“The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.”
(Psalm 37:12)
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
(Revelation 14:13)
The assassination of Charlie Kirk was one of the most tragic end to the life of such a promising young man ever in the history of the world. Sometimes the thing that I find staggering is not only the evil of murder but the hate behind the act. I had been a victim of hate myself when I was doing a research project on vertical farming using recycled pipes. Passers by were curious about it and it got much admiration when the plants began to sprout, but unknown to me there were people who weren’t happy about the project for reasons best known to them. One night, about 4am, while I slept someone came into my premises and threw the entire array of pipes down to the ground. I woke up at the noise, looked out of my window only to see the entire array of pipes on the ground but the person fled without notice. When it was day I came to examine the work that was done in the night and observed how the person had first mutilated the plants before throwing the pipes to the ground. The loss wasn’t much because I had gotten the knowledge I sought and that was the main thing I sought in the research, but what I couldn’t fathom was the baseless hate that would move somebody to such an act.
In the case of Charlie, it was not a case of plants being mutilated, it was his life that was taken. What a hate could move a man to take the life of another man, a husband, a father, and a son? What hate would move a man to damn the consequences of such an evil act on himself to still proceed with it? It’s something I find hard to comprehend. I grieve over his death, yet as wicked and cruel as death is I have come to understand it for all men must die and that’s a part of life. What I don’t think I’ll be able to comprehend is the hate, that hate of the wicked, behind his death. It’s absolutely hellish.
Let them hate all they will, Charlie was victorious in all he did. He was victorious in life and he was victorious in death. His death has had the effect of letting people easily know who the bad guys are. It is always so hard convincing people while in a dispute that you’re the good and right one. People won’t wish to stress themselves grappling with all the logics, evidences, and probabilities to take a firm stance. But today people see clearly that Charlie is the good guy and his adversaries the bad guys, his argument the true one and all contrary arguments the false ones. They can easily see now that his adversaries who could go as far as assassinate him are devilish. While alive he burned like a steady candle flame, but in his death his flame spread like wildfire around the globe. May it set the whole world on fire more and more for you O Lord. Amen.
He has left us and we believe he has gone to be with the Lord. The sweet memory of a life well lived affords us some very golden lessons to learn from. Let us take a look at some of the golden legacies of this rare gem.
A Brief History Of Charlie
“… the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.”
(Proverbs 16:21)
I first heard Charlie Kirk speak when I watched a video of a top political event in the US which probably was a CPAC event or something. Can’t remember now. I was so amazed at the soundness of his wisdom and the eloquence with which he spoke so much that it made me comment on Facebook that America is a miracle. After that dazzling moment I didn’t follow him nor did I try to know more about him. It was until I heard of the news of his assassination that I read the news and recognised him to be that wonderful and brilliant young man who spoke so well at that event. It was after this I took my time to read about him and was amazed at who I realised he was. I was surprised at all the great things he had achieved and how high in esteem he was held by even the most prominent people in American politics. And then I was really surprised how young he was and that at such a young age he achieved so much for his nation and the church. I read his arguments and wondered at his insight and intellectual accuracy. I realised that his speech was not a mere disappearing spark from a flint, but was a flash of a spark from a truly burning flame.
I got to read about him from Wikipedia. Though it was obviously written by a critic who didn’t just tell us of Charlie Kirk, but took especial care to give voice to the foolish ranting of his critics by quoting them. Yet their hate isn’t enough to hide his brilliant light. So here’s a summary of his story.
Charles James Kirk was born on October 14, 1993, in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and how it surprised me that I was some years older than he was. In 2010, at the age of 17, he volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican Mark Kirk (no relation). In his senior year, Kirk created a campaign to reverse a price increase for cookies at his school. He also wrote an essay for Breitbart News alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks, which led to an appearance on Fox Business. Kirk attended Harper College near Chicago, but dropped out before completing a degree or certificate. At a speaking engagement at Benedictine University’s “Youth Empowerment Day”, Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a Tea Party–backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to engage in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the 2012 Republican National Convention, Kirk met Foster Friess, a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organisation. He wrote many books and engaged in many actively pursued societal reforms in the right direction in the whole USA.
What a life! So I’ll be sharing lessons to be learnt from his successful life.
