When Charlie Kirk was killed, I was astounded by the amount of hatred that came out of people. People showed their true colors in ways I never expected. Sure, I expected it from the “out there” crowd, but not the people I knew, especially those who still call themselves Christian. It made me wonder, how do people have this degree of hate in their hearts?
I think I know the heart of the answer, and it really comes down to an understanding of identity.
First, they understand a person’s worth as what a person says, does, and believes. Genesis 1 says that God created man in his image. Thus, God’s image and the worth he places on man is part of our identity regardless how we act, what we look like, whether or not we believe in the Bible, etc. But, when you understand a person’s worth as a sum of what they are rather than who they are, it makes sense to hate those who espouse that which you deem evil. If people don’t have value placed on them by the creator God, then what is the loss when someone you despise dies? Why not act in despicable ways, as that young man did?
Second, they understand one’s identity to be what one claims it to be. As a Christian, I understand that everyone has struggles and sinfulness that are a result of the Fall in Genesis 3, not a matter of someone’s identity. God did not create people with the identity of a drunk. In a sense, no one is a drunk, but rather, people who struggle (or just give in) with drunkenness. We don’t (or shouldn’t) identify people by their sins. The whole gospel message is that Jesus came to unshackle us from our sin. Romans 7 and 8 spell this out clearly. But on the other hand, if one believes that their homosexual tendencies are the core of their identity instead of a detail about them, then there is reason why they would be angry and celebrate people who they understand to be stomping on their identity.
Third, they understand this life to be the whole story. Face it, if you believe that there is a heaven and hell, you will live life differently than if you think the whole thing ends at death. If there is no redemption, no justice, no judgement, no reward, literally nothing when this life ends, then everything hinges on what happens while I’m alive. If I have no future hope of Christ’s return, then why shouldn’t I celebrate when those whom I disagree with are silenced?
I’m not defending anyone. If you celebrate an assassination, don’t look to me to come to your defense for spreading hate and evil. But if we want to be able to do what Charlie Kirk did and understand the other side, and more importantly, engage in conversation with people whom we disagree, then we need to understand the core of the problems, not just the symptoms.