“I forgive him” – these are words that you would never imagine leaving one’s mouth in these turbulent times. In a time of assassinations, economic uncertainty, and a crisis on all social fronts, America is lacking hope. It has lacked hope for a few decades now. Following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10 at Utah Valley University, many individuals felt hate and anger. But the message of Kirk’s widow surprised many. Three powerful words echoed in memory of Charlie Kirk: “I forgive him.”
Kirk, a 33-year-old American Christian conservative activist, was shot and killed on September 10 in an American Comeback Tour Event. Kirk had an ordinary American childhood growing up in the suburbs of Illinois. He took the American Dream and boldly created Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a nonprofit organization, at the young age of 18. A core motive of his movement was to restore the “American family” and to put America under God again. Kirk had two young children, aged one and three.
On September 21, Kirk’s memorial was held. Anger and sadness filled many hearts in our nation. Many musical performers—including Brandon Lake, Chris Tomlin, Phil Wickham and Cody Carnes—went to perform at the memorial. Members of the President’s cabinet came to give respect to Charlie Kirk, including Secretary Marco Rubio, Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Vice President JD Vance. Other speakers included Frank Turek, a Christian apologist, and TPUSA staff, as stated by Fox News. Each of them echoed the same message against political violence and the core ideals of Kirk, which were faith and country. But none stood up more for his legacy than his widow, Erika Kirk.
“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life,” she said, according to ABC News. “That young man. That young man on the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do.’ That man, that young man, I forgive him. I forgive him, because […] it was what Christ did, and is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the gospel is love, and always love. Love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
She only accomplished this power because of her faith in God. Power is not retaliation after evil is inflicted on you. True power is forgiving those who wronged you because that is what your Savior did for you. Instead of treating people the way people treat you, treating people better than how they treat you is more powerful.
In response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, instead of riots and violence plaguing the country, there has been an increase in vigils and TPUSA chapters. This was one week ago. What is next? Currently, TPUSA chapters are still growing at a rapid pace. According to TPUSA’s website, TPUSA remains the largest conservative student body organization, and Erika Kirk is now the CEO of TPUSA, keeping the memory of Charlie alive.
