Charlie Kirk: “The Winsome Provocateur!”

Liberals:  It’s Not Really ‘How You Say It, But What You Say’ That I Can’t Stand!

By Richard Allen – September 29, 2025

The recent Assassination of Charlie Kirk has prompted many people across America to consider “the importance of dialogue.” That’s actually good, if we respectfully debate the hot-button issues of our time. Unfortunately, many of the agitators on the Democrat-Progressive-Left are not opposed to violence. They have been schooled in Saul Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals,” convinced that violence is an important tool for their Marxist Revolution. No doubt, some people are using Charlie’s death as a political springboard to champion a political cause. But many are genuinely sincere in their desire to “seek first to understand,” as Steven Covey taught us in his “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”  Of real interest to me is the commentary and pontificating coming from the Christian Community.  I know many Christians who are very fond of Charlie’s outspoken efforts to engage a pagan culture in his defense of the Christian faith.  But there are also some genuine Christians who are concerned about Charlie’s approach, labeling him a “Provocateur,” that is, a man looking to stir up controversy and rancor – all to gain fame and notoriety.  Along with this is a “faulty modern-day understanding” by modern Evangelicals, that Christians and the Gospel itself must always be winsome.  Here’s the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary definition of Winsome:

“Generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence.”

It’s easy to see by this definition, they are describing the “how,” a person communicates. But there is another side of communication: The “what,” a person is saying. Judging Charlie’s approach, that is, “how” he communicated, it should be universally agreed that Charlie was very “winsome.” I’ve watched many videos of Charlie debating on college campuses, often with very “ill-informed” young men and women. And though they were factually wrong in what they were saying (all trying to “Prove Charlie Wrong”) Charlie showed genuine respect, kindness and willingness to be challenged by young people who disagreed with him. He was very “winsome” in “how” he spoke and dialogued. I am concerned for those Christians who believe that Charlie was simply, “A Provocateur.” It seems they are most upset with the “what” Charlie talked about. They question Charlie’s motives, labeling him as a “Provocateur.” It begs the question: What type of Evangelical Christian is upset over Charlie’s clear stand against Abortion, or Charlie’s unwavering defense of Biblical human sexuality being “one man and one woman?”  Contrary ideas are used as “wedge issues” by the “Marxist-Progressive-Democrats” – all to tear down societal order – and poison the minds of the next generation with falsehood. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christians are to “do battle” in the arena of ideas:

“The very weapons we use are not those of human warfare but powerful in God’s warfare for the destruction of the enemy’s strongholds. Our battle is to bring down every deceptive fantasy and every imposing defense that men erect against the true knowledge of God. We even fight to capture every thought until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. Once we are sure of your obedience we shall not shrink from dealing with those who refuse to obey” (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

Unlike the “I’m only holy on Sunday” crowd, those who are genuinely following Christ know that the Gospel should not be “segmented” into just “the spiritual realm.”  It appears that battle was won by the “godless progressives” over the past several centuries. They say they want “Separation of Church and State,” but what they mean is: “We want Christian thought and behavior completely walled off from society and culture.”  So, it’s here that I need to ask: “What is your definition of a “Provocateur?” If you mean “provoking others by hateful tone, rhetoric and hyperbole” – that sounds like the so-called “Shock-Jock” radio or TV announcers who work to get people into conflict.  Men like Morton Downey Jr. and Jerry Springer had one purpose only: “To shock people by using offensive, high charged dramatic language to get people to respond. There have also been politicians who reveled in this type of debate: Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton – both supposedly “men of the cloth” – come to mind. These two did more harm representing the Christian faith – than promoting truth or a dialogue that pointed men to Christ. There’s a difference in defining a “Provocateur” as one who clearly wants to stir up controversy and contention – and someone with whose content you don’t agree. If the latter is the definition of a “Provocateur,” then Jesus and Paul need to be included as offenders, they both engaged with “truth” in the battle of ideas.  This latter category is where I place Charlie Kirk!

