Into the Fire

noun (American Heritage dictionary) Idol

1. An image used as an object of worship.
2. A false god.
3. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively

noun (Merriam Webster dictionary) Icon

An icon is a person or thing widely admired for having great influence or significance in a particular area, or it can refer to a graphic symbol on a computer display that represents an application or function.

There is a distinct difference between the two identifying words. People worship all kinds of idols, making them the most valued items in their lives. It could be money, their job, status, a musician or film star, and the list goes on. They often center their lives around the item they worship and nothing is equal to it. 

noun (American Heritage dictionary) worship

1. The reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object.
2. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.
   "a chapel where worship is held daily."
3. Ardent admiration or love; adoration.
   "the worship of celebrities."

Christians are well aware of WHO they are to worship and who they classify as icons of the faith. They don't worship idols and they don't worship icons. They worship the triune God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. 

To suggest that Christians have made an idol of Charlie Kirk is an insult. We know he was flesh and blood. We also know he was gunned down by a kid with a rifle who had been deceived by the devil and chose to believe his lies. What really happened is that through his actions, those who really didn't know who Charlie was now know he stood up for biblical values expressed from his heart to those who were just like the shooter: lost, confused, bent on silencing the Love of Jesus Christ spread on college campuses, television, YouTube, podcasts, and most other sources of social media. The shooter chose to believe the lies coming from the mainstream media, many professors on multiple college campuses, rags which still refer to themselves as "newspapers," and from the halls of Congress. 

In essence, this kid worshiped the devil and his minions spreading the lies about who Charlie was and why he went to college campuses and appeared on television. Charlie wanted to be an expeditor of faith and love, of healing and truth, and he didn't flinch at the insults or the hatred that he faced because He knew the Savior of the world was worth the time, effort, devotion, and proclamations. He answered an abundance of questions and put down even more lies with absolutes and complete truth, destroying the narrative which is still being peddled by mainstream media. There are so many direct quotes from Charlie and those who knew him well that dispute every accusation they've made about him. 

Truth always prevails. Maybe sometimes it's in the shadows. Maybe sometimes it's in the songs. And maybe sometimes it shouts from the rooftops not where the shooter lies but where TRUTH CANNOT BE DENIED! 

There's an important and critical difference between an idol and an icon. An idol will fade away, worthless.

An icon lives forever in the hearts who want to continue the message. 

Father, thank you for Charlie Kirk. May we all be stronger for delivering your message. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.