Embracing Grace in the Face of Tragedy

My Dear Family,

I am just returning from spending the past two weeks in both Jordan and Israel, and I’m currently in flight from Amman, Jordan, to Istanbul. I’ve been eagerly anticipating our reunion since the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. I wish I had been there with you during this difficult time and feel regretful that I was overseas. My first concern was deeply for Charlie’s family and friends, as well as for those who are grieving this loss. I have been praying for them, and I know that many of you have been as well.

Last week, I reached out to you because my additional concern, but also very important, was how this heartbreaking event might influence our responses as kingdom citizens in our current cultural climate. As believers, it is vital that we reflect Jesus Christ in all we do, ensuring that Charlie’s death, while tragic, may serve a redemptive purpose for the sake of the gospel.

In this context, we can look to Jesus himself, who, even in the midst of his own suffering and while still bleeding from his wounds, exemplified the perfect reaction to tragedy. It was he who said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Our Lord himself shows us what our reaction should be in the face of tragedy and victimization. After all, we are to imitate Him in all things, as the Scripture and the earliest apostles admonished.

I trust that our church family is handling this event with the grace and wisdom that God provides, remaining faithful to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

This weekend, I will have the live opportunity to address some of the tragic implications of Charlie’s death and how the church should respond. I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to reflect on your own hearts. In what ways are you standing firm in the conviction of the gospel of our Lord? How are you exemplifying love for all people, regardless of their personal beliefs or reactions?

I understand that there may be concerns about Charlie's approach to communicating values, political views, or the gospel itself. While some may disagree with his methods, there are others who completely support them. It’s essential to remember that God made us all different, and as Paul emphasized, we are all uniquely gifted members of the same body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). This diversity grants us various perspectives and roles to play in His sovereign plan. Therefore, we should strive to assume the best of one another.

As we navigate our responses, I realize that we may perceive others’ reactions as wrong or questionable, but we should not react in the flesh. The Bible is explicitly clear that we are not to wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and rulers of dark forces in the heavenly realms. This is a directive we are to intentionally follow. While this may involve spiritual warfare, our battles should be fought on our knees in prayer for those we are concerned about. Let us call on God with much prayer and intercession. Furthermore, whenever our indignation about any issue causes us to act immorally, we must evaluate our own hearts. It is immoral not to love our neighbor, even when we disagree. Jesus himself taught that all the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Let us be slow to anger, slow to speak, and slow in our reactions, always bearing the fruit of the Spirit (James 1:19). While we may not all agree on the methods or tactics of any individual, to the best of our knowledge, Charlie was a person who loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart. He sought to respond to a culture that has embraced secularism instead of Christ, addressing the idols that permeate our society in ways he believed would be effective and redemptive.

No human being does everything perfectly, but to my knowledge, Charlie was a brother in Christ. For that reason, we grieve together while also thanking God for the hope of the resurrection. We look forward to the day of our great union on the glorious day of the Lord, when He will judge all things and the motives of men. In the meantime, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to be like Him.

My dear church family, how I love you, and I cannot wait to see you again. My heart is filled with affection for you.

With much love,

Your Senior Pastor,  
Shane Ham