Charlie Kirk Reveals Why the Church Must Rise as Warriors Against Cultural Tyranny in America

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Charlie Kirk Reveals Why the Church Must Rise as Warriors Against Cultural Tyranny in America

Charlie Kirk addresses a Texas church congregation, making an urgent case for why Christians must embrace a warrior spirit and actively engage in cultural and political battles. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, argues that the window of American apathy is closing as tyranny advances both governmentally and spiritually. Speaking alongside Pastor Paul Daugherty at Victory World Church, Kirk unpacks the biblical foundation for Christian involvement in governance, traces America's founding to biblical principles, and explains why the church is the only institution capable of stopping the spiritual advance threatening the nation. He challenges the notion that churches should avoid politics, pointing to biblical figures like Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah who influenced secular governments for God's purposes.

October 12, 2021

Liberty as God's Idea, Not Man's

Charlie Kirk, a believer since fifth grade who grew up in Chicago, Illinois, defines his life purpose as spreading liberty and proclaiming it throughout the land, referencing the verse from Leviticus inscribed on America's Liberty Bell. He emphasizes that liberty is not a human invention but God's design. Jesus Christ came to set captives free from sin and bondage, and Christians are called to contest for liberty in every sphere—from winning souls to the form of government under which people live.

Kirk stresses that Christians should be deeply troubled when people live in serfdom or bondage, whether from personal struggles like addiction or from governmental systems that fail to protect natural rights, recognize consent of the governed, or maintain separation of powers. Once people drink from the streams of liberty, they will want to find its source: God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

The Biblical Case for Church Engagement in Government

Addressing the common objection that churches shouldn't discuss politics, Kirk provides both historical and biblical perspectives. He points to numerous biblical examples of God's people influencing secular government for divine purposes, including Daniel, Esther, Mordecai, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Joseph—all counselors to kings. Additionally, Jeremiah 29:7 commands believers to demand the welfare or shalom of the city or nation where God has sent them, because their peace is tied to the nation's peace.

The form of government matters profoundly for the church's mission. In the Soviet Union, not only was the gospel suppressed and churches persecuted, but people's very spirituality was crushed. America's government allows natural rights to be protected, enabling churches to gather freely. Kirk argues that his calling is to ensure the conditions remain in place for churches to do their primary work of winning souls for Christ.

The True Meaning of Ecclesia

Kirk explores the original Greek word Jesus used in Matthew 16, commonly translated as "church." The word was actually "ecclesia," which William Tyndale discovered in the 1500s when translating the Bible from original Greek. The Catholic Church had used the word "church" to strengthen its political power, but Jesus actually said, "Upon this rock I will build my ecclesia"—my community gathering point, my public square gathering.

In ancient Greece, the ecclesia was where citizens gathered to pursue "eleutheria" (freedom) and "isonomia" (equality)—the same principles upon which the American republic was founded. Jesus called the church to be involved in every aspect of human life. When churches refuse to take stances on objective truth and morality, they fail their congregations. Parents approach pastors asking what the church thinks about cultural issues affecting their children, and too many pastors respond that they don't address such matters—essentially telling their flock that the church doesn't decipher between right and wrong.

The Warrior Posture Christians Must Embrace

Kirk emphasizes that a warrior posture is rare in American Christianity but desperately needed. Being a warrior doesn't mean violence or lack of discipline—real warriors like Navy SEALs exemplify the opposite. A warrior protects the vulnerable, stands against evil, and saves the innocent. Jesus came not only to set captives free but also to directly confront demon-possessed people and spiritual forces.

The full armor of God described in Ephesians is difficult to wear while sitting down or watching from the sidelines. Christians are meant to be in a posture of activity, alert and aware. Ecclesiastes teaches there is a season for everything. The past 30 years blessed Americans with peace and prosperity, but that season has ended. Christians now face a season of confusion and conflict. The question is whether those who have light through Jesus Christ will contest for His purposes against evil forces in the nation.

America as a Constitutional Republic and a Miracle

Kirk clarifies that America is not a democracy but a constitutional republic—a distinction with profound implications. While Americans elect officials through democratic means with representative government, a democracy in the French or Spanish sense would allow rights to be removed by majority vote. A constitutional republic recognizes God-granted rights that cannot disappear simply because a majority wants to take them away.

A constitutional republic is deliberate and intentional, making moral claims and understanding that urban populations can be "prone to madness with a spice of insanity," as James Madison wrote. The founders created tension between states, between demographics, between rural farmers and city dwellers. America represents a 5,000-year leap that happened in a relatively short time—it is a miracle.

The Founding Fathers and Biblical Principles

Kirk provides historical context often missing from modern education. Fifty-five out of 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Bible-believing, regular church-attending Christians. A secular professor from Harvard or Yale studied all the private writings of the founding fathers and found the Bible was quoted more than any other source of inspiration by a tenfold margin—more than any other piece of literature.