Lesson 1: Leadership Is Not Tied To Political Offices Nor Kingship To A Throne
“Moses commanded us a law… And he was king in Jeshurun…”
(Deuteronomy 33:4 – 5)
The first and I guess most important lesson for the Nigerian youth is the fact that Charlie was pivotal to sweeping societal reforms in the United States without holding a political office the way Moses reigned as king without a throne. He led the nation in a direction he was convinced was best with so much success. He was a leader of his time for many years despite being assassinated at the age of just 31.
The one big fault of the Nigerian is the fact that many, or perhaps the vast majority, suppose that leadership is tied to political offices. When they hear that children are the leaders of tomorrow, they quite absurdly think that means once they’re through with their education, which to them is earning a BSc, and despite how bad the education is, once they enter the labour market and start looking for jobs, all the older politicians should vacate their post for them. Why? They’re the leaders of tomorrow. In ignorance they suppose leadership is tied to political offices.
This has been a source of concern to me and I expressed it in my book titled, “THE LIFE OF JOAB,” saying:
“Today we see younger people who say they are the leaders of tomorrow, but what do they do? They start clamouring that the older politicians leave the stage for them.”
This idea of leadership has so blackened the reasoning of the Nigerian youth that he is blind to all the opportunities of leadership available to him. He can’t open his eyes to see the sweeping reforms he, as one man, can effect in the nation. They can’t see the power to channel the course of a nation in the right direction. Being blind to these things all they do is to run about looking for their daily bread, once they’ve got it run after girls, play stupid music, buy stupid things, then sit down to fantasise of a lopsided utopia and criticise governments as the reason for all their woes. Their conversation on the matter always starts with something like, “how I wish the government will just…”
This way of reasoning has also had the effect of people blaming the government for everything and because people are often satisfied with any act of blame that is put on others, this narrative seats so well in their minds. And since blaming an incumbent is a cheap way for the opposition to score cheap points, they do the blaming and the people, who aren’t playing their own roles anyways, echo the strain. So here we have a case of a foolish romance going on between two daft lovers. The romantic love of the opposition and a lazy and daft masses. The only problem with this romance is, due to its chaotic consequences, it becomes everybody’s problem and can’t be ignored.
Charlie Kirk was of a more noble spirit, keener insight, deeper understanding, and zealous to be like that. Whenever he saw a thing to be changed and righted, he didn’t sit there and complain with educated grammar (the lazy thing that lazy people do), he rose up at each time to work towards the desired change. As we have seen, even at a very young age, when the price of cookies went up, he led a campaign to reverse the price. And being a visionary, he saw many things that weren’t right with his country and set about a campaign to turn his country in the right direction. The name of the platform, Turning Point USA, goes with a lot of weight. It shows conviction that turning was possible, the time to turn is now, and that he as one man would effect that turning.
Leadership with political offices and kingship with a throne is quite different and inferior to leadership without political offices and kingship without a throne. Positions of power which people term leadership often come with powers that can be abused. These are positions vested with power that is backed with the force of arms. Such powers do not in themselves necessarily speak of the character of those who occupy those posts. So you could have a wicked king and a godless president. But leadership without these positions speaks of character, influence, and respect. It shows that it is your character and personality that makes people follow you, not mere position that requires people to obey you by law. Charlie Kirk led with great power, prowess, and influence, and all without a political office or a throne. How great a leader he was.
So the first lesson to the Nigerian youth is you are the leaders of today and tomorrow, so you don’t need to wait for tomorrow, but stop looking for political offices, just start leading. Start exercising your power for good. I do not even believe that political offices are meant for young people. So like Charlie, youths should be more interested in working towards a visionary societal reform to conform to great and noble ideals. Herein is leadership. If the love for humanity and God leads you to lead others with a good influence, then blessed are you. When you do this well, you are a leader indeed. If you’re only looking for political offices then you’re just being vain and led by greed.
Lesson 2: Love For Learning
“The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”
(Proverbs 18:15)
“A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.”
