When Tragedy Strikes: A Pastor’s Thoughts on Charlie Kirk and Gospel Hope
Author: Chris Castaldo, PhD
September 15, 2025
Below are the remarks I shared with our youth on Sunday morning, which informed the abbreviated version I offered to the full congregation.
As I mentioned, my decision to address this tragedy goes beyond the violence itself, heartbreaking as it is. Sadly, Chicago sees roughly a dozen people killed every week, each life deserving our grief and prayers.
But the death of Charlie Kirk has struck our church differently. Given his influence among young people, many are experiencing this as a generational defining moment—much like the assassinations of JFK or MLK were for previous generations. At the same time, I’ve noticed our older members grappling with their own form of distress: a profound sense that the civilized world they’ve known throughout their lives is disappearing.
In moments like these, people naturally turn to their pastor for guidance. They want to understand their emotions through a biblical frame. Just as the risen Christ walked alongside the confused and grieving disciples on the road to Emmaus—interpreting Scripture to help them make sense of their despair through the gospel—we’re called to do the same for our church family.
What follows is my attempt to offer that kind of biblical perspective. My hope is that it will also encourage meaningful conversations in your homes as we think through these difficult realities as followers of Christ.
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What happened to Charlie Kirk this past week is shocking, heartbreaking, and hard to process. Some of you may feel sad. Others angry. Some scared, or even numb. And that’s okay—God invites us to bring all those feelings to Him.
When tragedies like this happen, we’re confronted with the reality that evil is real and active in our world. This isn’t the way things are supposed to be. But we also hold onto this truth: God has not abandoned us. Jesus entered this same broken world, faced evil head-on, and conquered it through His death and resurrection.
So the question for us is: how do we live in a world where such things happen? Today I want to share a few insights.
1. Don’t Be Surprised by Evil
The world is broken by sin, and tragedies like this remind us that evil is not abstract—it destroys lives. Scripture never downplays this (John 10:10; Eph. 6:12).
Don’t be surprised when you encounter injustice or violence. Let it deepen your longing for Christ’s kingdom, where evil will be destroyed forever. When afraid or overwhelmed, turn to God in prayer with honesty and lament.
2. Guard What Goes into Your Mind
Disturbing images and narratives can take root in our hearts if we dwell on them. Philippians 4:8 reminds us to think on what is true, noble, and pure.
Don’t allow yourself to be glued to news and social media. Limit scrolling, talk about what you’ve seen with a trusted adult, and replace fear-fuel with truth-fuel: prayer, Scripture, worship.
In fact, limit your media consumption, lest you find yourself dancing to the music of the algorithms, which is nothing less than manipulation. That’s not avoidance, it’s wisdom.
3. The Christian Life Requires Courage
Speaking the gospel in a hostile or confusing world will cost us. Charlie Kirk’s boldness (whatever one might think of him politically) points to a broader truth—witnessing to Christ takes courage.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear; it’s faithfulness in spite of fear. Consider: What does courage look like for you at school, with friends, online? Maybe it’s standing up for someone, admitting you’re a Christian, or resisting peer pressure.
4. We Don’t Need to Shout or Remain Angry
It is right to be angry with evil—and make no mistake about it, this is evil—but it is not right to stay angry. Don’t let that anger harden into bitterness. God’s truth stands on its own and doesn’t need our rage to defend it. As 2 Timothy 2:24–25 reminds us, the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind, patiently teaching even those who oppose the truth.
Christians don’t win by yelling louder; we win by reflecting Christ’s character. Charlie was a notable example of this. Let your tone demonstrate your faith. Instead of lashing out in a debate, ask a question that makes people think.
5. Gospel Witness Is Our Priority
In her remarks, Charlie’s wife, Erika, pointed past politics to the gospel. That shows what matters most. At the end of life, our enduring legacy is Christ proclaimed.
What will you want people to say about you one day? That you were funny, smart, successful—or that you loved Jesus and pointed others to him?
6. Cling to the Hope That Is Our Anchor
The good news is not just about living courageously—it’s about resurrection hope. Christ conquered death. Evil has an expiration date. (1 Cor. 15:54–57). We therefore anchor our hearts in that hope. Even in tragedy, we don’t grieve as those without hope.
Finally, as we navigate these challenging days together, remember that our children are watching how we respond. Let’s model for them what it looks like to grieve with hope, and to trust Christ.
Please join me in praying for Erika Kirk and her two young children, who must now face life without their husband and father. Amid such loss, they need our sustained prayers and the comfort that only Jesus can provide.
And please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to talk further about how we can support our young people during this time—or if you need prayer yourself.
Chris Castaldo is Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. He shared these thoughts during the morning service on September 14, 2025.
Image: By KSL News Utah, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=174857412.
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