Christians should have gratitude for what is good, beautiful, and true, as Philippians 4:8 instructs. America embodies these qualities. Addressing the issue of slavery, Kirk notes that every founding father entered a world where slavery was the norm—a despicable, evil practice. However, not one founding father wrote in defense of slavery. The first anti-slavery convention ever held in world history took place in Philadelphia in 1775, chaired by Benjamin Franklin.

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Vermont independently abolished slavery in 1777. By the time of ratification in 1787, nine out of 13 states had already independently abolished slavery. George Washington wrestled with the issue in his private journals. The question wasn't if they would get rid of slavery but how. By the time the founders left this earth, slavery was on its way out—an amazing contribution to humanity in a short time.

The Biblical View of History and Human Equality

Kirk references Genesis 6 and the story of Noah to address how Christians should view historical figures. The Bible doesn't simply say Noah was a righteous man; it says he was righteous among the people of his generation. This distinction matters. If you compared Noah to Elijah, Noah might not seem that great. The Bible instructs us to view history among peers and contemporaries, not through the lens of our current moment.

People 100 years from now might judge our generation harshly for issues we're failing to address today. Christians must be careful, prudent, and slow in judging historical figures. The movement to eradicate slavery had profound worldwide impact and was led by churches and Christians, including William Wilberforce in England. The Republican Party started as a one-issue party in Ripon, Wisconsin, to eradicate slavery in America.

Human equality means we all entered a world we didn't create—a humbling reality. The founding fathers left the world better than they found it regarding slavery, which is a remarkable contribution worth recognizing and appreciating.

The Constitution as the Greatest Political Document

Kirk describes the Constitution as the greatest political document ever written in world history and a gift to all Americans. Focusing on the First Amendment, he notes that Aristotle called humans "the speaking beings." In Genesis 1 and John 1, God spoke creation into existence. Humans are made in God's image, and our capacity for speech reflects our ability to reason.

God gave humans what's known as the common noun miracle—teaching a child what a chair or cow is requires no re-teaching. This capacity to make sense of the natural world through language is unique to humans and defines who we are. The founding fathers understood that without dialogue, discourse, and debate, humanity itself—the very soul—gets crushed by external forces. That's why free expression is the First Amendment, not just for newspaper articles but for the most important form of expression: worship.

As reasoning, thinking, and worshiping beings made of mind, body, and soul, humans must have the ability to worship, come closer to their Creator, sing songs, and gather in churches without tyranny and despotism interfering. The Constitution recognizes this fundamental need for how God wants humans to live.

We the People: Sovereignty and Self-Governance

The Constitution begins with "We the People"—not "We the Tony Fauci" or "We the unelected bureaucrat," but "We the People." This empowers every citizen: if you see something you don't like, you can get into the arena and do something about the evil, injustice, or discontent you observe. The Constitution aims "to secure the Blessings of Liberty" with a capital B, understanding a transcendent order and "the Laws of Nature and Nature's God."

No matter how many votes are cast, certain laws remain unchangeable: force equals mass times acceleration, an object at rest stays at rest, and there are equal and opposite reactions. Similarly, natural and spiritual laws remain constant: men should tell the truth, get married; women should embody Proverbs 31 principles. These are the laws of nature and nature's God, regardless of what happens in society.

Why the Constitution Remains Relevant

Some argue the Constitution is outdated and antiquated. Christians should dismiss this argument because the Word of God, though written 2,000 years ago, is more applicable today than ever. The founding fathers wrote the Constitution not for their times but to stand the test of time. Despite having TikTok, Twitter, and transcontinental airlines, humans remain the same raw material dealt with in the 1770s and in the time of Jesus Christ: broken human beings who are lustful, greedy, selfish, deceitful, and treacherous—all in need of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

The founders understood humans are meant to live under a certain type of government to pursue ultimate purpose, understand the eternal over the temporary, and value wisdom over the practical. This is why the Constitution should be celebrated, revered, and received with gratitude.

The President's Authority and the People's Sovereignty

When the President says "our patience is growing thin" with the American people regarding vaccines or other mandates, Kirk responds that his patience has definitely been wearing thin—but in the opposite direction. The crucial question is: who is the sovereign? It's the people. The states created the federal government; the federal government did not create the states.

The President saying his patience runs out with Americans violates the core compact of serving as president of all Americans, regardless of whether they voted for him or make medical choices he agrees with. The Constitution has stood as the longest-lasting document of self-government in world history because it provides numerous ways to check and balance those in power who overstep their authority.

Satan tries to keep people in bondage as the liar, deceiver, and tormentor. When earthly authorities attempt the same, Americans have the ability to check and balance them—a gift from the founding fathers. They realized one person is not meant to rule the many. Before the American system, there were always more serfs than masters, more slaves than owners. The American system turned this completely upside down, giving people power over those who think they're in charge. This uniqueness is truly exceptional.

