Drifting Further from the Truth

“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will

hate those that speak it.” George Orwell

It has been more than three weeks since the brutal killing of Charlie Kirk, a brilliant young Christian and political leader of Turning Point USA who interacted with fellow Christians and those who oppose Christianity on college campuses throughout the world. He confronted many who were aggressively and adamantly opposed to Christian and conservative ideas with the truth of God’s Word and the love of Christ, although he has been accused by some, even some in Congress, of spreading “hate speech.” 

However, if you believe that report from naysayers, I implore you to watch any of the videos of him talking with people in the audience on college campuses. You will clearly see that although he was confronted with anger and “hate speech” by those who opposed his message, he did not respond to them with anger or derision at all. 

Charlie Kirk was speaking truth because he was not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is truth. When Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6), Jesus meant exactly what He said. 

When Jesus said to Pilate before He was crucified, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth” (John 18:37), Jesus meant exactly what He said. 

When Jesus prayed to God the Father that all believers be sanctified by the truth of God’s Word in His prayer, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth” (John 17:17), Jesus meant exactly what He said. 

And when the Psalmist cries out about the truth of God’s Word, “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever” (Psalm 119:160), God’s Word means exactly what it says. 

Christians believe in Jesus Christ and the truth of God’s Word. We don’t proclaim the gospel of Christ out of anger or hate for others. We proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ out of love for Him and others – and we proclaim the gospel because it is what He commanded (Matthew 28:18-20).

We know that the gospel of Christ gives life – because He has promised to give all believers eternal life – and we want to share this good news with others. The gospel (good news) is the true Biblical message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for and in the place of sinners, and those sinners (you and me) who believe in Christ are forgiven of their sins (all their sins) and receive the gift of salvation for eternal life in Him (John 3:16). 

However, Jesus said that when we proclaim the gospel, we will be persecuted because people in the world (unbelievers) love their sin and hate God who calls them sinners. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18). 

Charlie Kirk was hated by those who opposed his message not because he was white, 6’5”, married with two children, a Chicago Cubs fan, or that he was a gifted communicator. He was hated by militant unbelievers because of the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the Christian ethics that go along with God’s Word. 

He was hated for proclaiming the truth of the gospel and a depraved young man killed him. 

“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those that speak it.”

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, 

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:10-12

Praise God for the life of Charlie Kirk and that God will raise up more young men and women in this generation who have the courage to proclaim the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ!