Today marks an extraordinarily sad day for America; both the memorial of the egregious 9/11 attacks; and the day after Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at a campus at Utah Valley University. Liberty University students have assembled in prayer following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Across campus, thousands of students gathered en mass to pray for the Kirk family.
Liberty University’s Turning Point USA chapter convened in prayer led by Chancellor Jonathan Falwell, (Robertson, H., 2025, WSET). The prayer included intercession for Charlie Kirk’s wife, and two children. At a student’s request, the school also prayed for the assassin who murdered Kirk, (Robertson, H., 2025, WSET). While praying for an assassin may be initially harrowing to consider, Chancellor Jonathan Falwell’s willingness to pray for an assassin is a reminder: rather than call for personal retribution, Christians must remember their obligation. Charlie Kirk and his Turning Point Platform did not advocate the furtherance of hate. Accordingly, the best course of action in response is to mend the partisan divide by denouncing violent political rhetoric rather than investing into it.
As written by the Apostle Paul, Christians are decreed to “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” (NASB, 1995, Romans 12:19-21).
Jerry Falwell Jr responded to the shooting stating that he was both shocked and sickened. Falwell stated, “[t]here is something wrong in this country when people can’t just debate their differences . . . I just texted him a week ago somebody needed some help . . . and he helped them right away that’s the kind of person he was,” (Robertson, H., 2025, WSET). Falwell noted that “[t]here’s too much fear in this country for people to speak up, and I think it’s a shame,” (Robertson, H., 2025, WSET).
As a current undergraduate student at Liberty University, currently studying U.S. Public Education Law, this tragedy has really hit home. It is difficult to consider that the individual who inspired a generation of undergraduate students to become politically active is no longer with us. Charlie Kirk was not a threat to individuals. Charlie Kirk was a threat to the Establishment. Kirk was a citizen who worked tirelessly to expose the indoctrination of the American mind, and emphasized civic debate in contemporary polis. Charlie Kirk’s lasting impact on public education, American politics, and the minds of college students across America will continue to positively impact the future of this nation.
References
WSET. (Accessed on September 11th, 2025). https://wset.com/news/local/liberty-university-community-reacts-to-charlie-kirk-death-students-hold-prayer-vigil-for-family-turning-point-usa-breaking-news-shooting-crime-jonathan-falwell-10-september-2025
Jordan Muhsin 