My reaction to the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10, 2025 was deep visceral lament. Charlie enjoyed discourse, debate and dialogue, especially with those who disagreed with him. He was adamant about his beliefs. As the church, we are to exemplify humility and curiosity in discussions with whom we disagree. We are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Charlie grew in his Christian faith through the years as a public figure. He started Turning Point at age 18 and continued to stimulate thought and dialogue on value-based issues (especially to young adults) until his tragic and horrible death at age 31. Through the years, he learned to listen more and expressed his faith more readily. When he was recently asked how he wanted to be remembered, he responded that he wanted to be remembered as having courage for his faith. He will be remembered as such.

I wonder how I have grown the last 13 years. Will I be remembered as having courage for my faith? I pray the Holy Spirit will change me for the better as He did in Charlie’s life. I never had an inkling that God would call me and mold me, this lumpy piece of clay, to work with CMDA at the national office. I pray I will truly be interested in those to whom I disagree. I pray that when I dialogue with others it is done in humility, gentleness and respect.

That is the point of medicine if we are representing Christ to a fallen world. After all, CMDA’s vision statement is “Bringing the hope and healing of Christ to the world through healthcare professionals.” We are Christ’s representatives in this world, and we are called to speak out and protect the vulnerable, just like it says in Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed” (NLT).

The division in our culture will continue. People will continue to think of elective abortion as a reproductive health right, while others will view it as killing innocent human beings. Some will espouse “gender-affirming care” in adolescents, while others will view it as bodily distortion and mutilation. Some will advocate for assisted suicide as an autonomous right, while others will advocate for care at the end of life with dignity and worth. Charlie was bold in speaking truth on these topics and much more. Yet, the world’s reaction has changed from tolerating evil to celebrating evil. I found some comments from politicians, educators, athletes, journalists and average Americans quite disturbing following Charlie’s death, as they appeared to be celebrating rather than lamenting. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20, NASB).

If we, as part of CMDA, are living for Christ, we will be hated. Jesus told His disciples before He sent them out, “And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved” (Matthew 10:22, NASB). At the last supper in the upper room, Jesus told His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18-19, NASB).

Let us demonstrate the unity Jesus prayed for in His last prayer to His Father (John 17:21-23), so the world will come to know the Father. Let us demonstrate how to be patient in dialogue, how to respect those with differing opinions, to truly be interested in the other person and the person’s ideas—even if we disagree. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship:

“The followers of Christ have been called to peace. And they must not only have peace but also make it. To that end they renounce all violence and tumult. … His disciples keep the peace by choosing to endure suffering rather than inflict it on others. They maintain fellowship where others would break it off. They renounce hatred and wrong. In so doing they overcome evil with good, and establish the peace of God in the midst of a world of war and hate.”

Please pray for Charlie’s wife Erika and their two children. Pray for the church to be bold and compassionate for truth. Pray for our country.