(Proverbs 24:5)
I know when I say young people should start exercising their powers they’ll ask, “what power do I have to exercise? Can I fight people in positions of power or people with great wealth?” This brings us to the next lesson to learn from Charlie. He definitely exercised great power. Where did he get this power from? From his love for learning. Acquiring knowledge both gives you powers and also helps you discover powers you already possess but didn’t know you had. Without having a love for learning you’ll have no power to exercise. Without learning if ever you come by power you’ll only have power to misuse and abuse. Learning is all.
Charlie Kirk was obviously exceptionally smart from his young age yet he did not go to college. He rather commenced his full time work on societal reforms immediately. However, while he was at it he still advanced his knowledge. At the time of his death he had completed a whopping 30 free courses from the University of Michigan.
Charlie did not place the erroneous and over-bloated value on college degrees, but he placed the right on education itself. There is a difference. The error in Nigeria is we have overvalued university degrees and undervalued education itself. The Nigerian would do anything to get a degree, but doesn’t do much to be truly educated. Once we’re through with our university programs, that’s the end of learning for us. We don’t read and pursue an advancement in knowledge for the love of knowledge. This is a grievous error.
Education is what is important and there are many ways to get it. You don’t have to pack your bags and go to a campus to get an education. Charlie’s visionary perspective was birthed by his devotion to education. He was his own boss of course and didn’t need those qualifications for job employment. He just did those courses because he saw the profound need for education in itself. I won’t wish to go into narrating the faults of the modern system of education, but let it suffice to say that there are so many faults and repercussions in the modern schooling system and Charlie’s method of getting education is by far the best. His choice to stay away from college and yet pursue advancement in learning shows the keen understanding he had about life and the judicious use of his time.
I recommend therefore that the Nigerian youth go in a lifelong pursuit of education and advancement in learning. Spend a modest twenty minutes everyday doing a course and advancing your knowledge. This I advise whether or not you choose to go to the university. It’s not important. What is important is to ensure you are in a daily lifelong personal study to advance your knowledge. Do that religiously and watch yourself grow into a solution for the country.
Lesson 3: Vision For Temporal Governments
“… Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.”
(Isaiah 49:7)
Next we come to his vision for temporal governments. Charlie co-authored a book (among others) titled, “Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations.” I have not read the book but from the title you can see that Charlie Kirk had deep insight for the best form of government and what true freedom is. Such a view can only be held by a visionary person who believes in doing and not just complaining.
Before this time I myself had been thinking on the best system of temporal government and which system would best serve humanity, and I too hold that the best system of government would be one that would take a lot of responsibilities from the government and put it on the masses to channel their own course according to wisdom, tact, and competence which a very proper education shall equip them with. This will have the effect of limiting government and giving people more freedom which, when used by a well informed people, will lead to happiness. A real utopia. So I agree absolutely with the point expressed in the title of his book. Not only did he express an ideal but the title of the book also indicates that it would deal on how to achieve this state of utopia. So it’s not just a book of utopian fantasies but seeing it reads, “Setting a Course Toward…” it means it would deal with practical steps to achieve this.
Now, here’s the lesson for the Nigerian youth. Till this day Nigerians still hold the idea that the government should keep doing more and more. The government should give us water, the government should give us food, the government should give us jobs, the government should give us light, the government should even give youths wives and children too, and what have you.
Just yesterday, as I write these lines, I was at the reception of one of the foremost schools in the country and while I waited to be attended to, my eye caught some books of the school events. As I went through them, I saw in one of the books photos of an event where students were displaying, on a cardboards, problems and solutions in the society. One of the solutions I saw read, “the government should provide more jobs.” These are the leaders of tomorrow right? And if this is a solution to them (rather than a problem and mother of other problems) then it means that faulty concept will be with us a long time. Except of course they’re lucky enough to bump into a book like that of Charlie Kirk that shall teach them the importance of a limited government.
Lest I be taken out of context. A limited government doesn’t mean a weak government. You can have a limited yet strong government. It just means a government with a more focus on the most important and necessary things. The things I say here are also founded on the principles of democracy that claim to empower people. This fundamental principle claims that the happiness of a state depends on an empowered people and their ability to shape their own course. This is also not about empowerment to fight and rebel, but empowered to contribute meaningfully to the building of a nation and not to be an easy prey to oppression.
