Introduction
In September 2025, a tragic event shocked the conservative and Christian world: the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA (TPUSA). While many grieved, mourned, and even elevated Kirk to near-sainthood, Pastor Matt Trewhella of Mercy Seat Christian Church issued a sobering warning. His message was not one of personal attack, but a biblical call to examine compromise, hypocrisy, and the dangerous normalization of sin within the church and conservative movement.
This essay restructures and presents Pastor Trewhella’s message as a teaching tool for Christians who desire clarity in discerning between political zeal and biblical fidelity.
Praying Without Compromising
Trewhella began by clarifying that Christians can both pray for those who suffer and also rebuke their public sins. When Charlie Kirk was shot, he prayed for him and encouraged others to do the same. Yet he also reminded his congregation of Kirk’s public actions, especially TPUSA’s decision to platform homosexual activists.
“If a brother has been shot, I’m going to pray for him. If a brother is doing public wrong, I am going to speak against it.”
This dual approach reflects biblical fidelity: compassion for individuals, yet unwavering resistance to sin.
The Left–Right Trap and the Deification of Leaders
The pastor warned against being trapped in the left-right paradigm that fuels division but rarely produces righteousness. He observed how Kirk’s death prompted idolatrous praise, with many conservatives and ministries treating him as a saint.
This misplaced adoration, Trewhella argued, distracts believers from the true need: repentance and obedience to Christ. Political movements cannot replace the gospel.
TPUSA and the Normalization of Homosexuality
Central to Trewhella’s warning is TPUSA’s open platforming of homosexual activists such as Scott Presler, Dave Rubin, Rob Smith, and others.
- In 2023 and 2024, TPUSA paid millions to Presler, placing him on stages before Christian and conservative audiences.
- Kirk repeatedly defended the inclusion of homosexuals, using arguments common among secular activists (e.g., “What does it matter what people do in their bedroom?”).
- Videos show Kirk shaming young Christians who questioned this compromise, while crowds applauded his position.
According to Trewhella, these actions intentionally normalize homosexual sin among Christians and conservatives, eroding biblical standards.
Redefining “Freedom”
Kirk and TPUSA presented homosexual inclusion as a matter of “freedom.” Trewhella countered:
- True liberty is freedom to do what is right, not license to embrace sin.
- Calling sin “freedom” undermines God’s law and confuses younger generations.
- This redefinition of freedom mirrors broader cultural decay, where liberty is severed from obedience to God.
Political Opportunism and Christian Complicity
Trewhella exposed how politicians, governors, and church leaders have aligned with TPUSA’s agenda for influence and gain.
- Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, despite signing a bill to protect same-sex marriage, spoke at TPUSA events to Christian crowds.
- Conservative figures praised Kirk as a unifying hero while ignoring his promotion of homosexual normalization.
- Christian leaders tied their ministries to Kirk’s movement, seeking donations, clicks, and approval.
This, he argued, reflects a tragic pattern of compromise: choosing popularity and power over faithfulness to Christ.
Homosexuality: Sin and Crime
Trewhella reminded his hearers that homosexuality is not merely a personal sin but, under God’s law, also a crime.
- Western civilization historically criminalized homosexual practice for over 1,500 years, not by invading bedrooms but by suppressing public vice.
- By removing such laws, society has unleashed confusion and corruption upon children and families.
- Kirk’s rhetoric, dismissing concerns as “theocracy,” reveals ignorance of the reality that God already rules the earth. Civil governments are accountable to His law.
Eternal Consequences
The pastor emphasized the eternal danger of TPUSA’s actions. By affirming and platforming homosexuals as Christians and leaders, Kirk led individuals to believe they could persist in sin and still inherit eternal life.
Rob Smith, for example, recounted how Kirk assured him, “God loves you, you are part of this movement, and we’ve got your back.” To Trewhella, this was spiritual malpractice—reassuring sinners rather than calling them to repentance.
National Judgment
Throughout the message, Trewhella tied America’s decline to its national sins—abortion and homosexuality. He argued that:
- TPUSA has helped soften Christians’ resistance to these sins by aligning them with Republican politics.
- A false “revival” is being promoted, one without repentance, conviction of sin, or biblical reformation.
- This civil religion, blending Christianity with political conservatism, invites the just judgment of God upon the nation.
True Revival: Repentance and Obedience
According to Trewhella, revival is not about filling stadiums or memorializing leaders but about:
- Repentance from sin, both personal and national.
- Obedience to God’s Word in family, church, and civil government.
- Fear of the Lord, not fear of losing political power.
“We do not overcome evil with evil. We do not join with evil to stop evil.”
Christians must resist the temptation to compromise for influence, remembering that faithfulness to Christ matters more than political victories.
Conclusion
Pastor Trewhella’s sermon is not an easy message—it confronts compromise head-on. He acknowledges the grief surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death but warns against the idolatry of man, the normalization of sin, and the false hope of politics without repentance.
The church’s task is clear:
- To proclaim God’s law and gospel.
- To call men and nations to repentance.
- To refuse partnership with wickedness, even if it promises influence.
“Let us be Christian men and women. Let us do right by men, but let us remember to do right by Christ.”
