Charlie Kirk’s Murder Fueled a Christian Revival Among Young Americans
The assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had a significant impact on the nation, fostering discussions on the link between dehumanizing rhetoric and political violence, prompting the White House to investigate left-wing domestic terrorist groups, and inspiring a Christian revival among broad swaths of the population. Now, a new study is examining that revival, its extent, and its impact.
According to a survey conducted by the Barna Group, nearly one fifth (18%) of American adults reported that they became more spiritually active following Kirk’s assassination, while 5% said that they became more politically active and 6% said that they became both more spiritually and more politically active.
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The spike in being spiritually active was most pronounced among younger generations and practicing Christians, the Barna Group noted. Among adults of Generation Z, 22% reported becoming more spiritually active, 7% more politically active, and 6% both more spiritually and more politically active. The share was almost identical among Millennials, with only 2% more reporting becoming more spiritually active. Among practicing Christians, 30% reported becoming more spiritually active and 10% reported becoming both more spiritually and more politically active, while only 3% reported becoming just more politically active.
“It is remarkable to see the impact of a widely known public figure, and the fact that tens of millions of Americans were inspired to take action as a result of his death,” said Barna Group CEO David Kinnaman in a statement. “There has been some discussion about Charlie Kirk’s passing as directly responsible for a surge in church attendance,” he observed. However, Kinnaman pointed out that younger Americans (especially Generation Z) were already returning to church and becoming more religious in the months preceding Kirk’s murder, which the Barna Group chief suggested may have fueled or accelerated that Christian revival.
In comments to The Washington Stand, Joseph Backholm, senior fellow for Biblical Worldview at Family Research Council, noted, “In recent years, Charlie had emphasized the importance of faith before political activity, and in his death that message landed with those who respected him.” Backholm continued, “I also think there’s an understanding that he was murdered, not because of his political positions, but because he was engaged very directly in a spiritual war. This clearly became about more than politics and an encouraging number of young people are seeing this and they want to engage in the spiritual war that inspires our political wars.”
Nearly half (47%) of Americans, including a majority (71%) of practicing Christians, said that they believe Kirk’s death will continue to have a positive impact on Christianity among younger generations, but survey respondents were less optimistic on other issues. Only about a third (34%) of polled adults said that they believe the ability to have civil political conversations will improve in the years ahead, while a similar share (33%) predicted that the ability to have civil political conversations will continue to deteriorate. Less than 30% said that Kirk’s assassination will foster cooperation between conservatives and liberals, while over a third (35%) anticipated a negative impact. The Barna Group noted that Generation Z “respondents were particularly likely to expect negative impacts on political cooperation (45% negative vs. 29% positive), American politics broadly (46% negative vs 33% positive), and civil discourse (43% negative vs 32% positive).”
“Practicing Christians held markedly different views,” the Barna Group observed. In addition to anticipating a positive impact on Christianity among young Americans, a majority (53%) of practicing Christians said that they expect Kirk’s murder to yield a positive impact on civil political discourse. Nearly half (49%) also expected Kirk’s death would have a positive impact on politics in the U.S. and nearly as many (44%) anticipated a positive impact on the relationship between conservatives and liberals.
“It is a cliché that young people are the leaders of tomorrow because it’s true. We need future leaders who understand what time it is and the spiritual nature of our political conflicts,” Backholm told TWS. “The first responsibility of Christian adults is to disciple young people in our sphere, particularly those in our homes. Charlie was especially good at reaching young people, but he is by no means the only one capable of doing that, and now we all have to pick up the mantle.”
“Every person is on a unique spiritual journey, so there is no one way to activate people spiritually. And some people aren’t interested in the truth and can’t be activated until hearts are changed,” Backholm cautioned. “But there are always people who are seeking the truth as well, and pointing them to the truth requires us to live lives that demonstrate God’s ways are better while also being able to communicate why rebellion against God’s plan for humanity causes so much pain,” he continued. “Reality will always be on our side because God made the rules; we just need to make sure our words and lives consistently demonstrate the beauty and superiority of God’s plan. If we do, people will be interested.”
In the weeks following Kirk’s assassination, TPUSA hosted a memorial event for their slain leader, attended by President Donald Trump and members of his administration. Renowned neurosurgeon and former Trump administration official Dr. Ben Carson marveled at the “revival” inspired by Kirk’s Christian faith. “Get on board of the revival that is coming. We are not going to be able to stop it. You see evidence of it right here in this stadium. We’re all going to be a part of it,” he urged pastors.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “the movement Charlie Kirk led and started and gave fuel to was about politics, but not only about politics.” He then delivered a synopsis of the Gospels, recounting how sin entered the world and how Christ suffered, died, and rose again in order to free mankind from that sin. “Because He took on that death, because He carried that cross, we were freed from the sin that separated us from Him. And when He returns, there will be a new Heaven and a new earth, and we will all be together. And we are going to have a great reunion there again with Charlie and all the people we love,” the secretary declared. Vice President J.D. Vance, a longtime friend of Kirk’s, also spoke. “The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today. And instead, my friends, we have had a revival in celebration of Charlie Kirk and of his Lord Jesus Christ.”
Kirk’s widow and now his successor as CEO of TPUSA, Erika, made international headlines for her own Christian witness. “Charlie passionately wanted to reach and save the Lost Boys of the West, the young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live, the men wasting their lives on distractions and the men consumed with resentment, anger, and hate,” she recalled of her husband’s work and mission. “He wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life. That young man, that young man,” she said, visibly emotional and choking on tears. “On the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they [do] not know what they do.’ That man, that young man. I forgive him.”
“This past week, we saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives,” Erika said, in reference to the spiritual impact her husband’s death had on the nation. “To those of you out there who just made that decision and took the first step toward a spiritual life, I say thank you and welcome. One day I hope you look back and realize it was the most important decision of your life. Because it is,” she continued. “All of you who are already believers, it is your job to shepherd these people. Do not take that lightly. Water the seed of their faith, protect it, and help it grow,” Erika urged. “Choose prayer. Choose courage. Choose beauty. Choose adventure. Choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.”
LifeNews Note: S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.
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