In a heartfelt tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, Vice President JD Vance underscored the importance of Christianity in politics, a sentiment that resonated with the audience at the memorial service.
Vance, who has recently been more vocal about his faith, expressed his admiration for Kirk's unwavering belief in the Gospel and its influence on his political life.
"I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than my entire time in public life," Vance confessed, according to Breitbart. His candid admission was met with enthusiastic approval from the audience.
He continued, "I always felt a little uncomfortable talking about my faith in public, as much as I love the Lord and as much as it was an important part of my life Charlie knew that we were all children of God. He knew deep down the truth of Scripture, and from that confidence, everything else flowed."
Vance praised Kirk's ability to navigate political differences, not as contentious battlegrounds, but as stepping stones in the quest for truth. He admired Kirk's commitment to love others, regardless of their beliefs or actions, while simultaneously standing firm in his convictions of right and wrong.
"Charlie exemplified kindness, courage, and a commitment to open debate, and he was a great debater, and we loved him for it. But Charlie loved debate not because he excelled at it, but because it was the vehicle for bringing the light of truth to dark places. And Charlie Kirk brought many truths in his life," Vance stated.
He went on to enumerate the truths that Kirk championed: the importance of youth participation, the sanctity of marriage and family, the need for order and prosperity in the nation, and the preciousness of life at all stages.
Vance also highlighted Kirk's love for history and his dedication to the tradition of questioning, searching, and teaching, a tradition established by Socrates over two millennia ago. He described Kirk as a blend of Athens and Jerusalem, embodying both reason and faith.
"But if he loved those places, they were not his home. America was his home, and he was willing to die for it," Vance said. He emphasized Kirk's fervent love for America, his belief in the country's potential for a brighter future, and his understanding that such a future would require hard work, sacrifice, and truth-telling.
Vance lauded Kirk's leadership in creating a movement that demanded courage, hard work, and the building of leaders. "The movement, which he created, demanded more. It demanded courage. It demanded hard work. It demanded building, and it demanded leaders, my friends, and in Charlie Kirk, we found a great American leader," he said.
Vance acknowledged the impact of Kirk's organization, Turning Point, on the political landscape, bringing millions of young people into conversation and advocacy. He credited Kirk's influence for their presence at the memorial, not just out of personal affection, but in recognition of his significant contributions.
"He asked of us, not just that we talk about saving our country, but that we actually go and do it and we do it together," Vance declared. He ended his tribute with a call to remember Kirk's legacy and to continue fighting for it, despite the hateful voices celebrating his demise.
"He would encourage us to remember that for every hateful voice celebrating his murder, there are 1,000 people mourning it and fighting for his legacy every single day."
Login