Making Waves with Boldness

The shock of Charlie Kirk’s assassination is felt deeply in our household. My seventeen-year-old son has an interest in both ministry and politics, making Charlie Kirk someone he admired, respected, and considered an example. Not all heroes wear capes or have star status in sports or Hollywood arenas.

Some of the greatest heroes stand at microphones, in classrooms, or behind pulpits, challenging us to think critically, to weigh the evidence, and to choose confident conviction over convenience. At the same time, they know when to listen more than they speak, to discuss rather than argue, and to rest in Truth rather than being wise in their own eyes. Anyone can argue simply to prove themselves right. Real strength, boldness, and wisdom come from hearing other viewpoints, asking questions, and creating curiosity. 

Charlie’s boldness gave my son a model of someone unafraid to stand, even in the face of fierce opposition. His assassination serves as a sobering reminder that the fight for truth always comes at a cost. Boldness that matters most is not political or cultural—it is eternal.

Songs like We Will Stand and King of Kings run through my mind today. “If you belong to Jesus, you belong with me.” Those lyrics raise an important question: How does one belong to Jesus? Scripture tells us plainly—without opinions, traditions, or vague answers.

• At Pentecost, when the crowd was “cut to the heart” and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:37–38, ESV)
• Saul, who became Paul, was told, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” (Acts 22:16, ESV)
• The Ethiopian eunuch, after hearing the good news about Jesus, declared, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36, ESV)
• Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit even before baptism, yet Peter commanded them, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.” (Acts 10:47–48, ESV)

Belonging to Jesus was never described as a quiet prayer, a feeling, or merely agreeing with Him. James 2:19 says that “even the demons believe and shudder!” Belief has always been sealed in repentance (turning away from sin), confession (agreement with God about sin), and baptism (immersion)—dying with Him, being buried with Him, and being raised to new life. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3–4, ESV)

As Peter later wrote, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21, ESV)

I’ll let the world keep its hate, violence, and confusion. I choose instead to boldly surrender to Christ on His terms, not my own. The voice of the Gospel speaks clearly, even in the midst of grief and tragedy. In Acts 18:9-10, God tells Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” Even when we face opposition, when we stand on Truth, we have nothing to fear. In simplest terms: Boldness is surrender.

The question is: Will you boldly listen, respond, and belong to Jesus?