The Sabbath Legacy of Charlie Kirk

He knew that the worship of God provided an opportunity to find refuge in the Lord of his life.

Charlie Kirk was the kind of Christian who lived the truth no matter what the cost. He pursued Christian ideals early in his public life, and like many, he grew in those virtues over time. By the end of his short life, it was evident that Christian principles shaped his habits and rhythms.

He was working on a book on the Sabbath before he died. He believed that the Sabbath was an act of resistance. He sought to disconnect himself and his family from the technological and sociological traps. Kirk wanted to use the day as a day of rest and contemplation, reading and walking. He practically observed sundown-to-sundown habits from Friday evening to Saturday evening. He was certainly influenced by his Jewish friends, but also found plenty of precedent among Protestants, such as New England Puritan Thomas Shepard.

When many have pondered ways to continue Charlie Kirk's legacy, my answer is quite simple: prepare for Sabbath. Among the greatest of those principles is the worship of the God of Charlie Kirk. He once noted that the return to Church is the "life raft in this tsunami of chaos and disorder."

To my knowledge, Kirk and his family made it a priority to attend worship in their local congregations, whether in Newbury, California, or Phoenix, Arizona, churches that shaped and equipped him.

I had the opportunity to hear Kirk's old pastor preach and meet members from his congregation some months ago. It was clear from their testimony that Charlie and his family weren't merely going with the flow; they intended to position themselves within the evangelical narrative of faithful worship. He was a good Protestant, dedicated to the Scriptures. He treasured the habits of grace that allowed him to proclaim his message more effectively. He knew that the worship of God provided an opportunity to find refuge in the Lord of his life.

The response of those of us who seek to follow in that evangelical train is to embrace that sabbath vision. In the midst of a wild journey of travel and public appearances, Charlie and Erika knew that worshiping God and fellowshipping with His people offered them sustainable strength.

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day!

Tomorrow, Charlie would join his local church with his family. He would never have used the demands of his week to excuse his absence from the house of the Lord. But tomorrow, those of us left in this present world should gather with God's people and rejoice with Charlie's new congregation among the company of heaven. He has entered into his eternal sabbath.

Come, let us worship!