By Jason R. Edwards

For thousands of years if you asked who the two greatest teachers of all time were, the answer would be Jesus and Socrates. Tragically, these celebrated instructors share another trait: they were both executed by their societies, perhaps particularly for their effectiveness in “corrupting the youth” with truth.

Though thankfully not through legal execution, Charlie Kirk’s life was nevertheless tragically extinguished, but by a youth corrupted with lies. One need not equate Charlie Kirk to Jesus and Socrates to nevertheless recognize that his ministry, teaching, and stature place him in their historical legacy. In fact, Kirk proclaimed the message of the former primarily by utilizing the method of the latter.

Kirk’s fulfillment of his mission was so effective, particularly with youth, that he was murdered for it. Thereby, the taking of Kirk’s life, akin to Jesus and Socrates, stands as a painful testament to the fact that mankind’s sinful human nature often violently rejects truth and even cries out for the blood of those who will stand in the public square and boldly proclaim it.

Jesus and Socrates share another significant historical trait: neither, as far as we know, wrote anything down. Ironically, our so-called “higher” educational institutions have not modeled themselves after the greatest teachers but instead have operated under a “publish or perish” standard. Jesus and Socrates were not known for publishing in obscure journals, but instead through the testimonies and lives of their students.

In contrast with Jesus and Socrates, in his brief 31 years, Charlie Kirk was both a prolific and best-selling author — a fact that undoubtedly irked many academics, especially since Kirk was proudly not trained by their guild. Instead, by word and deed Kirk threw back the curtain of America’s corrupted educational establishment and proved that one enters that now immoral system only at extreme risk to one’s soul. Though these institutions claim to champion the free pursuit of truth, it was Kirk who lived it out.

If the blood of martyrs is indeed the seed of the church and ink of history, the early signs point to the fact that like Jesus and Socrates before him, the testimony of Kirk’s followers may well echo through generations. Around the world, tributes to Kirk are pouring in from young people dedicating themselves to ensuring his life’s work continues. Kirk’s call to turn to a life in Christ has every chance to revolutionize society, as such a call has long done. If the young will heed that cry, the culture will indeed be redeemed.

In his beloved homeland, Kirk’s place in history is secure, standing in a sacred lineage of cultural heroes. Throughout this country’s past, even before the United States was founded, America has been blessed with a line of godly men who guided this nation’s collective cultural consciousness. Frequently having the ear of magistrates and presidents, each generation had an evangelist — George Whitefield, John Witherspoon, Charles Grandison Finney, Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday, and Billy Graham — that called for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. With the death of Graham in 2018, it appeared that the line had been broken. Now, it is easy to recognize in the reaction to Kirk’s death that it had not.

Such a realization though comes with a disturbing shudder. Perhaps raised to be the conscience of a generation, Kirk’s life is irreplaceable. Never before has the United States lost a moral leader so young and through such reprehensible violence. To be sure, the country has a tragic history of political assassinations, but America is supposed to be a land free from Christian persecution and the experience of Christian martyrdom.

Having experienced it now, two further historical lessons emerge. Disturbingly, one must not forget that some laughed and danced at the destruction of a good man, faithful husband, and loving father. Such behavior can only be described as demoniacal and so perhaps we can be thankful to have the masks removed and the sneering faces of corrupt souls revealed. Lies, deception, and trickery are the typical stock and trade of the Dark, so it is not often that wickedness willingly reveals its ugliness for the world to see.

More importantly though, especially in this historical moment, one should never forget that Kirk’s murder was not followed by riots, destruction, or retaliation. Not a single board was placed to protect stores. No neighborhoods were burned, no fears were stoked, and no lives were taken in vengeance. And, because this shocks no one, the reason for it must not be overlooked or forgotten.

Charlie Kirk lived and died a patriot for the true American way. He lived and died a martyr for the narrow way. The way of life. The Christ. May historically reflecting on his life and death continue to guide us all along these true paths.

Dr. Jason R. Edwards is a fellow with the Institute for Faith and Freedom and a professor of history at Grove City College. If you would like to reach Dr. Jason R. Edwards for comment, please contact him at [email protected].