The death of Charlie Kirk has ignited intense reactions across the country. But what has shocked and saddened me most is not just the news itself—it is the celebration I’ve seen in response.
Some people are dancing on his grave. Some are mocking. Some are justifying their cruelty as if it were righteous.
But here’s the truth: dancing on a grave doesn’t make you righteous—it makes you part of the problem.
It is one thing to disagree. It is one thing to strongly oppose someone’s beliefs or actions. That is part of the human experience. But rejoicing in someone’s death crosses a line that damages not only their memory, but our own hearts.
A Higher Calling
Proverbs 24:17 warns us: “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth.”
That is not just ancient wisdom—it is a direct call to keep our souls free from hatred. To celebrate another’s downfall, no matter how flawed we believe they were, is to let darkness take root inside us.
Jesus made this same point in His parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9–14). The Pharisee stood tall, proud of his own virtue, while the tax collector simply bowed low and asked God for mercy. Who left justified? Not the one boasting, but the one humble enough to see his own need for grace.
When we gloat over someone’s death, we are the Pharisee—puffed up, claiming the moral high ground, blind to our own need for mercy.
What Strength Really Looks Like
It is easy to hate. It is easy to cheer when someone you oppose is gone. But real strength looks different. Real strength is choosing compassion when the world tells you to despise. Real strength is standing firm in truth without letting bitterness rule your heart. Real strength is refusing to be pulled into the same cycle of anger and division that already plagues our society.
The world doesn’t need more bitterness. It needs people willing to rise higher. It needs men and women who refuse to be defined by what they’re against and instead shine by what they stand for: hope, kindness, courage, and love.
Leaving a Better Legacy
At the end of our lives, we won’t be measured by how many enemies we defeated or how loudly we shouted down opposing voices. We’ll be measured by whether we reflected the love of Christ.
Jesus’ commandment is as radical today as it was 2,000 years ago: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you” (Matthew 5:44).
This isn’t weakness—it’s victory. It’s proof that hate did not win. That cruelty did not harden our hearts. That even in a divided world, we chose a different path.
A Call to Rise Above
So when you see people cheering a death, don’t join in. Don’t let that darkness have your voice. Be the one who refuses. Be the one who chooses love.
We can disagree without dehumanizing. We can fight for truth without losing our compassion. We can honor our convictions without rejoicing in destruction.
The world is broken enough—it doesn’t need more gloating. It needs more grace.
Let’s be the people who choose the higher road. Let’s be the ones who bring light when the world is darkest. Because in the end, love is what changes lives. Love is what heals nations. And love is what makes us truly righteous.
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