It is not that happiness coming by a perfect system in which the government does everything and employs every citizen and to pay them all for their sustenance is not entirely impossible but in human societies it is highly problematic. First, the idea reflects an underlying defect of visionlessness and laziness in citizens who don’t wish to think and pursue great visions. All they think of is jobs, money, then amusements. Such a mindset can’t lead to societal progress and happiness. The idea of conceiving a vision for the nation and contributing meaningfully and actively to shaping and building society is absolutely alien to them. Such an idea of being sustained by mere blind compliance to the higher power would be best fitted for a system of government as we had in ancient kingdoms where the only ones who need to have a vision is the king or emperor. In a democracy it is required of the people too to have vision and to work towards shaping the society. Laziness and visionlessness amongst citizens of a country is not compatible with true utopian freedom and happiness. Such lazy and visionless notions is very nauseating to visionaries like Charlie Kirk.
Next, pushing more responsibilities to governments weakens and enslaves the masses, and makes the government too strong. A strong government may not be a problem until either a clueless or wicked person comes to power. When all the responsibility falls on the government, what that makes the masses is common pets. That I say is a very degrading thing for humans to be. And then shall the masses find themselves in perpetual bonds.
As Jean-Jacques Rousseau says, “man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.” Man has been so long in chains that it seems to me that man has forgotten what freedom means. In Nigeria there are times people or unions go on strike, then the government declares a no-work-no-pay policy. And when hunger and hardship begins to set in they would shamefully start looking for unfavourable grounds of compromise. How can you challenge the person that pays your bills? You are working, you have money to spend, but your life is tied to unfavourable conditions that you can’t break free from, and are you not in bonds?
But supposing the reliance on government is less, by following Charlie Kirk’s vision, you believe that the government should be limited and don’t have to provide your food, electricity, and what have you. Having this vision you work towards being able to be self sustaining and overtime get to live comfortably in a self sustaining way. Communities too work together to find solutions to their problems. And if this vision be widespread that all men seek to live under such conditions of self reliance, should people wish to change any unfavourable condition, it will all be in their power to do so. They don’t need to push a reluctant government to act with protests, the way children cry when they don’t get what they want. Should they ever need to protest or strike they will do so with far more success.
There’s the added problem of inefficiency if the government has to do everything. This is a problem even when the best minds are in power because even the best minds would be worn out by having to do everything and all the thinking for an entire country. Of course politicians won’t tell you the truth and they will promise you that they’d solve all your problems because that’s their game, as foolish as it is. But ideally, running the country is best when a well informed and competent masses take more on themselves, the government only partnering with them in some vital aspects. We all know that an efficient administrative system is one in which responsibilities are spread far and wide with perfect coordination in the whole process. Even Moses’ father-in-law was against him doing everything for the people. Yet politicians would promise everything just to get people to vote for them, and the opposition would seek to score cheap points by trying to convince people that the government ought to do everything, and blame the incumbent government for not doing everything.
Like Charles Kirk advocates, if tomorrow is to be bright, we must push towards limiting governments. As said Limiting governments is not synonymous with weakening governments. We can have a strong government institution with limited roles.
The moment we perceive anything can be done at a community level, we must push the responsibilities to societies to do their thing and take it from the government. But there comes the question of what then happens to all the government revenue meant for these things when communities carry out their execution themselves? As Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank, said, “When governments or institutions fail to provide basic services, the people bear the burden — a heavy implicit tax on the population.” That is true, but he referred to a poor delivery of basic service (that is essential services). To explain this in full would be beyond the scope of this article, but this I say briefly, if the people are well informed, they shall know how to, over time, successfully push for a reduction in taxes and also re-channel those funds to welfare programs for example. It all boils down to how well informed and visionary the masses are.
In all the idea of a limited government is very very sound and visionary.
Lesson 4: Caution And Courage Vs Cowardice And Paralysis
“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.”
(Proverbs 14:16)
“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”
(Proverbs 22:3)
“The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
(Proverbs 28:1)
Now we come to his strength of character. When I read of how Charlie Kirk died, I realised that he had a bulletproof vest under his shirt. This means he was obviously conscious that as an advocate for the truth his life was under threat. And this is one point where his strength of character was tested. And he passed this test with a perfect score.
