A Missed Opportunity
By: Zach Collins
It was the missed opportunity of a lifetime. The scope and scale of its influence was incomparable to almost any event in the history of our nation, made almost of biblical proportions. The event was attended by over 90,000 individuals and was viewed by, at least, twenty million viewers online via streaming and cable avenues. There were, literally, millions of eyes glued to the screen, of all races and nationalities, across the globe. Considering events in recent history, countless hearts were seeking something greater than the pain and persecution of this world. They looked to the men and women who came before them to provide hope in a world that seems to be growing increasingly hopeless. A religious leader stepped to the podium, perhaps with sincere intentions, and provided his opinion and not God’s solution to the greatest problem facing our world and our nation, sin.
He said, “If there is anyone in this room, or across the globe, that would desire to receive Jesus as their Savior, as Charlie did as a young man, who is now in the presence of His Savior, I want to ask you to put action to your faith and stand, right now, to receive the Lord.” – Rob McCoy at Charlie Kirk’s Memorial
His name is Mr. Rob McCoy, and he was the “Pastor” and spiritual mentor of Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was recently assassinated. Unless you have been hiding under a rock the last couple of weeks, you know that Mr. Kirk was murdered, allegedly, by a lone assassin who hated him for his ultra-conservative values. At this memorial service, the name of Jesus was certainly invoked often, as friends and family alike told of Mr. Kirk’s love for Jesus and his strong Christian convictions. They implored those who attended this event to remember the legacy of Mr. Kirk and employ more citizens to build a larger movement across the world, attaching this movement to the name of Jesus. I ask, in sincerity, who was glorified and magnified in this mockery of God’s plan of salvation? Jesus, Mr. McCoy, or Mr. Kirk?
Let me be clear: I do not believe that Mr. McCoy misrepresented Charlie Kirk and his beliefs. But I do believe that, in this monumental moment, he misrepresented the authority and sovereignty of Jesus in matters of salvation. To “receive and accept Jesus as your personal Savior” is a spiritually dead teaching which finds no precedent or authority in the Bible. To invoke the name of Jesus and then proceed to contradict the very teachings of Jesus on matters of salvation is a travesty and, ultimately, hurts and does not help the cause of Christ in saving mankind.
For a moment, let me intrigue your imagination. If Jesus attended this event and He spoke before this multitude, what message would Jesus have shared? I suppose that’s an impossible hypothetical, but the Bible does tell me what Jesus told countless multitudes who were seeking the same commodity, on the same journey, the hope of salvation from a hopeless world.
Jesus once taught the rulers and religious leaders of His day the power of His words (John 12:48). He knew that some “rulers” of His day believed in Him, but would not be open about their faith, because “they loved the praises of men more than the praise of God” (v. 43). Does that sound familiar today? One day, when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ (c.f., 2 Corinthians 5:10), we will be judged by the words of Jesus and His apostles. The more I hear the words of Jesus and His apostles, more faith comes to my heart (c.f., Romans 10:17). The power of His word provides light in a world of darkness (c.f., John 8:12), truth in a world of lies (c.f., John 14:6), and reason of forgiveness in a world that continues, unreasonably, in sin (c.f., Luke 5:22-24). His words have been spoken, and His standard is expected to be met. We must be prepared to answer the question that Jesus asked, in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord’, and do not do what I say?”, by obeying the power of His words. Our religious leaders and rulers, today, need a heavy dose of the words of Jesus in their policies and platforms.
