Yes, it’s Friday… and a sad one at that…
Yes, it’s Friday… and a sad one at that…
It has been hard to write for today…
In light of what has happened in Utah…
And to mention it, seems to be redundant…
… and truthfully there are many better at putting into words the appropriate things to keep in mind… in light of the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk.
And that is what it is. He is among the Christian martyrs.
He was silenced for speaking the truth—not just about the things of this world, but about Christ Jesus and the Word of God.The devil and the world cannot abide with this voice of righteous truth resounding in their self-made delusions and sin. They cannot tolerate this light shining in their beloved darkness.
Many called him bigoted because he called the things they wanted to call good and normal to be twisted and evil—and those are my words, not his. He was gentle and took them by the hand to show them why.
He was called intolerant and close-minded in his views because he would not allow for error to live alongside truth. He did not let anyone have any-old opinion just because they felt like it. That would be the definition of a fool. He did not call them that, but they knew how they felt after they were shown.
As the Bible tells us: “Only a fool says there is no God.”
He was called misogynistic because he told of the way God made things to be. Like marriage was between one man and one woman. He challenged women to respect themselves enough not to give themselves away so easily. That that lead men to think the way they do. That it was feminism, that was not their friend, but an actual enemy.
He was not letting men off the hook here—or excusing them. No, he challenged them to be true men, as God created them to be. To grow up and take responsibility for their lives and their actions.
We can get political here, too, but I won’t. The church is not being political when it speaks out on these topics. It is the world that is trying to invade the church when it steps in and demands the church to go against God’s Word. This is what is at stake here.
Charlie Kirk was not silenced because of his politics, but because of his faith. Don’t let anyone forget that.
And this is not unexpected. And no, not because he advocated the 2nd amendment. It should not be a surprise because we are told in the Bible that the devil and the world hate Christians and will try and silence us if they can. In any way they can. Including murdering us.
Lord have Mercy. Christ have Mercy.
He does… thank God.
Yes, it’s Friday, but almost… almost Sunday….
This coming Sunday – 14th Sunday after Pentecost – September 14st 2025
Readings:
Old Testament – Isaiah 66:18-23
Epistle – Hebrews 12:18-24
Gospel – Luke 13:22-30
Psalm – 43
Sermon Theme – To know as you have been known
Based on Old Testament reading
Prayers: Remember the 9/11 tragedy and its victims and those still grieving from its aftermath. Also remember Charlie Kirk’s grieving family. Remember our nation and the division there; praying that evil can be kept a bay. That people will now hear the truth in light of these violent events in NYC and in Utah, that people would instead trust Christ that these deaths are not in vain, or turned into just another political tool. That our leaders would make good decisions regarding these atrocities and other tragedies like it, not just mindless reactionary ones.
Reflection from Luther:
“If I want to be a Christian, I must also wear the colors of the court” – Martin Luther on Martyrdom: “Where the apocalyptic reality of God in Christ is trusted, martyrdom with its bodily passivity can come into its own. Martyrs cannot lose the life won with Jesus’ word on the cross, “It is accomplished” (John 19:30), in their own dying. Their “bodily confession” – far more than just lip service – takes place in the salvation space of Christ’s Passover mystery.”
