We already have a Champion

We don’t need another one

October 2025

 Without realizing it, Christians seem to have been looking for, or needing, a champion. We are facing chaos, attack, being made fun of, being called numerous vile and slanderous names, and we may be facing the end of times. The rest of the world is also in turmoil, and everything has been turned upside down. Good is bad and bad is good. The commands of Jesus have been so watered down that if He were not God, He would not even recognize His own teachings. Were we unconsciously looking for someone or something to put our focus on, to give us purpose, or to stir our emotions? A champion?

We have a champion, He is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. The One who gives us purpose, meaning, undeserved grace, peace that is beyond understanding, and a future life that we could never comprehend or obtain by ourselves. Until September 10th, there was a strong voice for the voiceless and a defender of truth, Charlie Kirk.  He lived as he died, his way. He challenged whatever fear he had and stepped out in faith, speaking the truth to anyone who would listen. In his arena, he had no equal; no one from the other side could stand up to the truth. Therefore, he had to be silenced. 

After his death, people made comments such as, “What would Charlie do?” “Charlie would or would not have done this or that,” which was inappropriate. It was improper because no one can speak for another person or know exactly what they would do in a given situation.  Most importantly, regarding religious matters, the only person we should refer to, seek guidance from, and turn to for wisdom is Jesus.

Charlie Kirk (and thousands of others in the past) was doing what Jesus has been asking some of us to do for over 2,000 years. It saddens me to see that we will rally around a human who is popular for doing God’s work in a country where we have the comforts of life that many others do not have. Other evangelists are not so lucky. 

A snapshot of what active Christian’s face: Every day, an average of more than 12 Christians are killed for their faith. That’s one Christian every two hours … murdered because they follow Jesus.  
  
This shocking statistic comes from new research released as part of Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, the annual report that ranks the 50 places where it’s most difficult to live as a Christian. The research took place from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, giving us a snapshot of how violent the persecution of Christians is.  
  
Other numbers are just as horrifying. 7,679 churches or public Christian properties were attacked or forced to close. 4,744 believers were arrested, imprisoned, detained without trial, or sentenced—just because of their faith. 3,775 followers of Jesus were abducted. 3,944 Christians were sexually assaulted, sexually harassed, or forcibly married to non-Christians. Nearly 55,000 believers were mentally or physically abused for their faith, and 28,368 houses, shops, or businesses belonging to Christians were attacked. And finally, almost 210,000 followers of Christ were forced to flee their homes.  
All simply because they claim the name of Christ!  https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/stories/12-Christians-killed-for-their-faith-each-day/

Closer to home, we have: On a seemingly ordinary day in Glendale, Arizona, a tragic event unfolded that sent shockwaves through the Christian community. Hans Schmidt, a 26-year-old military medic, Christian father of two, and outreach director at Victory Chapel, was shot in the head while preaching on a street corner. This horrifying incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2023, near the intersection of 51st Avenue and Peoria. Paul Sanchez, who works nearby, reported that people passing by Schmidt when he was preaching would scream and curse at him. And this year, a long-time pastor from New River was murdered while he slept in his bed. 

Shouldn’t we Christians be just as outraged, angered, sad, and riled up for the above Christians who lost their lives and the countless unknown others who sacrificed their lives promoting the Lord’s truth, unnoticed? And is it right that we get stoked up only when a popular person has a tragic end to their life for doing the same thing that many other unsung people have been doing? Was their life more important? The sympathy for Charlie’s beautiful wife and adorable kids is compassionate and deserved, and I wonder if the others who have sacrificed their lives for the Lord had beautiful wives and kids that are also missed, however, mostly unnoticed.

And you may be thinking, “Who is he to make these judgments and propose these questions?” I pray that you are not reading this article with a closed mind or with reading it with the thought of rebuking what I am saying instead of reading it to understand what I am saying. If not, you will condemn me for posting it and not understand what I am trying to convey.

I think Charlie Kirk was one of the best orators I have ever listened to. He was an honest and open man who loved the Lord and his country. He was dedicated to the calling he had to an extent few of us could match. And most importantly (I think), he was not afraid of death or Satan because Jesus conquered death and Satan for him (and us).  

His death was a catalyst for people of all ages, races, and backgrounds to step up and return to church, join Bible studies, pray more often, and become bolder in proclaiming their faith and start to be politically active. Most importantly, many people have surrendered their lives to Jesus.

With all this said, my opinion is that Charlie Kirk was a man, a Christian with a calling, and should be honored, loved, and missed. But he was just one of many martyrs who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the Lord, and I am not going to put him above others who also made that sacrifice. And I do not ask “What would Charlie have, want, or tell me to do as I go on?” I am asking Jesus, “What do you want me to do, how should I act, and how should I respond?” He is my Champion.

I pray that we will rally around, have fervent admiration, remember what He has done, and show undying allegiance to a Man/God, Jesus, over any martyrs, both past and present.