Stabbings, Shootings, Charlie Kirk, & a Broken World
CityBridge Family,
All my '90s people will remember W.W.J.D. bracelets. I wore them. I have some now. They are sort of making a small comeback. For those who don't remember, it was an acronym for the question, "What would Jesus do?" It was simple but effective. The big idea of the bracelet was to serve as a daily visible reminder for Christians to live and make decisions in a way that reflects the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. We want to ask, "What would Jesus do?" so we could live like Jesus would. In any given circumstance of life, good, bad, or otherwise, it was a reminder to run to God's Word and respond in a manner consistent with our Lord Jesus.
I still ask all the time, "What would Jesus do?"
W.W.J.D. when our kids make bad decisions?
W.W.J.D. when someone I love has betrayed me?
W.W.J.D. when he hears of shootings and stabbings?
W.W.J.D. when he heard about Charlie Kirk being killed, a Christian, for sharing his beliefs?
W.W.J.D. with all the news of thousands of Christians killed daily across the globe?
W.W.J.D. when he sees confusion in the church on how to respond to a cultural crisis?
W.W.J.D. even as a pastor hard pressed on all sides with opinions, accusations, and mean people?
W.W.J.D. when kids come home with hard questions about our broken world?
The list could go on and on.
I have been deeply grieved by our broken world. I am grieved for the confusion, anxiety, fear, and anger this has caused so many. I am grieved that even Christians today feel hopeless and in despair. I am grieved as a pastor to hear of fellow believers who want to lash out in anger and revenge. I am grieved to see the church respond with division in the church, rather than unity. I am grieved to see the body of Christ even consider shrinking back in fear instead of holding out the banner of God's word and shining as lights for Jesus in a crooked and twisted generation. We must not let the enemy win in these areas.
I don't know what you used to do when you were scared at night as a kid, but many were in the habit of hiding from the boogie man under their covers. I know that is what the Word of God is for me. When I am afraid, anxious, grieved, or embarrassed, I run to the word of God and hide under the covers of God's truth!
I have done that in the past weeks. Can I share some valuable truth that I have found that I believe will be helpful for you? I have found answers to my "What would Jesus do?" question.
How does the Bible call us to respond to cultural issues, political confusion, rampant public brokenness, and tragedy, whether a believer like Charlie Kirk who is assassinated or any evil consequence of sin? Let me offer some points.
Point to Jesus
Jesus was like a machine. He was clear about his mission to "seek and save the lost." (Luke 19:10). "As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." (John 20:21). Jesus was on a mission, and he expects us to be likewise on a mission. He never wavered, whether in word or deed. We should not either. He consistently resisted opportunities, temptations, and even well-meaning suggestions that could have appeared understandable by human standards but would have diverted Him from God's will.
He was always pointing upward, so to speak. Where should we be pointing now? Not first at our enemy. Not at those who are opposed to us. Certainly not at one another in anger. Not at our broken world. More than anything else, we point, upward. Toward Christ with our lives. We always point to a greater Kingdom.
Even in cultural and political circumstances, some may have perceived Jesus as completely ignoring the issues. WRONG! He did engage, just on His own terms, not the world's. He reframed political questions to point people toward a higher priority and reality: Repentance and the kingdom of God. He avoided taking sides in the cultural and political controversies of His day — whether Roman vs. Jewish authority, Pharisee vs. Sadducee, or Zealots vs. collaborators — because His mission was deeper and broader. While Jesus did recognize issues of the day, He was purposeful in not allowing public sentiment, news headlines, or cultural crises to drive His ministry agenda.
Many times, others wanted him to speak against Pilate, revolt against Rome, and force him to take a political throne. Yet, Jesus physically withdrew from those situations and constantly pointed to their need for a greater salvation and the gospel. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going to distract from that mission.
One example of many, in Luke 13:1–5 Jesus was told about a cultural, local political atrocity — Pilate killing Galileans while they were offering sacrifices. They likely expected condemnation of the Roman killing. Jesus' reply seems cold-hearted and detached from the disciples' concerns and grief. "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners…? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish." Rather than denouncing Pilate or engaging politically, Jesus redirects to a personal call for repentance. He refuses to let the political situation distract Him from spiritual urgency.
