Church!
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ.
Last week was a really hard one. The Charlie Kirk assassination was a tragedy, not because he was an eliminated conservative voice, but because he was a brother in Christ. So his death is not only a national wound; it is a call to us, as followers of Christ, to reflect deeply on what it means to remain faithful in times of turmoil. We talked about this some on Sunday, but more importantly, we focused our response on Jesus!
Paul reminds us that while persecution, violence, and uncertainty may surround us, we are called to stand firm in faith. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Even when leaders fall, even when division seems overwhelming.
We are not called to abandon our convictions, nor to respond with hatred or fear—but with courage, love, truth, and compassion. As Christians, we value truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) We are reminded that truth comes with a cost.
Faithfulness is not passive. It is active—lived out in:
Prayer | Unity among believers | Our witness | Speaking truth in love
Despite the darkness, we live in hope. Because God is not surprised. He sees, He cares, He acts. We believe that evil will not have the final word. Revelation 21:4 promises a time when God will wipe away every tear, when death will be no more, and pain and suffering will be done away with. Until that day, we are called to be faithful—holding fast, shining light in darkness, being salt and light in a world that needs both.
Therefore, I exhort you, do not let fear or anger harden your heart. Let compassion, truth, and peace shape your response. Do not be tempted to retreat into apathy or silence. Let us engage in love, in action—charity, justice, support for those harmed, prayer for the truth to be known. Let your faithfulness be seen—not in siding with one political party over another, but in embodying the gospel in all we say and do. Let us be faithful to Christ’s mandate: to love God and love our neighbors.
May the Lord grant you and me the grace to be faithful—not only when circumstances are easy, but especially when they are hard. May He strengthen our hearts, guard our words, guide our actions, and fill us with His peace, which surpasses all understanding.
Praying for and with you, friends!
Pastor Brent