Recently we’ve seen horrific crimes being carried out by some of the youngest members of society. From the school shooter at Annunciation Catholic School, to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the Evergreen High School shooter, there is clearly a spiritual battle happening that is overtaking the hearts and minds of the next generation either for good or evil.
According to Fox News, the 16-year-old Evergreen High School student, Desmond Holly, was being monitored by the FBI starting back in July for his online activity fascination regarding mass shootings like Columbine and his intrigue with neo-Nazi beliefs. According the the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Holly had an account with a gore platform where he “commented on posts about shootings in Parkland (2018), Buffalo (2022) and at a Quebec City mosque (2017).” The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office also noted that Holly had become radical through an “extremist network.”
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This sad story weaves right into the that of the Charlie Kirk assassin, Tyler Robinson, who had also become “radicalized” and decided he was going to murder Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.” Robinson had become increasingly leftist and pro-LGBTQ, living with his transgender partner at the time of the Kirk assassination. The Annunciation Catholic School shooter, Robin Westman also became indoctrinated with the transgender movement, and was obsessed with demonic imagery and depictions of violent murders before targeting children praying during mass.
These recent cases all point to the same thing: the next generation is lost and looking for purpose, and there is a real evil, a true darkness that is trying to overtake young people. Isolation, radicalized content and the acceptance ungodly things in our culture is leading them astray so far as to believe that human life itself is unimportant. The darkness we are seeing manifest in the next generation is not merely the result of politics, culture or even mental health—it is evidence of a very real spiritual battle raging for the souls of young people. The devil comes only to steal, kill and destroy, and we are witnessing the devastating fruit of his schemes in the form of violence, confusion and rebellion against God’s design. The crisis facing our nation is not ultimately a policy issue but a heart issue—one that only Jesus Christ can heal.
At the same time, we are witnessing something remarkable: countless young people are also turning to Jesus, encountering His presence in worship gatherings, prayer movements and even in their schools. This generation may be under fierce attack, but they are also positioned to be the spark of a great revival. God is raising up bold voices who are unashamed of the gospel, and we cannot afford to back down from fanning the flames of this move of the Spirit.
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Now is not the time for believers to retreat in fear or remain silent. It is the time to shine the light of Christ all the brighter, to live out and proclaim the unshakable truth of God’s Word, and to pull those caught in darkness into the glorious hope found only in Jesus. The hour is urgent, but the gospel is still the power of God unto salvation, and it remains the answer for every lost soul.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.
