OWNING CHARLIE: Christian Evangelist, Apologist & Martyr

In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Thiessen, Pastor Nate Wright, and Dr. Joe Boot discuss the implications of Charlie Kirk's death and the church's response to it. They express concern over the reluctance of many church leaders to acknowledge Kirk's martyrdom and the broader cultural implications of this silence. The conversation delves into the truncation of the gospel, the political nature of the Christian message, and the need for the church to engage with cultural issues rather than retreating into silence. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the gospel as a transformative force in society and the necessity of addressing violence and injustice from a biblical perspective. Chapters:00:00 Cold Open00:25 Podcast Intro00:46 Introduction and Welcome01:09 Discussing Charlie Kirk's Assassination02:24 Christian Response to Tragedy03:30 Critique of Gospel Coalition and Christianity Today05:09 The Role of the Church and the Gospel07:28 The Power and Scope of the Gospel14:06 Forgiveness and Justice in Christianity31:41 Secular and Christian Cultural Reactions34:44 Dissecting Paul's Article: Initial Criticisms36:22 The Downplaying of Cultural Moments37:49 The Role of Worship in Church39:46 Permissibility Structures for Violence and Apathy41:10 Historical and Biblical Parallels45:26 The Political Nature of the Gospel & the Church01:00:39 Hope in the Midst of Heartbreak01:05:32 Podcast Outro NEW!!! PRE-ORDER Dr. Boot's latest book, Think Christianly: Developing an Undivided Mind, today!:https://ezrapress.ca/products/think-christianly-developing-an-undivided-mind; Get your copy of the NEW, updated, and expanded version of Dr. Boot’s Mission of God with a brand-new study guide today!:https://ezrapress.ca/products/mission-of-god-10th-anniversary-edition; UPCOMING EVENTS:Ezra Conferences:Ezra Conference WEST | September 26–27, 2025: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstitute/ezraconference2025west/607143;Fall Bible Conference: https://brushfire.com/ezrainstituteusa/fall-bible-conference2025/593863/details; Ezra Conference EAST | November 01, 2025: More Information Coming Soon... For All Ezra Events: https://www.ezrainstitute.com/events/; Think Christianly about politics with the help of Dr. Boot’s latest book, “Ruler of Kings:” https://ezrapress.ca/products/ruler-of-kings-toward-a-christian-vision-of-government; Got Questions? Would you like to hear Dr. Boot answer your questions? Let us know in the comments or reach out to us at https://www.ezrainstitute.com/connect/contact/; For Ezra’s many print resources and to join our newsletter, visit: https://ezrapress.com. Stay up-to-date with all things Ezra Institute: https://www.ezrainstitute.com;Subscribe to Ezra’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPVvQDHHrOOjziyqUaN9VoA?sub_confirmation=1;Fight Laugh Feast Network: https://pubtv.flfnetwork.com/tabs/audio/podcasts/8297;Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ezra-institute-podcast-for-cultural-reformation/id1336078503;Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0dW1gDarpzdrDMLPjKYZW2?si=bee3e91ed9a54885;Subscribe to our Rumble Channel - https://rumble.com/c/c-6444461. Wherever you find our content, please like, subscribe, rate, or review it; it truly does help.