Further examples: Matthew 22:15–22, Mark 12:13–17, Luke 20:20–26, John 6:15, John 18:36, Matthew 27:11-14
Respond Like Jesus
We are in the middle of a "Radical" sermon series through Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Honestly, it is more than a sermon; it is the radical declaration of a unique king calling people to join him in an unfamiliar kingdom, a place where weakness is strength and humility is victory. It paints a picture of a nation whose territory encompasses not land but human hearts and whose borders extend beyond the edges of the cosmos. It depicts a king whose power is not that of the sword-clenching hand, but that of the dying martyr. And it extends a choice to all who hear: will you continue in the chaos and confusion of rebellion against this reality, or will you submit and enter the Kingdom of Heaven? (Boone)
As we run to the covers of God's Word, what do we learn about a Jesus-like response to tragedy, persecution, opposition, and suffering? I hope you will see what a true radical response looks like.
Jesus Would Respond with Grace, Not Revenge
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, - Matthew 5:44
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. – Romans 12:14
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. – Romans 12:17-21
Jesus Would Wear Suffering for Christ Like a Crown
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.11 "Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. – Matthew 5:10-12
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. – 1 Peter 4:12-14
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. – Acts 5:41
Jesus' mission was marked by suffering: rejection, betrayal, physical pain, and crucifixion. The King wore a crown of thorns. Victory came through death. What a privilege to take the beatings and afflictions that Jesus took for us! (Colossians 1:24).
Jesus Would Overcome with Patience and Faith
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4
"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." - Romans 5:3-5
Imitate Jesus
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. - 1 Peter 2:21-23
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:5-8
Run to Community, Not Away
I have heard and seen the worst advice being given to and taken by Christians in the past few days. Maybe it is well meaning, but it is not of the Lord and we should run from it. Any advice in this season for Christians to leave their church, their community, the local family of God, for reasons other than false biblical teaching, doctrinal misdirection, unrepentant sin, or abuse, is simply not of the Lord.
We were made for community! We were saved from sin, but into a family. Living outside of community is dangerous and leaves us as easy sheep for our prowling enemy. We should not allow the enemy to separate us.
We need one another to accomplish the mission, grow in Christ, and glorify God to the fullest. We cannot do any of that alone. Now is not a time for division, but unity. We have enough opposition outside our walls.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. – Ephesians 4:1-3
Pastoral Observations
The past few weeks have allowed God to show me some poignant needs in the church that need to be addressed.
Persecution - I believe more than ever that the church in the United States of America is woefully underprepared for the reality of persecution. Elders and Pastors across our land have likely been negligent in this area of equipping. Jesus was clear: we should expect persecution. It was never a matter of "if", but "when". We have been so blessed to live in a country where real persecution is foreign, but that is and will not always be the case.
Again, hear Jesus' words,
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. – John 15:18-20.
Mark my words. I will dedicate myself to equipping the church better in this area.
Biblical Illiteracy – I notice and am even more convicted to make sure that our people see the word as our guide and nothing else. I fear that I am seeing so many Christians running to their local news, TV pundit, and social media for wisdom, comfort, and marching orders instead of God's Word. This is disastrous. I will continue to do so as I have for three decades of leading the church to always preach the whole counsel of God's word, never shrink from proclaiming all that is profitable, no matter what our culture believes, and knowing that may upset many in our world.
I will say as Paul, I have "decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." – 1 Corinthians 2:2-5
CityBridge, if you could find it in your heart to pray for your staff and your Lead Pastor, we could use it. Few will understand the weight, burden, and complexity of leading a church of this size, especially for those like our staff who will not swerve from the teachings of Jesus. The past days for me and others have been hard as well. We are saddened by all we have seen in our country. Pastoring a church is not for sissies. It has been tough in a number of ways, with anger from within and outside the church.
Here are a couple of great opportunities I would point you to:
CityBridge Family Prayer – Wednesday, September 24 // Do not miss this time as we dedicate time in prayer for our nation, for revival, for our churches, Christians, and for those affected by the tragedies in our land.
Prayer with Pastor Brad // You could also join pastor Brad each Saturday morning at 8 AM for 30 minutes of prayer and prayer-walking on campus.
Let's stay together! Let's fight the enemy. Let's keep looking to Jesus!
We have a mission to accomplish!
Your pastor with love,
Brad Kirby