There are three responses to the knowledge of danger for doing what is right and needed. First is cowardice which results in paralysis leaving the right and needed thing undone. The second is recklessness which is ignoring the warning signs and proceeding with one’s designs and this puts the right and needed at risk of not being done, and this we call foolishness (Proverbs 14:16 & Proverbs 22:3). The third is to proceed with courageous caution. This third is the wise and courageous thing to do (Proverbs 28:1). When the Bible says the righteous is as bold as a lion, it is a boldness founded on strength, not reckless boldness.
Charlie saw the fact that there were a host of things that needed to be corrected in his nation. As said, the fact that he had a bulletproof vest on showed that he was conscious of the fact that his life was at stake. He must be privy to the information or signs that his life may go for what he’s doing. He didn’t put a stop to his vision. He proceeded with the caution of putting on a protective vest. This is wisdom. This is courage. This is strength of character.
Too many times I have seen people who have planned a golden course of actions with a golden end only to abandon everything altogether for fear of one thing or the other. It is cheering to see a man of wisdom who sees that fear should never lead to paralysis. It should only mean you proceed with caution. Ensure you take all the actions necessary to mitigate the risk of it happening, then proceed. Never leave a right and expedient thing undone because of fear. Charlie was not a coward.
Charlie chose the right course of action though he didn’t make it. As I read the bullet rebounded off his armour into his neck. Had it not rebounded into his neck (which was quite unexpected) his life would have been saved and he would have been able to proceed with his vision in person. But his vision is still alive and shall be carried on.
Herein is the lesson for the Nigerian youth, cautious courage in the face of danger is required for success to be achieved. I regret to say it but cowardice is endemic in Nigeria. If the future of the nation is to be bright, the Nigerian youth must learn to imbibe the virtue of cautious courage.
Lesson 5: Doing Activism The Right Way
“Seek good, and not evil… Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate…”
(Amos 5:14 – 15)
“And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip…”
(Luke 22:35 – 36)
Lastly, Charlie understood the right way to solve the problems of the erring system of America. As said there are a lot of faults with and repercussions for using the modern schooling system. I had a faulty and lazy view of trying to solve this problem. I thought the best thing was just to emphasise and continue to emphasise the importance of homeschooling, but how many people would really buy your idea? As I strongly feel that this is the right course of action at this point in human history, I’m so confident that it would take a miracle to convince anyone that you are right and the rest of the world is wrong. So that probably wouldn’t work. But Charlie had a better idea which involves hard work. He took the fight to campuses. He went there to engage young minds to save them from the corrupting influence of the colleges. That was brilliant and showed resolve. As we keep pushing for healthier and safer ways to educate our young, the rescue and remedial mission on campuses is a great great way to save the future. Thank you Charlie.
Next he funded his activism by himself and with funds from willing donors. He didn’t press anyone or sell lies to have people give him money. He didn’t have to sell his faith to earn money. He didn’t use his intellectual prowess to fight the fight of the highest bidder as is common in Nigeria. His donors loved what he was doing and poured their money in support. He was not their tool, they were his supporters.
He was also a businessman who engaged in a number of business activities, particularly real estate. His every activity was all characterised by brain and virtue. He is indeed a miracle.
Conclusion
“… the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.”
(Psalm 112:6)
We could go on and on talking about the wonders of Charlie but the article is already way way too long, so we must bring this to a close. In all Charlie Kirk reigned as a king, a mighty prince, and a leader leading an entire nation, the foremost nation in the world, to favourable shores. He was a visionary with keen insight. A man of uncommon knowledge and understanding. His strength of character was Herculean. Yes he had no political office and he had no throne, yet he channeled the course of the United States and indeed the world like a king would channel the course of his kingdom. The Nigerian youth that shall learn to achieve great things for his nation must learn to imbibe the lessons from the golden legacy of Charlie Kirk.
REST IN PEACE CHARLIE! REST IN PEACE!
Prayer: Dear Father and God, we thank you for the life of Charlie Kirk. We thank you for giving him as a gift to humanity. We thank you for the noble spirit you placed in him that led him to pour his entire life as a sacrifice for the cause of good. We pray that we shall learn from his golden legacies and in them find a very potent cure for our many character maladies. And may all these result in the glory of your most noble name. This we ask in the name of your dear Son. Amen.
