Let’s be clear. Every man and woman is made in God’s image (Gen. 1:27) and the death of any person has sorrow and grief attached to it. However, scripture is also clear that there is something different about the death of a Christian. Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” There is something unique and precious to the Lord, and therefore, to us, when another Christian brother or sister dies; especially in the public and tragic manner in which Charlie died.

The death of Charlie Kirk, 9/11, school shootings . . . all take place because sin exists in this world. Sin entered the world in Genesis 3 and the world has never been the same. Romans 8:20-23 tells us that God Himself, because of sin, has subjected this world to futility and groaning so that we have hope for that one day when all of it will be set right.

Yes. Psalm 115:3 says, “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” God is in control of all things. If he’s not, he’s not God and not worthy of us following him or worshiping him. Joseph, in response to being left for dead in a pit, sold into slavery, and wrongly imprisoned for years says in Genesis 50:20, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” In fact, in Romans 8:18-28, God promises that our sufferings and brokenness will ultimately be worked together for our good. He doesn't promise that we'll understand everything about His sovereignty, but that like Joseph, He would use it for our good.

First, it is ok to “abhor what is evil” (Rom. 12:9). In fact, Christians should hate evil. It is ok to be angry. The Bible says to “be angry and do not sin.” (Eph. 4:26). But what do you do with your anger? I Peter 5:7 tells us to take your cares, your worries, and anxieties to God. If we really believe that God is still on his throne, our anger will subside because there is no reason to be angry when God is in control.

Enough is enough when Christ returns and sets all things right. I can live with peace knowing that evil may have its day, but Christ will have the final word when he will one day lock up and defeat every evil and dark power in this world.

Until then, Christ has called us to a life of peace. You live by the sword, you die by the sword (Matt. 26:52). When asked about forgiveness, Jesus responded that a disciple must forgive not just 7 times, but 70 times 7 (Matt. 18:21-22); a metaphorical number that means we must keep on forgiving. Jesus has a similar tone when he tells his disciples to “turn the other cheek” and to “give your cloak” as well. When you’re wronged in one way, don’t fight back, and let them wrong you in another way. (Matt. 5:38-40).

It's ok to wonder how long this will last. When you ask this question you join the likes of King David (Psalm 13:1-6), Habakkuk (Hab. 1:2) and others in scripture who over 50 times ask the same question. How long will this last?

There are so many ways to do this. First, see the answer to the above question for guidance. But let me draw your attention to Daniel chapter 6. When Daniel is wronged and made to live by a law that goes against his faith in God, he doesn’t protest. He doesn’t complain. He doesn’t barge into the king’s palace making demands. It says in Daniel 6:10, “He got down on his knees . . . and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.” In short, he kept living a humble and spiritually disciplined life before God that eventually led to the heart change of the king in power. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Rom. 12:18) One way to help us live peaceably with all is to remember our own sin. We must keep in mind that Christ came to save us from our sins, not just them from their sins.

You could line up 10 different people and find that all 10 have some difference in their political opinions. The death of Charlie Kirk, the death of the Ukrainian woman in Charlotte, the death of 3,000 souls on 9/11 are all worth lamenting because a human life was killed. It is ok and it is good to sit in the sorrow of the evil and brokenness that is in our world. The good news of the gospel is only good if you realize just how bad sin is.

If you would like another resource as a parent of how to talk to your child, please see the parent guide that Pastor Joe, our Student Pastor, has put together for you.