Emulating the True Boldness of Christ

October 14th, 2025

With the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk still fresh in our minds, the division within our country and among the American people’s beliefs is more apparent than ever. Charlie paid the ultimate price not only for his faith in Jesus Christ, but also for doing exactly what Jesus commanded all believers to do when He gave us The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20). As Christians living in America, most people do not think about martyrdom. However, people around the world are being persecuted for their faith, and the Bible offers this message to those facing persecution:

Revelation 2:10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested…. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Matthew 5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 10:28
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Romans 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

One thing that encourages me amidst the devastating loss of Charlie is that his mission here on earth is now more prominent than ever. Charlie’s ministry page and personal pages on social media have surpassed tens of millions of followers, and his memorial service has spawned what some have termed a massive revival. What a powerful impact that man had on our world.

You may have read one of the more famous Charlie Kirk quotes floating around recently: “When discourse ends, violence begins.” Charlie actively engaged with people of opposing views, not only to spread biblical truths, but also to show that disagreeing with one another is absolutely okay. And it doesn’t have to lead to hatred or violence. I recently saw a campus video in which a student asked him, “Can you please explain for everyone out here the qualities Jesus stood for? Especially how to love your neighbor, even if they disagree with you.”

Charlie responded by telling her that it was a great question and then cited the Scriptures from John 8, in which an adulteress is forgiven (John 8:1–11). He used this venue as an opportunity to illustrate the mercy and compassion of Jesus, but Charlie also emphasized that Jesus told the woman, “Go, and from now on sin no more.” Given the unfortunate but ever-changing way people misinterpret Scripture to suit their lifestyle, rather than changing their lifestyle to suit Scripture, I thought this response to the young lady was so compelling.

Jesus asked the disciples in Matthew 16:15, “But who do you say that I am?” This is one of the most important questions that every person and every generation following the resurrection of Jesus must also answer. Jesus, as we know Him in the Bible, is the eternal Son of God. The Jesus that our current modern society “knows” is a cultural construct shaped to individual preferences. Let’s take a moment to compare the two.

1. Truth

Biblical Jesus: (John 14:6) “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” His words are not merely a suggestion, but the very standard for reality. (John 17:17) “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Post-modern Jesus: People treat truth as flexible and relative. It’s okay for you to live your truth; I’ll live mine. There is a warning for this in (Proverbs 14:12) where it says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.”

2. Sin

Biblical Jesus: Calls sin what it is―rebellion against God. (Luke 13:3) “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” While Jesus loves us and forgives us of our sins, He calls us to live a holy life where we abandon those sins in pursuit of Him and righteousness.

Post-modern Jesus: Sin is rarely spoken of, or the gravity of sin is gravely overlooked. Sins are reframed as mistakes, struggles, or imperfections that won’t keep us from the fullness of Christ. (1 John 1:8) “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

3. Love

Biblical Jesus: Love is holy, sacrificial, and transformative. (John 15:13) “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” His love never ignores truth, for “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).

Post-modern Jesus: This view equates love with affirmation. To disagree with someone is considered unloving, which is a rampant problem in our modern society. (Proverbs 27:5-6) “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.”

Charlie Kirk was determined in his pursuit of truth and in sharing genuine truth. Purposefully, he aimed to spread the Gospel of the biblical Jesus, who calls us to repentance, offers forgiveness, and shapes us into His likeness. May we, too, become bolder in sharing the Gospel truth, standing firm on the Word of God, sharing our faith, and defending it. As Christians, we should all follow Charlie's example (as he was following Christ) daily; if we had, he might still be here with his wife and children. Moving forward, let’s dedicate ourselves to making a difference in our community for Christ, which will, in turn, impact the world. Stay bold!

Author Bio:
Marc Glander, the Director of Reasons for Hope's EQUIP Retreats, has been walking with the Lord since the age of 15. He, and his beautiful wife, Alyssa Glander, live in Georgia and are the proud parents of their almost two-year-old little girl, Genesis.