Freedom Is Not Free: The Assassination of Charles Kirk, Global Voices on Liberty, and the Christian Call to Defend It (Danny Bawibikthawng)

 Freedom Is Not Free: The Assassination of Charles Kirk, Global Voices on Liberty, and the Christian Call to Defend It

(Danny Bawibikthawng)

Introduction

On September 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Orem, Utah, during a campus event.[1] His sudden death shocked the nation and was condemned across political lines as an attack not only on one individual but on the freedoms of speech and conscience that sustain democracy. The tragedy reminds us that freedom is fragile. As Christians, we affirm that liberty is ultimately a gift of God, yet it is never free. It requires vigilance, sacrifice, and faithful stewardship.

The Scriptures present freedom as God’s deliverance, history warns that liberty is always in danger, and world leaders and theologians testify that freedom must be defended and rightly used. This essay will examine the biblical foundations of liberty, the insights of the American founders, and global perspectives from figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Aung San Suu Kyi, John Stott, and C. S. Song. Together, these voices affirm that freedom is not only a political concern but a theological and moral responsibility.

Biblical Foundations of Freedom

The Bible presents freedom not as license but as deliverance in order to serve God. The Exodus story provides the first paradigm. God commanded Pharaoh, “Let my people go, that they may serve me” (Exod. 8:1, ESV). Israel was freed from slavery not for self-indulgence but for covenant obedience. Freedom was inseparable from worship and holiness.

The New Testament expands this theme. Paul declared, “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1, ESV). He quickly clarified: “Do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal. 5:13, ESV). Freedom in Christ liberates believers from sin so that they may serve God and love others.

Jesus testified to the source of true liberty: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36, ESV). This is freedom that transcends political liberty yet provides its moral foundation. Peter exhorted Christians to “live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Pet. 2:16, ESV). Christian freedom is not freedom from responsibility but freedom for righteousness.

John Stott summarized this biblical principle: “True freedom is not the freedom to do what we like, but the freedom to do what we ought.”[2] For believers, freedom is never simply a personal possession. It is always directed toward love, holiness, and service.

The Fragility of Liberty in History

The American founders repeatedly warned that liberty is fragile. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”[3] Liberty, he insisted, was grounded in divine authority, not merely human will.

John Adams declared in 1798: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”[4]Adams recognized that liberty cannot survive without virtue.

George Washington, in his Farewell Address of 1796, called religion and morality “indispensable supports” to political prosperity.[5] He warned that freedom detached from moral principle would collapse into corruption.

James Madison added another warning in The Federalist No. 63: “Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as by the abuses of power.”[6] Freedom can be destroyed by tyrants, but it can also be destroyed when citizens misuse it.

History illustrates these warnings. The French Revolution began in 1789 with calls for liberty, equality, and fraternity, but it quickly devolved into the Reign of Terror (1793–1794), where thousands were executed under suspicion of disloyalty. Liberty without virtue produced chaos, proving the founders’ fears correct.

The Irish statesman John Philpot Curran summarized the principle: “The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance.”[7] Liberty must be guarded, renewed, and defended by every generation.

Freedom Under Threat: Martyrdom, Persecution, and Assassination

Freedom often provokes violent opposition. The prophet Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned for speaking God’s word (Jer. 20:2, ESV). The apostles were jailed for proclaiming Christ (Acts 5:18, ESV). Jesus warned His disciples: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20, ESV). Persecution is not an exception in the biblical story but a repeated pattern.

Church history confirms this reality. Early Christians in Rome were executed for refusing to worship Caesar. In the modern era, Mahatma Gandhi in India (assassinated 1948) and Martin Luther King Jr. in the United States (assassinated 1968) were killed because they defended freedom and justice through nonviolent means.

King wrote from a Birmingham jail: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”[8] His words capture the moral truth that the violation of one person’s liberty undermines freedom for all.

Aung San Suu Kyi, imprisoned for years under Burma’s military regime, declared: “The only real prison is fear, and the only real freedom is freedom from fear.”[9] Her insight echoes Paul’s affirmation that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Tim. 1:7, ESV). Fear enslaves; courage liberates.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk stands in this tragic line. Like the deaths of prophets, apostles, and reformers before him, his murder demonstrates that liberty is always under threat. The Christian response is not retreat but renewed courage. As Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV).

