Since this column was first published, it has remained predicated on implementing a haven of digital space for healthy & mediatory dialogue that addresses difficult political dilemmas. Given recent events gruesomely engulfing our country in tragedy, I must reiterate how direly imperative it is to keep such spaces alive.
When we cower from doing what is hard – opening the conversation to issues that challenge preconceived ways of thinking and bring controversy into the light – we seditiously fail to bear the torch of liberty we boast of upholding as Americans. The torch of liberty, the beacon of freedom established by the government of the people that then obliges us to fulfill the responsibilities of such extensive freedom.
Taking up the torch of liberty signals a commitment to fulfilling the responsibilities of civic engagement and preservation, as productive members of a social order; based not on self-proclaimed entitlement but privilege we may earn by working from the conviction of our hearts. That is, conviction that acknowledges and moves us to live in accordance with an objective truth necessary for social order and its’ proper operation.
Without conviction, what are we reduced to? My answer is: empty and aimless minds – merely hopeless skeletons. Additionally, if we claim to hold firm to conviction but fail to live it out in word or action, what are we then? My answer is: cowardly heretics – rejecting our proclaimed conviction in secret as a craven act of self-preservation to avoid hardship.
This is why open dialogue must continue, and silence must not be given an opportunity to suffocate disagreement that is bred from people living according to their conviction.
As a nation, we have faced immense encounters with death across Utah, North Carolina and Colorado, including the anniversary of 9/11 just a couple of days ago. I won’t strive to save face for the sake of appearing stoic and undisturbed – the assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah has particularly left me distressingly disturbed, angry, and mournful on a severely spiritual level.
Without shame, I profess that I am a Christian – a person broken by my own sin and wickedness yet given new life by the blood of Jesus that was poured out on the cross. I was deserving of death that would eternally separate me from God, but have been made clean, not by my own striving but by the sacrifice which Jesus made; and now I may rejoice in eternal union with the King of Kings.
That said, my heart is heavy with sorrow and anger over the murder of a man, also redeemed by Christ, who challenged the wrongful ways of the world by proclaiming the truth of God. Even still in sorrow, I am enflamed by the conviction of my faith in Christ Jesus because God must be glorified through this tragedy.
I’ve held many conversations with fellow Christians where we have shared mutual emotions of anger. However, this is what we must remember in moments of anger over evilness.
James 1:19-20 “But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
Ephesians 4:25-27 “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
Romans 12:9-21 “…Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good…rejoicing in hope, preserving in tribulation, devoted to prayer…Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep…Never pay back evil for evil to anyone…Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Psalm 7:11 “God is a righteous judge.”
Psalm 4:4 “Tremble and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still.”
Proverbs 14:29 “He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.”
Charlie Kirk’s death has forced me, as I assume it has most others, to solemnly reflect in its’ wake. What I share now is where I have been left in said reflection.
What is truth that we yearn to be set free by it?
What is truth that we are willing to be martyred in order to defend it?
Though many have reported and spoken on behalf of the assassination within the narrative of political violence (which I do contend maintains significant ground for legitimacy), I join many others to write from a place of spiritual and religious impact.
On behalf of the prominent circulation of social media, most everyone has witnessed the assassination in full horror whether they were on the Utah Valley University campus or not. Speaking to fellow Christians and disciples of Christ, I hope that we all similarly understand that we have witnessed the death of a martyr for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ with our own eyes.
Let not our response become one of idolatry, worshipping the martyr rather than the God for Whom the martyr died; instead, let our response proclaim the name of God above all names. For those who don’t share in the same conviction of faith, do not mistake our mourning and honoring of Charlie as a form of idolatry. As a selfish species, there will surely be a few who allow their hearts to be set on worshipping this death instead of the God in Whom truth and life is found. However, do not mistake this widespread awakening and mourning for a mass exodus into idolatry.
We mourn the death of a man who publicly defended and shared his faith in the face of opposition, and with zealousness sought to have the challenging conversation. We then rejoice because the hope of Christ is alive, so we do not wither away in grief, but we praise Jesus as the Savior Who died for our sins.
Moments before he died, Charlie Kirk proclaimed the existence of Jesus in defense of his faith.
“It’s not just intrabiblical evidence, but extrabiblical evidence that Jesus Christ was a real person. He lived a perfect life, He was crucified, died and rose on the third day, and He is Lord and God over all.”
So, to continue the proclamation of the name of Jesus, what is truth that we yearn to be set free by it and are willing to die in order to defend it? It is the truth of salvation in Jesus’ name.
Christians, our confession is that Jesus is the Son of God who came to earth to be nailed to a tree as the ONLY payment for our sin, the ONLY way to defeat death and break the chains of sin that enslaved us to an eternity of suffering and separation from God our Father. Our confession is that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
As partakers of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1), we consider Jesus faithful. We boast in the hope of Jesus rather than hardening our hearts and walking astray from obediently living to serve the kingdom of God. “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called ‘today’, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (3:12-13). “For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said, ‘TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME’” (3:14-16).
Continuing in Hebrews 4, we read that the Word of God was indeed preached to the Israelites as we now have it spoken to us, but it amounted to nothing. Why? Because the Word of God that was spoken to them was not united by faith.
James 1:21-22 “…in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” James continues to say in chapter 2 verses 14-26 that once heard and believed, we must act out our faith because faith without works that are activated by our faith is not faith.
We will surely imitate the Israelites if we do not unite the Word of God with active faith that changes the way we live our lives. The time now is to be diligent in living out our faith because “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and pierces as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
If we aren’t diligent to live in both inward and outward obedience to the truth of God, what then is our intention to be called disciples of Jesus?
We must remain steadfast to our confession of who Jesus is, and we must not cower from sharing this with the rest of mankind.
“Let us now draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
May we courageously live set free by this truth.
Let us now keep the conversation going.
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Katelyn Sims is a senior at Howard Payne University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science with emphasis in American political studies, global studies and jurisprudence. She is also a student in the university’s Guy D. Newman Honors Academy, as well as a prominent member of the Student Speaker Bureau speech and debate team. Following graduation, Katelyn will pursue a career in the field of U.S. foreign policy.
Katelyn has worked as a news writer and marketing coordinator with Brownwood News since 2023. Her column The Truth Will Set You Free is intended for all people from all walks of life. Katelyn aspires to inform readers of major U.S. political and legislative activity with an unbiased analysis that engages with political ideologies on all sides of the aisle. She believes the public ought to exercise their free will to cultivate personalized opinions on controversial issues without the influence of mainstream media.
