Tonight, I hosted a memorial livestream following Charlie Kirk's assassination. I joined by Cody Lawrence, Hitler Hated Christ, journalist Mikale Olson, and Pastor Darren DePaul.

In this stream, I argued that our nation experienced collective trauma from witnessing graphic violence, identifying four problematic responses: leftists celebrating the death, right-wingers calling for retaliation, conspiracy theorists blaming various actors, and high-level influencers engaging in divisive arguments. And my guests and I discussed challenges with radical ideologies infiltrating conservative Christian spaces and the need for pastoral mentorship.

I concluded that the majority response has been people turning toward faith and spiritual renewal in Charlie Kirk’s memory.

Rest in peace, Charlie (1993–2025). Thank you. Romans 8:28-31

Key takeaways

• Pastoral care is essential during crisis - Pastor Darren emphasized the need for churches to provide real mentorship and life-on-life discipleship rather than just Sunday services.

• Violent imagery can be traumatizing - The widespread circulation of graphic footage created shock and grief for many Americans unaccustomed to witnessing such violence.

• Multiple factions are exploiting the tragedy - Various groups are using Kirk’s death to advance their own agendas rather than focusing on healing.

• Cultural Christianity lacks depth - Several of us noted that surface-level Christian identity without genuine faith leads to inconsistent behavior and eventual rebellion.

• Young men need wisdom and mentorship - Our discussion highlighted how young men’s lack of discernment makes them vulnerable to extremist ideologies from various directions.

• Charlie Kirk’s legacy was dialogue over force - We agreed his approach of engaging opponents through conversation rather than violence should be emulated.