When what’s ‘good for Christianity’ isn’t good for your neighbor

This article originally appeared at Baptist News Global on December 30, 2025.

One of the most impactful storylines of 2025 was the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10 and the subsequent response on the Right.

As you’ll probably notice this week, a number of BNG’s most-read articles of the year were about how Christians were processing Kirk’s life and message. The most downloaded podcast episode on BNG’s “Highest Power: Church + State” also was about Kirk.

Back in April, Mara Richards Bim wrote an excellent analysis of how Kirk went from college dropout to Trump influencer. Then after Kirk was killed five months later, BNG republished her piece, which helped introduce Kirk to many people who may not have been familiar with the rightwing Christian nationalist provocateur before his death.

The most downloaded podcast episode on BNG’s “Highest Power: Church + State” also was about Kirk.

Rodney Kennedy documented how Kirk’s rhetoric fit into the context of Trumpism and authoritarian Christian theology.

BNG also published articles about Charlie Kirk in his own words, as well as about MAGA supporters of Kirk in their own words.

While white evangelical churches promoted AI videos of Kirk in heaven talking to them as a martyr, Joel Bowman revealed how Kirk was no modern-day Martin Luther King Jr. Despite the Right’s attempt to turn Kirk into a college phenom, Mark Wingfield showed how most college students disagreed with Kirk. And Edmond W. Davis broke down how Kirk created the illusion of debate by “bullying underprepared college kids.”

With all the harm Kirk caused, many progressive Christians were struggling with whether or not to rejoice that such a harmful person would do no more harm while at the same time condemning his murder.

Given how so many people who claim to be committed Christians have such different takes on Kirk, one of the questions going into 2026 will be how Christians allow their faith to inform their posture toward their neighbors. Will Christians focus more on loving their neighbors or on protecting their brand?

Continue reading at Baptist News Global.