Psalms 8:1, 16:2, 61:1-4

I met my Shepherd in His green pastures with a question: Should we forgive the man who killed Charlie Kirk? He laid me down in Luke 23:34:

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Paul obtained mercy for his murders because he did it ignorantly, in unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13), thinking he was serving God in his actions (John 16:2).

Along the still waters, I pondered this question. In both instances cited above, the people were acting ignorantly and within the legal system of their day, albeit perversely. Charlie’s killer was not acting ignorantly, and he was certainly not acting under the sanction of law.

Many believe Jesus pled a pardon on behalf of all mankind for the crucifixion. Certainly, forgiveness was made available to all by His atonement (1 John 2:1-2), but only those who repented and believed on His Son received it (Acts 5:31; 26:18). Some think the offending soldiers are all Jesus had immediately in mind.

The petition was to the Father and for an act of martyrdom—a crime against God. Charlie’s killer certainly offended God and made a martyr out of Charlie. But his willful, premeditated murder of Charlie Kirk must be answered with the judgment prescribed by the law that God has given to man for execution upon the body (Genesis 9:6; Romans 13:1-6). God will dispose of his soul (Matthew 10:28).

We are called upon to forgive when an offender repents (Luke 17:3-4). However, for public offenses, even if the suspect begs forgiveness, only the widow, his children, his parents, his friends, and/or other individuals offended by this outrageous deed can forgive him, and then each can only forgive him personally. I cannot forgive him for the widow’s offense, for his children’s, or for any other person’s. Every individual must reckon on how they will respond in such a case, but no one can set aside the judgment of justice without creating an injustice. For example, I cannot walk into a court trial and declare the criminal forgiven, and upon that demand that all proceedings against him or her cease and desist. Besides, true repentance must embrace the duty that justice demands.

The murderer of Charlie Kirk acted on his own and must own responsibility for his actions. He cannot forgive himself. We cannot see his heart, and so we cannot measure any mitigation of his guilt against man. God can! But we must act within our limits. We are limited to God’s Law. We act in this body; only GOD can act justly upon the soul. We have no power to withhold judgment justly, except when the judgment is itself unjust; only God can justly forgive the soul. God said the man who sheds the blood of a man will by man have his blood shed. This is because shedding the blood of a man is an act of violence against the image of GOD, our Creator. And also, the image bearer is the only creature with the authority and responsibility to execute that judgment. The murderer of Charlie Kirk committed his act of violence against mankind, the Creator’s image bearer, and only the appointed sword given to man by GOD is ordained to execute the appropriate wrath (Romans 13:1-6). The execution of this wrath is on behalf of God applying the judgment prescribed for any who murders an image bearer (Genesis 9:6).

In the valley, shadowed by His Cross, I knelt to pray for Charlie’s widow and children. I prayed they would receive the grace of God to release their righteous desire for vengeance into the hands of Him Who promised it (Romans 12:19). And I prayed also for this nation, that truth would be restored to its pillar (1 Timothy 3:15), that judgment would return to our land and restore justice (Isaiah 59:14). While we will not celebrate the death of this vile agent of hell, we will rejoice that judgment has returned and justice has prevailed.

I lament the evil that is in the world and all the iniquity that exposes us to it. He reminded me of the answer: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:2). The image bearer must become the cross bearer to follow the path of Jesus through this “present evil world” (Galatians 1:4). Selah!

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. We walked together into His harvest, goodness and mercy following!

Praying for revival! 🙏

PS: Not feeling well today. Pray our meeting will not be negatively affected. One saved this morning! 🙌🏼