On September 10, 2025, the world lost a giant for the Christian faith. Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was met with an assassin’s bullet on the campus of Utah Valley University. Following his passing, people immediately recognized Charlie’s impact on the nation, particularly on Gen Z men like me. Across the United States, Christians and conservatives spoke highly about the influence Charlie had. His martyrdom inspired them to take their Christian faith more seriously. It also motivated them to stand up for free speech and open debate in the country.

Charlie Kirk was not only a prominent political figure, but he also lived as a faithful evangelical Christian. He used every debate, every speech, and every podcast episode as an opportunity to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He exemplified what it meant to apply faith to politics and change the nation for the better. As his pastor, Rob McCoy, said during his memorial service, “Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus. He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you’d come to its source. And that’s the Lord.”

Southern Baptists should learn from Charlie Kirk’s example as we tackle problems both within our own Convention and out in the public square. Unfortunately, the prior decades have brought a slow capitulation to the culture and the spirit of the age. Spiritual giants like Jerry Falwell and Adrian Rogers once led the Southern Baptist Convention. They stood ready and able to speak truth to the culture and stand on God’s word. Now, internal debates over fundamental truths, such as male-only pastors, threaten to tear the Convention apart. Many Southern Baptists feel disaffected by the direction the SBC is going and desire to fight for change. 

For these and others, we can learn how to move forward and drive real change in the SBC from the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk, specifically his boldness, civility, and moral clarity. 

Lesson 1: Boldness—Speaking Truth Without Fear

Charlie gained recognition from his campus tours. He would visit college campuses and sit in open debate with students, many of whom vehemently disagreed with his stances. Kirk withstood the slanderous cries of those who called him a racist, a sexist, a bigot, and a fascist. He stayed firm in his convictions. He held fast to the truth of God’s word. 

Boldness is a virtue of righteousness. Proverbs 28:1 describes the righteous as “bold as a lion.” God commands Joshua – and in turn, those who follow his example – to “be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Charlie Kirk excelled in being righteously bold, walking in the path laid before him and standing strong with his Lord by his side. 

In the same way, we Southern Baptists should boldly witness to the world. Recently, a spirit of fear has gripped the SBC, rather than one of boldness. For example, consider the debates on the Law Amendment. A prominent Southern Baptist leader told a messenger that an amendment to prohibit women from holding the title of pastor would open the Convention up to legal risks. Such an excuse stems not from a fear of the Lord but from a fear of man. This is not the call of a Christian. When man challenges us, we must say as Peter did: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

In the face of opposition from the world, we must stand boldly for Christ. We must stand on the promises of Scripture and honor God in everything that we do. Charlie Kirk exemplified this well, but he also exemplified another virtue. Boldness without compassion can lead to ugly strife, but Charlie exemplified how to be bold with a spirit of civility. 

Lesson 2: Civility—Engaging in Conflict with Grace and Respect

Charlie Kirk stood firm for his convictions. Yet he embodied a spirit of civility and a willingness to have a conversation. Kirk debated on college campuses with openness. He invited those who disagreed with him to come to the front of the question line. He would not interrupt his opponents and would encourage the crowds to allow them the opportunity to speak. He kept the conversation grounded in facts and truth, and when met with insults, he would only show grace. Even when discussing controversial issues like race, sex, and morality, he consistently spoke the truth in a loving manner.

He didn’t shy away from conflict and confrontation, unlike many Baptists. But he also made sure to be respectful even as he rebuked the idols of our day and told people, flat out, that they were wrong.

Southern Baptists have generally engaged well in civil dialogue, perhaps even too well, erring on the side of avoiding hard but necessary debates. But it is always good to have a reminder for inspiration. The Bible encourages believers to speak truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are also called to be peaceful people, with Paul writing in Romans 12:17-18, “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.” This does not mean we avoid contentious issues. Financial transparency, the Law Amendment debate, and the fights over the ERLC are all issues on which we must stand firm. We must push for improvements to our convention, doing so in a way that exemplifies the civil nature of the Christian. This is not the “winsome witness” that justifies total surrender, but rather it is the delivery of truth in a Christlike manner. 

Civility is a vital virtue, but without bold truth, it risks becoming the “winsome” weakness many leaders display. Charlie Kirk understood that civility without conviction is hollow. So we also need fortitude and clarity in our message. 

Lesson 3: Moral Clarity—Unwavering Commitment to Biblical Principles

Charlie Kirk exemplified moral clarity in his debates and speeches. He had a firm sense of right and wrong, rooted deeply in his Christian faith and convictions. He never wavered on basic truths, affirming that a man cannot become a woman, that marriage is a sacred union before God, and that life in the womb is precious and deserving of protection. When his own party dropped abortion limits from its platform, he stood firm on his convictions despite recognizing it was an unpopular stance to hold. On marriage and family, Kirk viewed them as sacred callings rooted in God’s design. He emphasized that “marriage isn’t just a milestone, it’s a calling,” reflecting a covenant relationship between one man and one woman, as outlined in Scripture. He spoke clearly on the biological reality that a man is a man, and a woman is a woman, defying the popular notion that gender can change on a whim. 

In a secular society where truth is relative, Southern Baptists must hold fast and speak with the same moral clarity. Unfortunately, leaders across the Convention have failed on this front. In 2020, Southern Baptist pastors let Critical Race Theory infect their congregations, preaching the gospel of systemic racism, white privilege, and inherent racism. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the policy arm of the SBC, stayed “too busy with the woke stuff” to engage in battles over biblical sexuality in the public square. Instead, the ERLC supported gun control measures and signed onto a bill offering immigration amnesty. 

This is not moral clarity; this is cowardice. Southern Baptists must stand ready to speak the truth of God’s word with clarity. We must raise our voices on issues that are central to our faith and have a profound impact on the lives of our neighbors. When the culture calls good evil and evil good, we must stand ready to offer a correction based on God’s holy word. Some may argue that taking firm stances on unpopular viewpoints will harm our Christian witness, but this doesn’t matter, nor is it true. We should expect pushback and hatred from a sinful world that killed the only sinless man, Christ. Additionally, the example of Charlie Kirk’s life shows that bold moral clarity draws people in and furthers the gospel witness. 

In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death, people flooded social media with thousands of stories of people who either had never gone to church or had not been in years, deciding they would start. Kirk’s witness and moral clarity attracted people. They wanted to know what it was that gave him his drive, conviction, and purpose. It was his faith, and that was plain for all to see. 

It’s Time to be the Turning Point

The Southern Baptist Convention is due for a turning point. To achieve that, Southern Baptists can and must learn from Charlie Kirk’s example. We must be bold for our faith and our convictions. We must not waver from the truth of the Word of God. We must speak with civility and moral clarity to a culture rattled by confusion, hostility, and despair. We must do so in our personal lives, and we must expect Southern Baptist leaders to do the same. 

We are in a culture war, and we will not achieve victory by sitting on the sidelines, staying silent, and trying to be winsome. We must be bold. We must be courageous. We must be the turning point for our Convention and for our nation.