When Pastors Cower and Martyrs Bleed: A Call to Gospel Courage
By Pastor Joseph Spurgeon
They shot him in the neck.
That’s how the story ends for men who speak too clearly in an age that hates truth. When Charlie Kirk was gunned down, some said it was just political. They’re wrong. It was spiritual. It was religious. It was martyrdom.
The church needs to wake up.
In the days following Charlie’s assassination, many pulpits fell silent. A few muttered something vague about “the tragedy” or tried to find blame on “both sides.” But the truth is, most pastors said nothing—nothing—while bold men bled and wolves howled at the door.
And that silence is its own kind of betrayal.
Gospel Courage in a Cowardly Age
Scripture is clear:
“All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” – 2 Timothy 3:12
Persecution isn’t optional. It’s not abnormal. It’s the cost of faithfulness in a world at war with Christ. The question isn’t whether persecution will come—the question is whether you’ll stand when it does.
Gospel courage means speaking the truth when it’s costly. It means declaring, “Jesus is Lord”—not just inside church walls, but in politics, in the public square, and in the face of hostile culture.
Too many pastors are hiding behind pietism, pretending neutrality is faithfulness. It isn’t.
Political Neutrality Is Not a Virtue
We’ve been sold the lie that pastors should “just preach the gospel” and stay out of politics. But here’s the truth: if Jesus is King, then every square inch of life—including civil government—belongs to Him.
Silence on moral issues isn’t neutral. It’s surrender.
When pastors refuse to speak about abortion, gender lies, sodomy, and tyranny, they don’t avoid politics—they enable wickedness.
The myth of neutrality is a cover for cowardice.
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” – Romans 12:9
You can’t truly love your neighbor while cowering before evil. You can’t shepherd God’s people and refuse to warn them when wolves surround them. You can’t claim to be gospel-centered while ignoring the demands of Christ’s crown.
What Justice Looks Like
The Bible is not silent on justice. It tells us:
Do not show partiality (Ex. 23:3, Lev. 19:15)
Establish everything by two or three witnesses (Deut. 19:15)
Punish the evildoer and reward the righteous (Rom. 13:4)
Real justice isn’t defined by hashtags or the latest outrage. It’s defined by God’s law. And when that law is ignored—even by pastors—it opens the floodgates of chaos.
Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed because of policy debates. He was killed because he stood for truth in a generation that loves lies. His voice—firm, bold, and anchored in biblical principle—was a threat to a culture built on delusion.
What Should the Church Do?
First, stop being surprised. We are at war.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has always been a threat to tyrants, false teachers, and demons. When the church acts like it's peacetime, it abandons her post.
Second, pastors must speak. Your silence is not safe. It is shameful. If you're afraid to name sin and call your people to obedience, you shouldn't be in the pulpit.
Preach the whole counsel of God—especially the parts that make soft men squirm.
Third, love your enemies—but like a man, not a coward. Gospel love does not mean approval. It means calling people to repentance. It means speaking truth even when the world screams “hate speech.”
You can forgive a man while still demanding justice. You can love a sinner while still hating the evil that destroys him. And you can weep over martyrs while also raising sons who are ready to take their place.
Build. Fight. Protect. Lead.
Charlie Kirk bled because he told the truth. What did you do the Sunday after?
If you're a pastor: Did you speak plainly? Did you comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable? Or did you act like nothing happened?
If you're a man: Are you raising your sons to stand when it's their turn? Or are you training them to play it safe, keep their heads down, and blend in?
Let me say it clearly: We need fewer celebrities and more truth tellers.
Fewer cowards and more soldiers.
Fewer soft words and more gospel courage.
Christ is King.
That is not just a doctrinal truth. It is a call to action.
Men, it’s time to stop drifting.
Stand up. Speak up. Preach boldly. Live faithfully. Die well if you must.
Because the blood of the martyrs is not just the seed of the church—it’s a rebuke to every man who still thinks neutrality is safe.
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