Truth forever on the scaffold
By Paul Bawden
The recent barbaric assassination of Charlie Kirk brought to mind these words from James Russell Lowell’s poem, “The Present Crisis,” written in 1845.
Lowell wrote his famous poem protesting the Mexican-American War and the expansion of slavery, fearing the expansion of slavery into the newly annexed territories like Texas. He was seeking to move people to stand against injustice, particularly slavery, and to confront evil and uphold truth.
Charlie Kirk, although the matter of slavery was not his emphasis, and certainly Charlie was against slavery, he was confronting evil in its different facets in the USA and showing how truth has the answer to such evil. So, from my perspective, what was taking place here was much more than political, it was about truth.
Tyler Robinson, through letting evil thoughts, perhaps influenced by the evil one, and other factors as well, became radicalize, so that his hatred of Charlie Kirk became so great for his telling the truth that he got a gun and murdered Charlie while he was debating students on the campus of Utah Valley University.
To this assassin, truth was on the scaffold, that is truth needed to be condemned and executed. The only way this killer thought truth could be stopped was by killing the person who was using truth to expose error and evil.
The reality is, and what this killer either ignored or denied was that truth can’t be executed, even when the bearer of truth is executed.
Why? The truth Charlie was talking about wasn’t his unlimited truth, it was the personal and eternal biblical God’s truth, which lives and abides forever (Ps. 119:89; I Pet. 1:24-25).
God’s truth is lived out through those who have accepted the One who claimed to be the Truth, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; I Pet 1:22). That’s why God’s truth can’t be stopped even though a life is murdered. In fact, His truth can be amplified even more, which is happening through the tragic death of Charlie Kirk. As the apologist Tertullian said in the second century, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” A sacrifice of a martyr can inspire others to believe.
I realize that there are many who are against, some vehemently against the biblical God’s truth proclaimed by Charlie. We see negative reactions by different individuals, even politicians, and the media. Regardless, God’s Truth, Jesus Christ, was executed, buried, and conquered the grave bodily, so that Truth will not be forever on the scaffold. Those who place their faith in Christ receive His forgiveness and eternal life. I trust you have made that decision for Christ and are living for Him.
In the meantime, we will continue to pray for the Lord’s peace and comfort for Charlie Kirk’ wife and family, and that his organization will continue to flourish to the glory of God. Also, be praying for the family, whose son became a murderer – they’ll find peace and comfort in the Lord too. This rebellious and evil man will be brought to justice. His only hope spiritually is to turn to Christ for His forgiveness.
And keep praying for the USA that God’s righteousness and truth will prevail, and evil will diminish. Perhaps some soul searching is good for all of us. It makes it challenging for a nation to thrive when truth is diminished, even denied. Regardless, in His time, Christ will return to planet earth and put down all evil and rebellion establishing His reign of righteousness and truth. Truth is no longer on the scaffold! True victory is in the risen, ascended, and coming again Jesus Christ! Praise the Lord!!!
Paul Bawden is married and served in the pastoral ministry for 45 years, retiring in 2011. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.A. in Speech and attended Dallas Theological Seminary, receiving a Master of Theology. He has taken counseling courses at Trinity Evangelical Seminary in Deerfield, Illinois. Paul is a lifetime member of the Evangelical Free Church of America, as well as being a member of Interim Pastor Ministries (IPM), which serves churches during their time of transition in searching for a new pastor. He writes for Union Gospel Press, as well as being a volunteer writer for GotQuestions.org. Paul likes to write, read, bike, and work in the yard. The Bawdens have had the privilege to travel to Mexico and Romania on mission trips and visited various countries in Europe.
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