True Love Means Speaking Truth

Addressing the church's understanding of love, Kirk distinguishes between different Greek words for love: storge, philia, eros, and agape. When Jesus commanded us to love one another, what kind of love did He mean? Jesus was truth incarnate—He didn't just say true things but was the embodiment of truth. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh."

How do you best love someone? Kirk illustrates with his recent experience having all four wisdom teeth removed. His dentist told him exactly what was wrong and what treatment he needed. He didn't want to hear it—being out of commission, going under surgery, spending time in the dentist's office. But deep down, he realized she was telling him the truth because she loved him enough not to lie. When he suggested just taking antibiotics, she said the infection could go to his brain and kill him. He didn't want to hear that, but it was the loving thing to tell him.

The same applies to telling alcoholics to get their act together or telling adulterers they're in defiance to the Lord, dishonoring themselves and their spouses. This isn't wrapping people in bubble wrap to make them comfortable with their sin and lifestyle. The accusation of "legalism" is overused. The greatest life adjustments that bring people closer to the Lord often come when someone tells them they're out of line. Nobody wants to hear it in the moment, but it changes lives for the better.

The Church Has Lost What It Means to Love

The church has lost understanding of what it means to truly love people. The best way to love others is to be there for them, tell them forgiveness and mercy are available, understand their shortcomings without making them feel bad—but also show them the truth. As Paul told the church of Ephesus, the largest and most influential church in the New Testament: "Speak the truth in love."

This principle applies to parenting. Just as a loving parent doesn't let a child eat cheese fries every day despite loving them, permissive parenting that says "they'll figure it out" fails children. There must be standards, rules, and love—great love and great rules together. Society cannot advance personally or collectively without great standards.

Liberty Means Pursuing Virtue, Not License

A quote at Harvard Law School states: "The law are the wise restraints that keep you free." Growing up in a broken secular culture attending public school, Kirk realized that every life-promotional promise in that culture suggested freedom meant lack of obedience. This is fundamentally wrong.

The founding fathers understood what liberty actually means. It's not doing whatever you want as long as it doesn't harm anyone else—that's the wrong answer. Liberty is pursuing virtue. Liberty is doing what you ought to do. The founders wrote extensively about the tension between liberty and licentiousness—how the soul gets suppressed when entering a cycle of disobedience.

To live a free life requires discipline. The freest people are the most disciplined people. For parents, this means stop being your child's friend. You're not there to be their friend—you can be loving without being their buddy. That friendship can come later when your child becomes an adult and takes on responsibility. The best thing parents can do is implement wise restraints that will keep their children free.

The Role of Every Believer in This Cultural Moment

Every person in America has influence somewhere, a voice, and actions they can take. Too many have embraced fear as something to love, feed, and lean into. Studies show that 28% of deaths from COVID are happening because of anxiety and fear. Christians must not hold onto fear or what they think is true based on news or social media posts. Only God's truth sets people free.

Loving people doesn't mean forsaking truth. If you love someone enough, you will stand up for the truth. If someone you love is driving off a cliff, you will grab the steering wheel. Right now in America, some Christians are sitting back saying "we can trust God with this." But God has placed His people here to be His assets in the earth, bringing kingdom thought processes and kingdom life to the world.

An immigrant college student told her father what was happening in America, and he responded: "Wow, you guys have so much freedom you're making up all your own problems." This applies to personal lives as well—so much freedom that people create their own problems in marriages and daily life. However, there are real issues right now, and Christians have a part to play in addressing them.

The Window of Apathy Is Closing

Americans have been blessed with the gift of apathy—the luxury of not caring because conditions are so good. In countries like Afghanistan, churches cannot exist as they do in America. First Timothy instructs believers to pray for leaders by name so they might live quiet and peaceable lives. Because of the sacrifices, wisdom, prudence, and courage of previous generations, Americans can be apathetic, walk out of church, and watch football without concern.

That window of luxury and apathy is closing. Tyranny is coming—not just governmental tyranny but cultural and spiritual tyranny. A spiritual advance is happening in the country, and the only organization that can stop it is the church with Christians rising up against it. For such a time as this, in 2021, Christians are in America for a purpose. Like Moses, who asked God how he could accomplish his calling when he had nothing, God asked: "What is in your hand?"

Supporting the Mission and Staying Informed

Kirk travels 330 days a year, giving over 310 speeches annually at college campuses, churches, and various venues. He produces two podcasts and three hours of radio daily. One way people can help insulate his work from Big Tech cancellation is by subscribing to his podcast. Every person with a smartphone has a podcast app—whether Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify—and subscribing is free.

The Charlie Kirk Show can become a go-to news source, discussing news every day from a pro-American, biblical standpoint to empower listeners to know what's happening and what they can do about it. Kirk promises to always tell the truth because he loves people too much to lie to them.

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