Prove Me Wrong: Charlie Kirk is a Christian Martyr.

“I believe in the Bible, and I believe that Christ rose from the dead on the third day. This is the foundation of my faith and guides my actions.” 

Below, I argue that Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr and should be honored and viewed as an example of Christian courage for believers around the globe. Prove Me Wrong.

Each generation has its “where were you?” moments- those shocking events where the news is so jarring that it sears us deeply. My parents are “boomers” (1946-64), and the assassination of JFK was one of those frozen-in-time moments for them. I am a Generation Xer (1965-1981). The assassination attempt of Ronald Reagan and the explosion of the shuttle Challenger were two traumatic tragedies imprinted upon us. Millennials (1981-1996) will never forget the most tragic event of all living generations, 9-11. Gen Zers (1997-2009), as well as Generation Alpha (2010-2025), will never forget hearing “coronavirus” for the first time and how it turned their world upside down. Doubtless, we can now add to that the public execution of Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Where were you when you heard or saw the killing of Charlie Kirk?

What kind of killing killed Charlie Kirk?

At 12:23 pm (MST) on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, a single bullet was fired from a Mauser 98, a common bolt-action rifle typically used for hunting bigger game. The gunman, laying on his stomach, fired the .30-06 caliber rifle from about 142 yards away, atop the roof of the Losee Center building, on the campus of Utah Valley University (UVU) where Charlie Kirk was hosting one of his Prove Me Wrong events with over 3000 in attendance. With the assistance of a mounted, high-powered scope, the bullet hit the shooter’s target, entering the lower left corner of Charlie Kirk’s neck. Blood spewed profusely from Kirk’s body as he fell backward lifelessly. The bullet ultimately ended Charlie Kirk’s life. What kind of killing killed Charlie Kirk?

It was at least capital murder because the shooter had malicious aforethought, premeditation, and intention to kill. But was it more?

A murder turns into an assassination when the victim is a prominent political leader or activist, and the killing can be proved to be politically motivated or is intended to serve as a political statement. Similar to the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln and MLK Jr, Charlie Kirk’s death was most assuredly an assassination. But was it more?

A martyr is someone who chooses to endure death rather than renounce their faith. A martyr follows Jesus all the way to the cross. Specifically, in Christianity, a martyr is a believer who willingly faces persecution and death due to their faith in Jesus Christ, steadfastly refusing to compromise their beliefs and convictions. The term “martyr” originates from the Greek word “martys/martur,” which simply means “witness,” pointing to the courage to be a witness to truth, even unto death. It’s a happy, joyful defiance that is prepared to be insulted, beaten, and even killed for the Lord Jesus. The primary reason this word became a synonym for dying for the faith is that so many early Christian witnesses sealed their testimony in blood and were killed for their witness. (Acts 6:8-7:53)

Charlie Kirk may have testified to the testimony of Jesus Christ, the gospel, and the Word of God on more college campuses in our generation than anyone alive.

Minutes before Charlie was killed, he answered a Mormon student who was questioning him about the historical claims of Christianity:

“It’s not just intrabiblical evidence, but extrabiblical evidence that Jesus Christ was real. He lived a perfect life, he was crucified, died, and rose on the third day, and He is Lord and God over all.”  -Charlie Kirk, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 12:17 pm

On Tuesday, September 9th, he texted this to Pastor Mark Driscoll:

"I have a ton of questions. I didn’t ask for it, but I have become a high-profile defender of the faith. I need to be the best I can be.” -Charlie Kirk, Tuesday, September 9th, 2:20 pm

Charlie Kirk died as a modern Christian martyr. He wanted to be known for his “courage for his faith.”

When Jesus opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They (including Charlie Kirk) cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”  -Revelation 6:9-10

Was this killing politically or morally motivated?

"From Abel to Zechariah, Nero to ISIS, and from Persia to secular transgender ideology, the blood of the martyrs cries out to the Lord."

It’s possible to object that Charlie Kirk didn’t technically die because he confessed to Jesus Christ, nor for his belief in the gospel, specifically, and therefore could not be considered a martyr. Before addressing that objection, let’s consider what motivated the killing of Charlie Kirk. Was it political or moral? Charlie Kirk received numerous and regular death threats. Why the hatred? Was it because of his support and work for the election of the 47th President? Was it his view on immigration? Taxes?

According to the shooter’s parents, the murderer was radicalized over the past few years by “left-leaning support for pro-gay and trans rights.” It was the same motivating ideology in Nashville, Denver, and Minneapolis. These perpetrators were identifying with trans, non-binary, or gender-fluid ideology that also radicalized Charlie’s killer.

The same murderous rage that killed the prophets, executed Jesus, and martyred Stephen squeezed the trigger that killed Charlie Kirk on Wednesday, September 10th. This time, it was repackaged in a transgender ideology that is truly demonic. From Abel to Zechariah, Nero to ISIS, and from Persia to secular transgender ideology, the blood of the martyrs cries out to the Lord, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

Back to the objection that Charlie Kirk is not technically a martyr because he didn’t die for confessing his faith. John the Baptist was the first Christian martyr that we read about in the New Testament. He was beheaded not for his preaching of repentance, announcing the gospel of the kingdom, or for calling Jesus “the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.” No, he was beheaded for telling “King” Herod Antipas that it was un-Biblical and immoral for him to have an incestuous, adulterous relationship by taking his half-brother Phillip’s wife, Herodias, for his own. John the Baptist was a martyr for his courageous stand for Biblical morality.

Similarly, Charlie’s life was defined by his Christian faith. Everything flowed from his relationship with Jesus Christ.

• Charlie was pro-life, anti-abortion, because God says to kill an innocent human being is murder. It was moral, not political.

• Charlie was against transgender ideology because God created us “male or female, in His image.” It was moral, not political.

• Charlie was against feminism and was pro-family because God established the family first. It was moral, not political.

• Charlie believed that homosexuality was sinful because God said it was. It was moral, not political.

Intense hatred for Charlie’s courageous, bold stand for Biblical morality is what motivated his killing and made him a martyr.

Ideas have consequences. Bad ideas have victims.

Herodias hated John the Baptist. She nursed a grudge against him for speaking against her marriage to Antipas. Then, her hate-filled ideology resulted in radicalizing her daughter, Salome.

We should honor Charlie Kirk because he is a Christian martyr. And like all the martyrs that preceded Charlie and all those who will seal their testimony with their blood after him, “the world is not worthy.”

Well done, Charlie.