Vigil for Peace Honoring Charlie Kirk by Pastor Jim Buckman
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I pray you and yours are well.
The Greek word for which we most often translate as “witness”; like in Matthew 10:18, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved”; this Greek word is:
MAPTYPION; it is pronounced “marturion”. It is where we get the English word “martyr”.
For Jesus, to be a witness to Him, meant that you needed to be prepared to be martyred. Charlie Kirk was always prepared to give his life for the cause of Christ. He always knew he could be martyred. He did 250 campus events every year and more often than not, multiple people made death threats against him. We should not be in a rush to leave this world; God has things for us to do here; but we should absolutely know that if we leave this place for our Heavenly home, being true to our faith; then we left on the best of terms.
Be peaceful towards those who are angry & vile; lift them up in your prayers. May the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ.
Your friend in Christ,
Pastor Jim