Weeping With Those Who Weep: A Biblical Call to Empathy Beyond Politics

On September 10, 2025, conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University during a public “Prove Me Wrong” event, part of his “American Comeback Tour.” Authorities report that he was struck by a sniper’s bullet while speaking to an audience of nearly 3,000 people (Reuters, 2025). Law enforcement has recovered the weapon believed to be used in the attack and identified persons of interest, though the shooter remains at large (Associated Press, 2025). Utah’s governor has described the killing as a political assassination (Reuters, 2025).

The news of this tragedy has shocked the nation. Yet what is most troubling is the lack of empathy shown by some political opponents — and even by individuals who claim to follow Christ. When misfortune strikes a public figure from “the other side,” reactions online are often chilling: silence, indifference, or even mockery. Such responses reveal not the heart of Christ, but the hardness of a fallen world.

Regardless of political perspective, it is evident that Charlie Kirk believed in America and in the political process. He dedicated his life to public engagement, debate, and spirited discourse in places where, frankly, the message of Christ is rarely welcomed. For Christians to dismiss or downplay his death is to forget that every human being is made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27, KJV 1611/2020). Every act of violence, every grief endured, and every life lost demands recognition and mourning.

Jesus Himself commanded: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, KJV 1611/2020). This teaching is radical precisely because it cuts through politics, personal grievances, and cultural divides. It reminds us that empathy is not an optional virtue in the Christian life but a defining mark of true discipleship.

Christ modeled this compassion. In John 11:35, He wept at the tomb of his dear friend Lazarus, though He knew resurrection was moments away. His tears were not conditioned on political loyalty, social standing, or theological agreement — they flowed from divine love and solidarity with human suffering. Likewise, in the Sermon on the Mount, He promised: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, KJV 1611/2020). 

His ministry consistently reached across divides — Samaritan, tax collector, Roman soldier — extending dignity and care to all.

The apostle Paul reinforced this ethic: “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer..." (1 Corinthians 12:26, KJV 1611/2020). When Christians fail to mourn for a husband, father, and young man whose life was ended by an act of cowardice, they fail to live out the love of Christ. The body of Christ cannot selectively grieve; compassion must extend even to those with whom we may disagree.

In a nation fractured by division, where nearly every tragedy is viewed through partisan lenses, Christians are called to respond in a different spirit. The apostle Paul exhorts us to “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep” (Romans 12:15, KJV 1611/2020). What America needs today is nothing less than a revival of empathy. When tragedy strikes, our first response must not be to calculate political gain, but to fall to our knees in prayer, extend comfort to the grieving, and weep with those who weep. To do otherwise is to fall short of the love of Christ.

On a personal note, I am profoundly grieved by the loss of this courageous young man. His death diminishes us all, and I believe America is poorer for his passing — a loss that echoes through history, like the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. These were moments when the nation paused, mourned, and recognized that hatred had stolen voices of influence and conviction. In the same way, we are called not only to grieve, but to let our grief remind us that love and empathy are the only positive paths forward.

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References

Associated Press. (2025, September 10). Rifle recovered, person of interest released after Charlie Kirk assassination; shooter still at large. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/4763fec3bb89f18680fda159c413a393

King James Bible. (2020). Authorized King James Version. Cambridge University Press. (Original work published 1611)

Reuters. (2025, September 11). Police search for sniper who killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/police-search-sniper-who-killed-conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-utah-2025-09-11