When Evil Strikes: Charlie Kirk, Christian Grief, and the Path of Wisdom

Published September 11, 2025

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” — Proverbs 29:11 

Proverbs draws a sharp contrast between the way of folly and the way of wisdom. A fool vents his emotions without restraint, while the wise bring passions under the fear of the Lord. This truth presses on us in many moments, even moments of cultural crisis, when anger and grief tempt us toward rage or despair. 

The assassination of Charlie Kirk has brought such a moment. Murder is always evil—the unlawful taking of life in defiance of God’s command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). But assassination bears an added weight. It is not only the murder of a man, but the deliberate targeting of a public figure, in a public place, in order to silence his voice and intimidate those who agree with him. 

This act leaves many grieving. A life has been cut short. A family has lost a husband and father. Many in our nation have lost a voice. As he had professed faith in Christ, this is a brother in the Lord who has been killed. It is right to mourn such a loss. Scripture tells us to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Our anger at evil must not silence our tears, for God Himself draws near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18). 

Shamefully, some have rejoiced in the event itself and his death, which is a grave evil. Scripture warns us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles” (Proverbs 24:17). To delight in violence is to prove how darkened the human heart can become when untethered from God’s truth. Such rejoicing shows why we cannot rest content with mere restraint; we need new hearts, made alive in Christ, if we are to respond to evil with wisdom and hope. 

Others urge restraint. Yet Scripture calls us to something higher than restraint: to wisdom, to godly action under Christ. Restraint may keep passions in check for a time, but without Christ it cannot hold. Only wisdom that comes from Him can turn our passions into something constructive and enduring. 

I have also heard some online voices giving vent to their outrage, some even calling for violence.  

The Vented Spirit 

The vented spirit is the path of folly. It unleashes emotions unchecked—anger, fear, frustration, or despair—and allows them to govern our response. Venting feels good, even righteous. But James reminds us: “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). 

But history shows the high cost. Outbursts of passion may begin with calls for justice but often end in ruin. Revolutions fueled by outrage have birthed tyranny. Movements seeking liberation have descended into bloodshed. The vented spirit cannot build; it can only destroy. 

This destruction shows up in broad movements but also in individual lives, families and churches - wherever the spirit of man is given freedom to vent its evil. This is what leads to murder and assassination.

The Disciplined Spirit 

The alternative is the disciplined spirit. “A wise man quietly holds it back” (Proverbs 29:11). This is not mere repression but the deliberate act of submitting our emotions to God. 

  • Anger, under Christ, can be harnessed to protect the innocent, confront sin truthfully, and uphold righteousness without slipping into vengeance. 
  • Frustration can become endurance—pressing on in prayer, staying faithful in worship, and persevering in service when results are slow.
  • Grief can deepen our longing for Christ’s kingdom and soften our hearts to care for others who suffer.
  • Fear can drive us to cling to God’s promises, emboldening us to speak truth, stay steady in trials, and trust His providence when the future feels uncertain.  

    • This is the Spirit-led life, marked by the fruit Paul names in Galatians 5:22–23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the virtues that sustain families, churches, and even nations. Without them, order collapses. 

    Beyond Restraint 

    And while we know that restraint has its place, we know that God calls His people to more than holding back. He calls us to act in wisdom. Restraint alone eventually cracks under pressure. We need to build, and the way to do that is wisdom grounded in faith rooted in Jesus Christ. 

    This is why our hope cannot rest in mere willpower or cultural appeals to order. Our hope rests in Jesus Christ. “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). He alone has conquered sin and death. He alone promises justice beyond this life. He alone can give a hope strong enough to resist despair. 

    The Narrow Way 

    Jesus said, “The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life” (Matthew 7:14). The way of venting is wide and easy, demanding nothing but surrender to passion. The disciplined way is narrow. It means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him (Mark 8:34). It is the harder path, but it leads to life. 

    Our Calling 

    So what is our calling in this life, in the shadow of gross evil and events that wound and anger us? We certainly should not rejoice in any evil. We must also not give vent to our spirits and multiply folly. Nor should we merely restrain ourselves until passions cool. Our calling is to act with wisdom under Christ. 

  • To channel anger into standing firm and speaking truth without vengeance. 
  • To bear frustration with steadfast faith, returning again and again to prayer and the means of grace when progress seems slow.
  • To let grief deepen our compassion toward the suffering and fix our eyes more firmly on Christ’s coming kingdom.
  • To turn fear into prayer, courage, and trust in God’s providence, remembering that nothing can separate us from His love.
  • To pray for our nation and to speak clearly so that the hope of the gospel shines through the darkness.  

    • We cannot allow evil to draw us into folly. To do so would be to let one act of evil multiply into many. Instead, we must show that wisdom is possible—that the disciplined spirit can still build, and that Christ’s people will not be ruled by rage but by hope. 

    The choice is plain: the vented spirit that destroys, or the disciplined spirit that builds. By faith in the risen Lord, let us reject folly and live as those who display the hope of Christ before a watching world.