I'm Charlie

Joel Balin
Sep 16
4 min read

Back in March, I attended Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA Faith conference with thousands of other pastors and faith leaders. I was absolutely astounded at the effect Charlie Kirk had on the faith community.

Pastors were awakened to the urgent need for us to engage the culture, shape the government, and reach the next generation. We all walked away equipped, inspired, and motivated to make a difference in every sphere of influence we can.

Charlie Kirk was not only inspirational in what he did, how he stood for Jesus, and the immense organizations he built—he was also the ultimate role model for every believer.

It’s highly unlikely that any one person will be able to replace this uniquely gifted martyr. His mantle was immense. His voice reached faith, politics, and the next generation all at once. But what no single man can carry alone, God has entrusted to a spiritual army.

That is just what God is doing. As each of us—inspired by Charlie’s sacrifice—commits to doing our part, we share the weight of the mantle, and together we multiply the mission.

Dana Loesch said it best: “A million more Charlie Kirks have just been created.”

When God asks, “Now, whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8), we can be one in a million and answer, “Here I am, Lord. Send me. I’m Charlie.”

“A million Charlies can arise if we place our faith where he placed his, taking a stand with:

Faith Over Titles

Charlie wasn’t a pastor, but he stirred pastors to rise up. Like the first Christian martyr, Stephen, who had no official priestly office, his Spirit-filled words cut to the heart. Influence flows from God’s Spirit, not human credentials.

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power. [His enemies] could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke” — Acts 6:8,10

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” — 2 Corinthians 3:5

God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Influence flows from the Holy Spirit and God’s authority, not man’s approval.

Truth Above Politics

Charlie wasn’t a politician, but he shaped politics with conviction. He transformed the youth vote by speaking the truth on hostile college campuses.

He wasn’t afraid to call out corruption—just as John the Baptist confronted Herod, and Jesus rebuked the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. His allegiance was to biblical truth, and he modeled the courage to speak what others tried to silence.

“For John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’” — Mark 6:18

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs... you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness… You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?— Matthew 23:27,28,33.

We don’t have to hold office to shape the future—we only have to hold fast to the truth.

Connection Over Credentials

Charlie Kirk completed only one semester of college, yet he connected with and educated more students in truth than their “learned” professors. While universities indoctrinated and blinded students with woke ideology and leftist agenda, Charlie opened the eyes of thousands.

He led students to Jesus and to biblical truth in the very places where truth was shunned, Jesus was mocked, and lies were promoted. His influence didn’t come from academic degrees but from authentic connection and Spirit-filled conviction.

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” — Romans 1:25

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the children come to me, and stop hindering them, because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” — Luke 18:16

The kingdom doesn’t advance by credentials on a wall but by connection in the heart. Charlie connected with college students through a genuine desire to help them embrace Jesus and His truth.

Courage Over Comfort

In the classic movie Spartacus, the Roman general offers to spare the defeated slaves if they will only give up the identity of their leader. Spartacus is ready to sacrifice himself to save his men. But before he can rise, one by one, his brothers in arms stand in defiance and declare—knowing it will cost them their lives—“I’m Spartacus.”

In the same way, as millions of us wear “I’m Charlie” shirts or take up the mission Charlie Kirk lived and died for, we declare defiance of the enemy who wanted to silence truth by striking down a leader so his followers—followers of Jesus— would scatter.

But God is calling us to stand up for Jesus, stand like Charlie, and stand with each other—declaring with one voice: “I’m Charlie. I’m with Christ. I’m unashamed and unafraid.”

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” — Revelation 12:11

As millions of us carry on Charlie Kirk’s legacy, one day we’ll hear what he heard last Wednesday,

“Well done, good and faithful servant” — Matthew 25:23

When we’re asked, “Who will stand for truth?” may our answer echo loudly—

“Here I am, Lord. Send me. I’m Charlie.”