Why It Stung When Pastors Refused to Acknowledge Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

There exists a clear dividing line between what is right and wrong, righteous and wicked, beautiful and ugly; a line rooted in moral absolutes.

 

These absolutes are not contingent on personal or cultural perspectives but are universal truths that guide human conduct across all societies.

 

The human heart and mind yearn for clarity and certainty, which moral absolutes provide. They are essential for the administration of justice, the creation of just laws, and the maintenance of societal order.

 

Moral Relativism Vs. Moral Absolutism

 

Unlike moral relativism, which posits that moral standards are culturally defined and thus variable, moral absolutism asserts the existence of universal truths that transcend borders, cultures, and time. These truths are not confined to any one nation but resonate across every society, offering a superior framework for ethical clarity and societal stability.

 

In recent decades, moral absolutes have been criticized as rigid or oppressive, yet they remain a profound benefit to humanity.

 

Far from being an outdated concept, they provide an anchor in an increasingly chaotic world. This is evident in the growing number of young people turning to religious institutions: churches, synagogues, and mosques, to seek answers about their identity and the world around them.

 

In a culture that often glorifies ambiguity and relativism, the certainty of absolute truth offers a stabilizing force. For this reason, pastors must boldly proclaim the unchanging truth of the Gospel.

 

Absolute Truth Ignored By Pastors

 

This imperative became painfully clear in the wake of the assassination of civil rights leader Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

 

Leading up to the Sunday after the shooting, thousands took to the online public square announcing that it would be their first time attending church as they recognized their profound need of God and the fragility of life. This caused rejoicing on all sides, and yet, there were some who had been church attendees for decades who held their breath in anticipation as to what their pastors would have to say on the subject, if anything.

 

Whilst many pastors chose to point to the realities of the tragedy and highlight the glorious truth of the Gospel, some chose to sidestep addressing this brazen act of political violence in their sermons. This inaction wounded countless churchgoers who craved the moral clarity that absolute truth demands.

 

Moral Absolutes Demand Clarity

 

In a moment demanding unequivocal condemnation of such wickedness as a violation of divine commands against murder and injustice, silence from pastors felt like a betrayal of the Gospel’s call to confront evil head-on, leaving congregants adrift in confusion rather than fortified by righteous affirmation.

 

Moreover, the societal thirst for justice isn’t coincidental but providential. However, efforts to achieve justice through morally relative frameworks only lead us to inconsistency, division, and even destruction.

 

Relativism, by its nature, lacks the clarity to distinguish between good and evil decisively, resulting in approaches that can inadvertently promote chaos or injustice. In contrast, a society grounded in moral absolutes administers justice with precision, this action should occur from the pulpits as well as from our government leaders.

 

Moral Absolutes Benefit All

 

Promoting what is righteous and condemning what is wicked: this is the approach which fosters clarity, swiftness, and fairness in the pursuit of justice, benefiting all members of society.

 

A nation built on moral absolutes becomes a beacon of prestige and inspiration. Such a nation enacts laws that reward virtue and punish wrongdoing without partiality, reflecting the divine justice described throughout the Word of God.

 

For instance, the Judeo-Christian principle of equal justice under God, as seen in passages like Leviticus 19:15 (“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great”). This principle, along many others I could outline, underscores that governance rooted in moral absolutes ensures fairness, impartiality, and righteousness, and it is these elements which ensures a society where all can thrive.

 

Moral absolutism declares that all are equal before God and the law. Just as divine justice, as depicted in religious teachings, operates without favoritism, so too should human authorities.

 

By rejecting partiality or bias based on personal characteristics or that which the current culture says is “right,” and instead anchoring decisions in universal truths, societies can uphold justice and righteousness for every person. This commitment to moral absolutes not only strengthens individual communities but also sets a global standard for ethical governance. This is what leads to the inspiration of nations to pursue justice that is clear, consistent, and divinely informed.

 

For this reason, these United States have been globally referred to as that “city on a hill” which refers to Matthew 13. Ancient Israeli cities, like Jerusalem, were the spiritual and cultural center. Such cities were also intentionally built on hills for defense, making them visible from afar. Nations around the world look in on the United States, not just for her military prowess, but for the absolutes which have shaped her into the superpower that she is.

 

Moral Absolutism Isn’t New

 

One of our nation’s founding fathers, John Adams, stated: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” This quote directly ties into our conversation about moral absolutism by emphasizing the necessity of a shared moral framework rooted in universal truths for a just and functional society.

 

Adams suggests that the U.S. Constitution, as a governing document, relies on the assumption that its citizens adhere to moral and religious principles; principles aligned with moral absolutism, which posits clear, unchanging distinctions between right and wrong. Without this foundation, the Constitution’s mechanisms for self-governance falter, as they require a populace capable of exercising virtue and restraint.

 

In the context of the argument I have presented to you today, Adams’ statement supports the idea that moral absolutes are essential for societal order and the administration of justice.

 

A “moral and religious people” implies a collective commitment to objective standards of righteousness, as well as pointing to the fact that moral absolutism provides clarity and stability, which enables the creation of laws that promote good and punish evil to do their work without partiality.

 

Bringing It All Together…

 

The failure of some pastors to address the assassination of Charlie Kirk, is a lapse in upholding these absolute moral standards which doesn’t just undermine the principles Adams believed necessary for governance, but that which God has outlined for good governance.

 

Furthermore, Adams’ quote underscores that moral relativism, where standards are culturally or individually defined, cannot sustain a society’s legal and ethical framework.

 

A Constitution designed for a people grounded in moral absolutes becomes “inadequate” when relativism erodes the shared understanding of justice and righteousness, this is what leads to chaos.

 

You Have A Role

 

Whilst pastors and elders most certainly have a role in addressing recent events, so do we.

 

For far too long have people have looked to bold bloggers and those with big platforms, wondering if they’ll communicate your convictions so you don’t have to.

 

That is folly because each and every one of us have a responsibility, as well as the ability to address these issues.

 

We are all ambassadors for Christ, called to speak truth to our neighbors, coworkers, and children. So the question isn’t just what will others say, it’s what you will say? Yes, pastors have a responsibility, but so do you.

 

If you are a Christian, then I challenge you to live faithfully beyond the church walls. It’s easy to be bold online, but harder to shine truth to your neighbor.

 

The world is dark because the church often huddles, lamenting the darkness instead of shining as a city on a hill. We’re all called to be salt in this world, and that salt acts as a preservation, whilst light casts out the darkness. That isn’t a directive given solely to pastors and preachers, that was given to you and to me.

 

I’m not here to shame but to challenge: we’re all in the Lord’s army, and our one life goes by in a blink of an eye and only what’s done for Christ will last.

 

Learn to shine, not just through our lives but by boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus to those we meet daily and by living out that which we believe. And this all begins when we take absolute truth absolutely serious.

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