CHARLIE KIRK

In the opening lines of his moving speech, Stephen Miller gave conservative Christian Americans a new title: we are the storm. Nothing the left can do, Miller proclaimed, can prevail against us, because "We are on the side of goodness; we are on the side of God." Miller accurately expressed the righteous anger Americans feel in the wake of Charlie Kirk's death and captured our yearning for God's justice. Yet his words reminded us that to move forward, we cannot seek revenge. Instead, progress means pressing deeper into the very nature of the goodness we collectively represent, because that is where our power comes from. 

At the beginning of his speech, Jack Posobiec intoned the name of his friend, Charlie Kirk, over and over again. With resolve, he proclaimed, "We will never, ever, let the left, the media, or the Democrats forget the name of Charlie Kirk." Posobiec's words were tense with indignation and sorrow, yet they were brimming with fresh hope. Indeed, Posobiec reminded us that in pledging to keep Charlie's memory alive, we pledge to never ever allow his mission to die. Posobiec captured the sense of resolve we feel to make a difference, to persevere harder now than ever before. Because in this tragic moment, we believe, more than ever before, that the truth is worth dying for. 

Marco Rubio focused on what Charlie Kirk stood for: a mission that is unique and necessary and powerful beyond our understanding simply because it is deeper than politics. Indeed, Rubio's words reminded us that Jesus Christ is at the foundation of everything Charlie Kirk taught Americans. With boldness and great clarity, Rubio proclaimed the Gospel, stating that Jesus is the ultimate turning point. Because of Him, life has purpose and death isn't the end. Rubio's closing lines were bursting with a sense of anticipation as he painted a picture of the gathering that awaits us in Heaven. Passionately, he concluded that one day "we will all be together. And we are going to have a great reunion again with Charlie and all the people we love." Indeed, Rubio's speech perfectly described the unity we feel as Christian conservative Americans. Charlie was our brother in Christ, and when the race is over, we will meet again. 

Tucker Carlson put things in perspective for Christian Americans as he reminded us of the counterintuitive nature of our call: mourners are comforted, the empty are filled, the weak are strong. His words echo the message of Luke 9:55, because even when the apostles wanted to consume those who opposed Jesus, Jesus told them, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." Carlson spoke to the heart of what many of us are feeling. Vengeance and bitterness might feel right, but that's not the spirit we belong to. He concluded his speech reassuring us to "Remember this moment, remember being in a room with the Holy Spirit humming like a tuning fork. This is the way. Right here. This is the way. And that is what Charlie Kirk was saying underneath it all." The spirit of forgiveness is ours. Jesus is our King. Carlson encouraged us to go forward in the midst of the pain, always remembering the nature of the spirit we belong to.

Even through weeping and deep sorrow, Erika Kirk delivered a speech of incredible power that can only be described as radical. From pledging to further her husband's mission in the midst of terrible grief and loss to proclaiming forgiveness over her husband's murderer, Erika embodied total surrender and obedience to Christ. She powerfully demonstrated the spirit that Turning Point tangibly represents. Of her husband, Erika stated, "He wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. On the cross our Savior said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'" Then, she spoke, "That man... that young man... I forgive him." With those words, Erika Kirk shocked a nation, stopped the mouth of darkness, and gave Americans a new initiative. It's up to us to go forward, in the power of the Holy Spirit, not seeking vengeance or justice, but simply choosing to follow the example of Jesus. That means we love, we speak truth, we forgive. There could have been no other message more powerful or inspiring. In those two words, Erika Kirk said everything.