Jesus once taught a multitude of His auditors and detractors the potency of belief (c.f., John 8:24). I would imagine that, not only did Mr. Kirk’s strongest supporters watch his memorial, but some of his staunchest critics, as well. Jesus spent most of His earthly ministry rebuking and correcting His strongest detractors. They audited His words and attempted to trip Him up in His teachings. But Jesus told His auditors that He was going away; they would seek Him, but they “could not come where He was going.” They would die “in their sin.” Notice that “sin” in singular and is, further, defined by the context of the passage. The “sin” Jesus spoke of was the “sin” of rejecting Him. Then, He provided them with the warning of all warnings, “…for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Belief is a double-edged sword, either we can believe the truth and live, or we can reject the truth for a lie and die. Belief in the “I AM” can be the potent formula to provide a turning point in my life. Belief that springs forth from love gives birth to obedience to His words, providing the first steps of a life lived in His footsteps (c.f., John 14:15). The greatest gift we can give to our friends and enemies, alike, is the example of our faith.
Jesus once taught a religious multitude, reeling from an act of persecution, the paramount action of repentance (Luke 13:3). An unsettling report came concerning Pilate, who was a governmental official of the day, that he had persecuted Jews who had come to offer sacrifices (v. 1-2). It was a bloody deed that created a rift between other politicians, as well. This multitude was reeling from the plight of persecution when they had the opportunity to speak with Jesus. Repentance seems to be a subject that was out of touch with what these people had experienced, yet it was needed in their life. Were the sins of the politicians of greater evil than the sins of the people? No. So, Jesus reminds them, on two occasions, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish”, (Luke 13:3-5). In a world where religious error runs rampant and unchecked, repentance with a godly sorrow is a non-negotiable for the hearts of politicians, people, and a nation that desires to return to God.
Jesus once taught the purpose and prerequisite of baptism for entrance into a greater kingdom to a man of great power, Nicodemus (John 3:5). Did you know? The most powerful man in the world attended this recent event, the President of the United States. What an opportunity! But I regret to inform you, there was no mention of the new birth. I remember when Jesus spoke with Nicodemus, a “ruler of the Jews”, under the cover of night. Jesus taught Nicodemus that, just as one experienced a physical birth, there is also a spiritual birth, baptism. And, when Nicodemus came to Jesus under the cover of night, he sought the answer to the most important question that has ever been asked, “What must I do to be saved?” (v. 1-2). How can we mirror the teachings of our Savior if we eliminate a core component of salvation that must be completed for “entrance into the kingdom of God?” Nicodemus’ faith grew in the passing of time (c.f., John 7:46; John 19:38), but it was because He received the simple instructions of a loving Savior. The simplest, yet most controversial command of Jesus was, unfortunately, absent on this night. It was not absent, however, on the day that Peter was gifted an opportunity of similar proportions to tell countless Jews how God desires us to respond to our sins and be cleansed (c.f., Acts 2:38).
I know that some, in our world, use the gospel to achieve their own end and promote their platform as the gospel. It is my prayer that we would never commit such an atrocity. Jesus is not a part of our platform, He is our platform since we died to self to live for Him (c.f., Galatians 2:20). If we are going to guide the lost to the cross, we cannot lead them in the vain direction of sensationalist Christianity, founded purely on emotion and the wisdom of men. It must be rooted and grounded in truth (c.f., Ephesians 3:17), being made manifest through God’s chosen avenue to make known His own manifold wisdom, the church (c.f., Ephesians 3:10). Jesus is the truth-teller, and it is His truth, and His truth alone, that can set me free from the burden of my sin (c.f., John 8:32).
The tragic loss of innocent life is never acceptable and should always be condemned in every corner of culture. It is a tragedy that Mr. Kirk lost his life for expressing the fundamental rights upon which the nation of his citizenship was founded, religious liberty and free speech. Please do not misunderstand my motives. I am not saying that there were no good things that happened at this event, as it was a sincere and loving tribute to a man who was loved by many. I am only drawing attention toward an opportunity that was sorely missed by those who professed their love for Jesus but failed to imitate His words. There will be countless other opportunities, of smaller scale, where we can stand up for Jesus, firmly, on the foundation of His words and not our own. When those opportunities arise, I pray we have the courage and conviction to do what is right in the face of worldly opposition, and even religious opposition, to turn the tide in our nation and help others see what they must do to be made whole again.