Global Voices on Liberty

The defense of freedom is a universal human concern. Leaders across cultures have testified to its meaning and cost.

Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for twenty-seven years under apartheid, wrote: “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”[10] His insight parallels Paul’s teaching that Christian freedom is fulfilled in love for neighbor (Gal. 5:13, ESV).

Winston Churchill, who led Britain through World War II, affirmed: “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.”[11] Churchill’s leadership showed that freedom cannot be separated from moral virtues.

Ronald Reagan warned: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same.”[12] His words highlight the responsibility of every generation to defend liberty.

Vaclav Havel, the Czech dissident who became president, wrote: “The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart.”[13] Freedom cannot survive without moral integrity.

C. S. Song, a Taiwanese theologian, emphasized that God is revealed in the struggles of the oppressed: “Theology must be born in the cries of the people and tell the stories of their suffering and hope.”[14] Song reminds us that freedom is not abstract but lived in history.

John Stott insisted that Christians must live out their faith in society: “We are sent into the world, like Jesus, to serve.”[15] For Stott, liberty is both a privilege and a responsibility for mission.

Together, these voices testify that freedom is fragile, costly, and moral. Mandela highlights its communal nature, Churchill its virtues, Reagan its generational duty, Havel its moral roots, Song its theological depth, and Stott its Christian responsibility.

Courage, Hatred, and Forgiveness in a Time of Tragedy

One of the most remarkable and overlooked elements of this tragedy was the courage of the assassin’s father, who restrained his own son before the authorities arrived. Reports confirm that it was the father’s decisive action that prevented further violence.[16] In a moment when emotions could have fueled denial or complicity, he chose the harder path of truth and responsibility. His courage reveals the kind of moral backbone that societies desperately need in fathers and leaders. It took extraordinary strength to act against his own son for the sake of justice and the protection of others.

By contrast, the reactions of some radical voices in the aftermath of Kirk’s death were shameful. Instead of mourning with the grieving or condemning violence, they mocked the tragedy and spread hatred. Such reactions dishonor not only the victim but also the very fabric of a civilized society. Charlie Kirk was a father, a husband, and a man whose two toddlers and young wife now live with a void that cannot be filled. To ridicule such pain is to abandon the basic standards of human decency.

Yet the Christian response in such moments is not hatred but forgiveness. As difficult as it may seem, forgiveness is the mark of strength. Mahatma Gandhi once observed, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”[17] This virtue is not mere sentimentality but reflects the depth of Christian theology. Miroslav Volf, in his work Exclusion and Embrace, argues that forgiveness is not the erasure of justice but the refusal to let enmity have the last word.[18] Similarly, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who chaired South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, insisted that “without forgiveness there is no future.”[19] Forgiveness, then, is not weakness. It is a courageous act that resists the cycle of violence and opens the possibility of reconciliation.

Around the globe, pastors and congregations have been praying not only for Kirk’s family but also for the young man who killed him and for the family now facing their own anguish. This paradox of Christian forgiveness transforms tragedy into testimony. God’s purposes are never thwarted. The gospel of Christ often advances most powerfully through suffering and sacrifice. As Paul declared, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28, ESV). God, in His mysterious sovereignty, has allowed Kirk’s life to end in this way so that the message of Christ might reach the unreached. Tragedy can become the seed of revival, and hatred can be overcome by the witness of forgiveness. In this way, what the enemy intends for evil, God turns into good, so that thousands may be drawn to the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

The assassination of Charlie Kirk reminds us that freedom is never guaranteed. It is God’s gift, but it is costly. It cost Christ His life to free us from sin, it cost martyrs their blood to preserve the witness of the church, and it costs societies constant vigilance to protect civil liberty.

The Scriptures teach that true freedom is found in Christ and is exercised in love and service. The American founders warned that liberty must be guarded with virtue. History shows that freedom is fragile, often threatened by fear, violence, and corruption. Global leaders remind us that freedom requires responsibility, moral courage, and sacrifice.

This tragedy also confronts us with the paradox of Christian forgiveness. While radical voices responded with hatred and mockery, the church is called to embody the costly grace of Christ. As Miroslav Volf argues, forgiveness refuses to allow enmity to define the future, and as Desmond Tutu insisted, without forgiveness there can be no lasting peace. Such forgiveness is not weakness but strength, the kind of strength that transforms suffering into testimony.

