Sojourner #074: Truth And Courage: What Charlie Kirk Showed The Next Generation

“Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13, ESV)

Truth and Courage: What Charlie Kirk Showed the Next Generation

If you’re an adult, you probably remember what it was like to be a teenager when questions about truth, purpose, and identity started pressing in. Now imagine facing those same questions in a world where social media, politics, and cultural voices are louder than ever and where biblical truth is not only dismissed but often ridiculed. That is the reality for today’s students and college aged young adults. And that’s why Charlie Kirk mattered so much to them, to all of us.

Psalm 119:9 asks, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word.” Students today need someone to remind them that purity, clarity, and conviction don’t come from opinions or feelings but from God’s Word. Charlie was one of the rare voices who stood up publicly and said what many were too afraid to say, that truth is real, it is not relative, and it finds its anchor in Jesus Christ. As Charlie once put it, “Truth is not subjective. It does not care about your feelings. Truth is a person, and that person is Jesus Christ.”

I know this mattered because I saw it myself. I watched a lot of Charlie’s videos over the years, and during the 2024 election night my wife and I watched his coverage together. It wasn’t just politics to us, it was seeing someone unashamed to speak boldly about truth, even when the world pushed back. That kind of courage left a mark on me and my family, and I’ve seen it leave a mark on my students too.

When young people watched Charlie, they saw an example of courage. He walked onto college campuses where nearly everyone disagreed with him, and he didn’t flinch. That mattered to the next generation, because it showed them that standing for the truth of Scripture is possible even when the crowd is against you. Jesus said in John 8:32, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Charlie embodied that verse by showing students that freedom is not found in blending in but in standing firm in Biblical truth.

For many young people, Charlie was also the first adult who told them their faith mattered now, not just later. Paul’s words in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example...", were words Charlie lived out. He told students, “You don’t have to wait until you’re older to make an impact. Stand for truth now, and watch how God uses your courage.” That inspired a generation that is often told their voice doesn’t count! 

I think about something Dr. Eric Reaves asked on Sunday: “Are these truths theological or political?” That’s the question many adults use to push young believers into silence. But the answer is clear. These are theological truths. They come from God’s Word, not from a party platform. When Charlie defended life, family, or moral clarity, he wasn’t making a political statement, he was declaring what God has already spoken. 

Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.” For the next generation, Charlie became one of those leaders. They may not have known him personally, but they knew his boldness, and it stirred something in them. His life reminded them that following Christ means courage, conviction, and refusing to bow to culture.

Charlie Kirk mattered to students because he stood where few adults are willing to stand. He gave them a model of faith in the public square, a reminder that Christ is Lord of all, and a challenge to live boldly for Him. That’s why his influence will not fade anytime soon and Christ will continue to move in the midst of this chaotic world.

A Personal Call to Repent and Believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ

If you have been moved by the truth that Charlie Kirk stood for, we urge you to consider the greater truth that God Himself has revealed in His Word. Scripture declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). By nature, we are dead in our trespasses, following the course of this world and deserving of God’s wrath (Ephesians 2:1–3).

But the good news is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). In love, the Father sent His only Son, who lived the sinless life we could never live (Hebrews 4:15), bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), and was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). God demonstrates His love for us in that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The gospel demands a response. Jesus proclaimed, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Repentance means turning from sin to God, and faith means trusting in Christ alone for salvation. This is not of our own doing, but “by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Christ calls you even now: “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). But those who reject Him remain under God’s judgment (John 3:36).

So do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:15). Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Turn from your sin, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).

Discussion Questions for Home Groups and Personal Application

1. Scripture commands us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). How can the church faithfully pass down sound doctrine to the next generation so that they are equipped to stand firm in Christ?

2. Where are you tempted to fear man rather than God (Prov. 29:25; Gal. 1:10)? How does the gospel give you both the assurance and courage to stand on God’s Word even when it costs you?

3. Jesus promised that His followers would be hated by the world because they are not of the world (John 15:18–19). What does it look like for us to embrace this reality with joy, and how can we encourage one another to walk boldly in holiness and truth together as the body of Christ?

About the Author

Luke Jenkins is the Student Minister and an Elder at Harvestfield Church in Rainbow City, Alabama. He is passionate about discipling the next generation to live out the truth of Scripture in every area of life. Luke’s heart is to equip students to stand firm in their faith, whether at school, on the sports field, or in their homes.

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