No doubt that by now you have learned the horrific news that Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA and one of the brightest and best leaders, thinkers, and shapers of culture in our world today was senselessly assassinated on September 10th, 2025 at the age of 31. He left behind a beautiful wife, two young children, and millions of mourning Americans who were inspired by his brilliant light.

I remember when I first began hearing about Charlie Kirk a few years ago. He was a political and cultural wunderkind who had captured the attention and allegiance of a generation, particularly, the young men. In fact, I remember my son asking me if I had heard of Charlie Kirk, as he had become the point of great discussion and admiration between him and his peers. It's not often that a typical 16 year old boy is engaging in deep reflection on cultural, political and spiritual issues, but Charlie was able to spark a unique fire in the hearts of many young men across our nation.

There are some men whose lives are marked not by safety, but by danger. Not the danger of violence or recklessness, but the danger of conviction—the willingness to speak truth when the world would rather silence it. Charlie Kirk was such a man.

Charlie’s life was defined by a strong faith in Christ and an uncompromising commitment to Biblical values. Like the prophet Stephen, the first martyr of the church, Charlie stood before hostile crowds and proclaimed the truth of God’s Word, knowing full well that it could cost him dearly. Like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he recognized that righteousness and justice are never popular when they confront cultural idols—but he believed they were worth proclaiming anyway.

I remember back in 2021, I noticed that many of my daughters perspectives and views had begun swaying back towards Biblical truth after watching her slowly moving towards the woke ideologies that have captured many of our young people over the past decade. I asked her one night over dinner, "It seems that your views have really changed over the past few months, what would you say the reason for that is?" She answered, "I started reading the Bible every day, and the more I read the Bible, the more I realized that my views are not in alignment with God's truth." Then she said something even more stunning. She said, "I think my whole generation is being brainwashed, and I am just starting to realize it." I agreed with her that night. I also believe that this was the great legacy of Charlie Kirk... exposing the brainwashing of our young people on the college campus and waking them up to the truth of God's Word.

Charlie carried a dangerous message. He was dangerous because he dared to say that sin is still sin, that truth is not relative, that God’s design for marriage, family, and leadership is not up for negotiation. In a culture that has adopted wickedness and wokeness as its own oppositional religion, Charlie’s voice pierced through the noise like a prophet’s cry in the wilderness. He reminded us that the Gospel is not about fitting in but about faithfully following Christ, even when the world hates us for it.

But perhaps even more dangerous than his message is his legacy. Those who wish to honor Charlie Kirk cannot do so with passive admiration or polite remembrance. His legacy demands action. It requires men to rise up—to be bold, intentional, and unapologetic in their faith. It calls husbands to love their wives sacrificially, fathers to disciple their children diligently, and leaders to shepherd their communities with integrity and courage.

At IMPACT Players, our mission is to inspire men to thrive in the relationships that matter most. Charlie’s life reminds us that thriving is not about comfort or convenience—it is about faithfulness. If we are to carry his torch, we must live dangerously in the same way he did: standing for righteousness in a wicked land, guarding our homes from the lies of culture, and leading with courage in every sphere of influence God has entrusted to us.

The dangerous legacy of Charlie Kirk is this: if you would follow Christ boldly, the world will not applaud you—it may despise you. Charlie is not the first martyr of the faith, and he will not be the last. Yet martyrs have a way of inspiring bold faith in the lives of those who want their lives to make an eternal impact. The lukewarm, apathetic, and passive men of our times will always crave comfort and safety, but only a man of God who burns hot and bright for Christ will be able to leave a lasting legacy like Charlie.

"Erika Kirk & Charlie Kirk" by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY 4.0.