Pastor Greg Laurie has a blunt question after comedian Dave Chappelle joked about Charlie Kirk’s murder: “What is going on in our culture right now?”
In a recent video, Laurie confronted Chappelle’s remarks at Madison Square Garden, where the comedian said he felt “better” since Kirk was killed.
“He feels better over the murder of an innocent young man simply standing for his convictions,” Laurie said.
Chappelle’s comments triggered widespread backlash online, drawing criticism from Elon Musk and Piers Morgan.
Radio host Charlamagne tha God also rebuked the joke on “The Breakfast Club,” rejecting the idea of finding humor in someone being killed over their views.
“Any of us can be shot, and I don’t want anybody getting shot because somebody disagrees with their opinion,” Charlamagne said, according to Mediaite.
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Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, condemned public figures who treat political assassination as entertainment. Without naming Chappelle, she described the lasting pain her husband’s killing has caused her and their two children and urged Americans to reject the celebration of political violence, Variety reported.
Laurie also addressed a clip of Jennifer Welch and Angie Sullivan, hosts of the “I’ve Had It” podcast, mocking Kirk’s death. He connected the cruelty to Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 3 about the last days, when people would become selfish, proud, unloving and hostile toward what is good.
“Hey, we’re living in those days right now,” Laurie said.
Then came his challenge: “And I think it’s time to fight back.”
His next words made clear what that response should look like. Laurie rejected answering cruelty with mean-spirited attacks.
“No, let’s do the opposite,” he said. “Let’s do what the Bible tells us to do. Let’s shine the light of Jesus Christ in this very dark world in which we’re living.”
The problem reaches deeper than a comedian’s punchline. Drawing on Scripture’s description of the deceitful human heart, Laurie pointed to the transformation that comes through Jesus.
“Only Jesus Christ can change the human heart. Only the gospel can transform a life,” he said.
Laurie acknowledged that some people have heard him make that point repeatedly. He intends to keep making it.
“That’s right. I always say that, and I’ll keep saying that because the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.”
He closed by calling Christians to carry that witness forward.
“More than ever, we need to shine our light as Christians in this very dark world,” Laurie said. “That’s what Charlie Kirk was doing. We need to follow his example.”
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
