Charlie Kirk was just shot at a Utah University. Ap News reports in Live updates: Conservative activist Charlie Kirk shot at an event in Utah, spokesperson says,
“We are confirming that he was shot and we are praying for Charlie,” said Aubrey Laitsch, public relations manager for Turning Point USA.”
Violence against Christians has been on the rise. From another transperson attacking a Christian school to recent threats against an acquaintenace of ours.
A local pastor, Russel Johnson, who oversees Pursuit Church in Seattle, was warned by FBI of recent death threats. This was preceded by events in Seattle earlier this year where Encounter Today reported in FBI Launches Investigation Into Violence Against Seattle Christians how ANTIFA responded to their permitted worship and prayer event. Of note, ANTIFA was violent such that 23 arrests were made. But this is not new as we’ve seen the city of Seattle’s attitude towards Christians ever since ANTIFA threatened Christian’s at the “Let Us Worship” event in Cal Anderson Park (CHOP/CHAZ) in 2020.
Persecution is rising. But that is not or should not be a surprise. It’s a sign of the times as the antichrist spirit rises. Remember Acts 1:8 which says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Strong’s defines witnesses as martys or a witness. It is someone willing to die for the truth.
Lord, help us remember, that perfect love casts out all fear. We pray for Charlie’s family and the Turning Point USA family that our Lord comfort them and heal Charlie. We pray for Russel’s family and the Pursuit Church family for their protection and that they would acquit themselves well in this very challenging time. I pray God give them wisdom and understanding not only how to protect the flock but then also how to continue to boldly speak the truth and confront the evil manifesting itself through principalities and powers. We all ought to put on the whole armor of God spoken of in Ephesians 6.
For the rest of us, let us take our que from the apostles and pray as they did in Acts 4:29-31, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”