For Christians, the call is clear. We must defend freedom not only with words but with lives shaped by faith, service, and reconciliation. Each day is a fleeting gift, an opportunity to live with purpose, to make every moment count for God’s glory, and to defend the liberty that allows the gospel to be heard. Even in tragedy, God is at work, turning evil into good so that the gospel of Christ may reach those who have not yet heard. In this way, Kirk’s death becomes not only a reminder of freedom’s cost but also a witness to the redeeming power of God’s sovereign plan.

 

 

Bibliography

 

Adams, John. The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States. Edited by 

Charles Francis Adams. Boston: Little, Brown, 1854.

 

Associated Press. “Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at Utah Valley University; Suspect in 

Custody.” Associated Press, September 11, 2025.

 

Churchill, Winston S. Never Give In! The Best of Winston Churchill’s Speeches. Edited by 

Winston S. Churchill. New York: Hyperion, 2003.

 

Curran, John Philpot. Speeches of the Right Honourable John Philpot Curran. Dublin: 1808.

Havel, Vaclav. The Power of the Powerless. Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1985.

 

Gandhi, Mahatma. All Men Are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections. New York: 

Continuum, 1990.

 

Jefferson, Thomas. Notes on the State of Virginia. Philadelphia: Prichard and Hall, 1787.

 

King, Martin Luther, Jr. A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings of Martin Luther King, 

Jr. Edited by James M. Washington. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1986.

 

Mandela, Nelson. Long Walk to Freedom. Boston: Little, Brown, 1994.

 

Madison, James. The Federalist Papers. New York: J. & A. McLean, 1788.

 

Reagan, Ronald. Inaugural Address as Governor of California, January 5, 1967. Ronald 

Reagan Presidential Library Archives.

 

Reuters. “Father Restrains Son After Shooting of Charlie Kirk.” Reuters, September 11, 

2025.

 

Song, C. S. Theology from the Womb of Asia. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1986.

 

Stott, John. Issues Facing Christians Today. 3rd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.

 

Suu Kyi, Aung San. Freedom from Fear and Other Writings. London: Penguin, 1991.

Tutu, Desmond. No Future Without Forgiveness. New York: Doubleday, 1999.

 

Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and 

Reconciliation. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996.

 

Washington, George. A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents. Edited by 

James D. Richardson. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1896.

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[1] “Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at Utah Valley University; Suspect in Custody,” Associated Press, September 11, 2025.

 

[2] John Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 29.

[3] Thomas Jefferson, Notes on the State of Virginia (Philadelphia: Prichard and Hall, 1787), Query XVIII.

[4] John Adams, Address to the Massachusetts Militia, October 11, 1798, in The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States, ed. Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown, 1854), 228.

[5] George Washington, Farewell Address, September 19, 1796, in A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents, ed. James D. Richardson (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1896), 205–17.

[6] James Madison, The Federalist No. 63, in The Federalist Papers (New York: J. & A. McLean, 1788), 422.

[7] John Philpot Curran, Speech on the Right of Election of Lord Mayor of Dublin, July 10, 1790, in Speeches of the Right Honourable John Philpot Curran (Dublin: 1808), 105.

[8] Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963, in A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr., ed. James M. Washington (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1986), 290.

[9] Aung San Suu Kyi, Freedom from Fear and Other Writings (London: Penguin, 1991), 168.

 

[10] Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (Boston: Little, Brown, 1994), 624.

[11] Winston S. Churchill, Never Give In! The Best of Winston Churchill’s Speeches, ed. Winston S. Churchill (New York: Hyperion, 2003), 307.

[12] Ronald Reagan, Inaugural Address as Governor of California, January 5, 1967, Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Archives.

[13] Vaclav Havel, The Power of the Powerless (Armonk, NY: M. E. Sharpe, 1985), 56.

[14] C. S. Song, Theology from the Womb of Asia (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1986), 42.

[15] John Stott, Issues Facing Christians Today, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 29.

 

[16] “Father Restrains Son After Shooting of Charlie Kirk,” Reuters, September 11, 2025.

 

[17] Mahatma Gandhi, All Men Are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections (New York: Continuum, 1990), 86.

 

[18] Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), 123.

[19] Desmond Tutu, No Future Without Forgiveness (New York: Doubleday, 1999), 219.