conviction. Carry the light of Christ. Speak truth in love. Heal in Jesus’ name.
The world is dark—but the God is greater. And even in tragedy, God is at work. He has called us—His people—for such a time as this.