The most common complaint I’ve heard from genuine believers is that “Charlie’s stating God’s displeasure with the whole range of sexual sin – including Abortion, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and any other homosexual behavior – is Not Preaching the Gospel!  But I have problems with that kind of thinking. So I’m not misunderstood, I am not advocating “moralistic crusades” like Billy Sunday’s efforts during “Prohibition” or the “Temperance Movement.” For anyone who understands the “New Birth” as taught in Scripture, it’s clear that no amount of moral reformation or cleaning up society by “scrubbing the outside of the cup,” will accomplish the furtherance of God’s Kingdom!  No, God’s Kingdom work is done by the Spirit inwardly, in fallen men and women to make them “new creatures in Christ.” God reforms us from the “inside out.” Does that mean the Church has no place acting as “Salt and Light” in the fallen world around us?  Let me briefly remind us of two historical events where the Church – just like Charlie Kirk – engaged a fallen culture to bring about changes that led to a more just society:  1.) The Abolition of Slavery in Britain (1833), and America (1863), and 2.) The Civil Rights Movement (1965). Both movements relied heavily on the Church and Gospel Preachers to change the hearts of the American people toward the treatment of African Americans.

I should admit that I’ve wrestled with this understanding for most of my walk with the Lord.  I clearly see, that as Christians we are to preach the Gospel and call men and women out from every race and kindred and tongue to be Christ’s “called-out-people.”  That is the very meaning of the Greek word “Ecclesia,” which we translate Church in the New Testament.  And while we are “in this world,” we are “not of it.”  This is the paradox of New Covenant life as a “pilgrim” in this foreign land.  Here’s what Jesus Christ explicitly asked His Father in John Chapter 17:

“Father, I don't ask you to take my followers out of the world, but keep them safe from the evil one” (John 17:15).

Our citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20), but our conduct on earth should bring praise and honor to God by “how” we live. That also means that we “can’t look blindly at injustice, cruelty or suffering.” Christians are called (within their opportunities and abilities), to do something about the wrongs going on around us! This doesn’t mean that we can"right every wrong” or end all suffering in this life, but the Church has always seen it a part of our charter to “feed the poor, heal the sick and care for the fatherless.” This is why Church history has numerous examples of Christian Missionaries working to bring the “Gospel of Jesus Christ” to the far corners of the earth – while alleviating suffering wherever the message of Forgiveness goes!  As I’ve mentioned in other Blogs, prior to the Christian Era, the nations of this world had “no concept of caring for the poor, the sick or the broken.” It wasn’t even debated until the Gospel of Christ permeated Africa, Europe and Asia during the early centuries of the Christian Era.

As modern-day heirs of “Christian Culture and Gospel Truth,” we take it for granted that all cultures show kindness, care for the poor and indigent, and seek to rule justly.  Sadly, that just isn’t true!  The modus operandi of most cultures has always been: “The survival of the fittest” or “kill or be killed.”  In Jesus’ day, the Roman Empire practiced a law that was termed: “Pater Familias.”  This law stated that the head of a Roman household had the ultimate right to determine which of his children lived or died. If he / she was infirm, deformed or just from the wrong class (i.e. the bastard child birthed by a prostitute), a Roman Father could have the child killed to make sure that it did not pollute his name or genetics. Here’s Wikipedia on the rights of a Roman Father:

“He had a duty to father and raise healthy children as future citizens of Rome, to maintain the moral propriety and well-being of his household, to honor his clan and ancestral gods and to dutifully participate – and if possible, serve – in Rome's political, religious and social life. In effect, the pater familias was expected to be a good citizen. In theory at least, he held powers of life and death over every member of his extended familia through ancient right.” [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pater_familias]

Needless to say, the Christianizing of the Roman Empire brought an end to Pater Familias and other Pagan practices. I’m not saying that all Western Cultures – inheriting the teachings of the Holy Roman Empire – were always Christian and Tolerant, but the Church led the Pagan world in changing the culture, as well as the object of their faith. Charlie Kirk believed that the Gospel did not just save men and women, it changed them for the good!

Unlike many Christians of the “easy-believism” mindset, the Gospel doesn’t just provide “forgiveness by giving us a legal right and title to eternal life,” but the Gospel that Jesus and His followers preached, made us “fit for eternal life” by changing our behavior.”  I’m not talking about “works righteousness,” but rather the “fruit of our salvation” – a righteous life – bearing the image of Jesus!  Those who believe they are saved by “just repeating a statement fed to them,” or “walking to the front of a church” are in for a rude awakening on that day when Christ comes again to judge.  We are called to be “salt and light” in this world. And that call should always cause the Church to take a stand against evil and seek justice for the poor and downtrodden. Charlie Kirk’s ministry fit well within this Christian Tradition. He wasn’t so “winsome” that he was of “no earthly good,” neither was he “fighting with the carnal weapons of violence or even inciting hatred and violence toward others.  Turns out, Charlie’s behavior as “A Winsome Provocateur,” was his attempt to imitate his Savior.

Soli Deo Gloria