Honor Charlie’s Memory, ‘Don’t Let Your Voice Get Softer’

Susie Wiles is President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, a longtime Florida political insider perhaps best known for being a Washington outsider.

In the aftermath of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Wiles reportedly pulled the White House staff together late on Wednesday evening and delivered the following message, “Go home, hug your children, hug your spouse, be careful, take precautions — and don’t let your voice get softer. Charlie would want everybody to speak as they had been and more.”

There is plenty of evidence that Susie Wiles is right when projecting the now late Charlie Kirk’s charge to the rising generation. He was unapologetically and unashamedly bold when it came to speaking up and speaking out. He knew that doing so came with risks, but was still willing to nevertheless wade into the deep waters of debate.

“If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas – not run away from them or try and silence them,” he once said.

Cultural engagement isn’t an optional element for Christians. We’re commanded to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), “serve one another humbly in love” (Gal. 5:13), and “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22).

There’s no free pass to retreat into our holy huddle and live out our days detached and alone. Even in the face of opposition, we’re given an out to back down and turn around.

But then there is the great and ongoing debate about how we engage.

There are some who might read Susie Wiles’ words to not get softer and think they run counter to Solomon’s observation that “Gracious words are like a honeycomb (Proverbs 15:1) or the Apostle Paul’s charge to “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4:6).

Yet, she’s clearly not talking about tone, but frequency, boldness, earnestness, and enthusiasm.

In a troubled world, it’s the Christian who has the message of ultimate hope. In a chaotic culture, it’s the believer who brings peace.

We must not get softer. We must strengthen our resolve. Redouble our energy. Reimagine the opportunities God is placing before us.

We must be not just like Charlie Kirk – but be like Jesus, His Lord and Savior who he loved and adored.

Susie Wiles is right.

Don’t let your voice get softer.

Image from Getty.