Friday Church News Notes
September 26, 2025 - Volume 26, Issue 39
The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.
SOME THOUGHTS ON CHARLIE KIRK’S ASSASSINATION (Friday Church News Notes, September 26, 2025, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA and Turning Point Faith, youth influencer, religious unifier, and conservative political activist, was assassinated while speaking at a large outdoor forum at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. His death has produced a massive outpouring of attention, both negative and positive. His body was transported from Utah in Air Force Two accompanied by Vice President J.D. Vance. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Kirk. The American flag was flown at half staff across the nation. A memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, drew 100,000 and was attended by U.S. President Donald Trump and other government officials. Following are some of our thoughts on this:
We were deeply saddened by Kirk’s murder. His calm, compassionate, conservative, unifying voice was silenced by a deluded man with a wicked agenda. Kirk was a remarkable young man.
We are reminded of the depravity of America’s moral character. This is evident by the vicious murder itself, as well as by the many voices that were raised in support of the murder (including large numbers of men and women in the military). Nothing President Trump does will change the vile moral character of America or protect the nation from God’s judgment. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
Charlie Kirk did not preach hate. It is widely stated among his opponents, especially by those who gloated in his death, that he preached hate. One student said, “A lot of my friends that day were like, ‘Well, I feel like I’m happy that Charlie Kirk is dead, but then I also feel guilty that I feel that way.’ I think a lot of it is just he was spreading so much hate, misinformation, encouraging violence, and so I think that in this scenario, a lot of people were not necessarily happy that he died but happy that his voice was silenced” (“Happy That His Voice Was Silenced,” Washington Times, Sept. 23, 2025). This is false and dangerous thinking. To hold to traditional marriage, to a biblical view of male and female, to liberty of speech and liberty of religion, to law and order, to second amendment rights, is not hate. Those who think like this are brainwashed and deceived.
The spirit of sodomy is spreading globally. We see the same characteristics today as in Scripture (Genesis 18-19). Sodomy is vile, unreasonable, oppressive, angry, violent, and destructive. Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson, was the “lover” of a homosexual man “transitioning to a woman.”
The internet is gravely dangerous, as is the online gaming world. The internet is an unprecedented communication tool that is an instrument for much good, but it is also a jungle of error, heresy, and nuttiness and a cesspool of moral depravity. “Markings on [Robinson’s] bullet casings point to a dark movement in meme culture--where young people fantasise about disrupting and destroying the world through chaos. ... Many perpetrators of modern violence are young men embedded in intense online communities such as Twitch and 4chan--where many memes originate” (“The sinister role of ‘black pilling,’” Independent UK, Sept. 19, 2025). Robinson’s family said he changed over a short period of time through depraved, nihilistic internet influences. Utah Governor Spencer Cox warned of Robinson’s links to gaming and the “dark internet,” which he called “poison.” He said the “radicalization began amid video games, Discord chats, Reddit forums, and obscure memes” (“Reddit culture,” El Pais, Sept. 16, 2025). By social media, skillful recruiters of various persuasions actively seek to propagandize young people and lead them into hateful, violent views. They have their own in-house terminology and memes. They dehumanize their enemies. They use “dark and sarcastic humor.” “At the same time, social media algorithms function to shunt users into ever more sensational content” (“Kirk shooting suspect,” The Conversation, Sept. 16, 2025). This is a loud wakeup call for churches to take effective measures to protect their members from the grave dangers of the internet.
From a political conservative viewpoint and even a general religious viewpoint, Kirk’s assassination might result in the growth of conservative thinking among young people and some element of “spiritual” awakening (though probably not biblical regeneration). Charlie’s wife, Erika, said in an interview that since the assassination they have received tens of thousands of requests to form Turning Point ministries on campuses across America.
We would warn that Charlie Kirk’s memorial service featured Christian rock, which is ecumenical, charismatic, mystical, immodest, and conformed to the world. The music went on for about two and a half hours! One song, “The Blessing,” consisted largely of the word “amen” sung repeatedly for many minutes. We’ve heard of “7/11 music,” which refers to seven words sung 11 times, but this was 1 word sung 35 times! If this is not “vain repetition,” I don’t know what is (Matthew 6:7). This empty-minded, hypnotic type of thing creates the emotional experience sought by charismatic worshipers. There were 100 million streams in the first 24 hours, so there is no doubt that this event will increase the influence of contemporary Christian music. Unsaved people can be attracted by it because it is the world’s music and the lyrics typically don’t deal with “negative” Bible truths such as repentance, judgment, testing, discernment, contending for the faith, or separation.
We must warn about the Kirk’s Christianity and Turning Point’s broad tent ecumenism. “TPUSA Faith exists to unite the Church around primary doctrine...” The doctrinal platform is so narrow, in fact, it encompasses the Roman Catholic Church. “Kirk’s wife is Catholic and for the last few months of his life he had been attending Mass with her” (“Charlie Kirk and the Catholic Church,” The American Catholic, Sept. 14, 2025). Erika Kirk was educated at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Catholic News Agency said “Charlie Kirk was ‘this close’ to becoming Catholic” (Sept. 19, 2025). There is a photo online of him attending mass (“Charlie Kirk showed deep respect toward Catholic faith,” Catholic Vote, Sept. 11, 2025). The Catholic mass is a heretical abomination whereby the blessed wafer, the host, allegedly becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ by the instrumentality of the priestly ritual. The host is kept in a tabernacle or a monstrance and worshiped as Christ. The mass is called “a re-sacrifice of Christ” by the Second Vatican Council. “For in it Christ perpetuates in an unbloody manner the sacrifice offered on the cross, offering himself to the Father for the world’s salvation through the ministry of priests” (Vatican Council II, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery, Introduction, C 1, 2). Kirk wore a “Saint Michael the Archangel Pendant,” which is now worn by Erika (Breitbart, Sept. 21, 2025). Charlie was associated with Dream City Church in Phoenix, a rock & roll congregation that is part of the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination that believes a born again child of God can lose his salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience to be sought subsequent to salvation and is evidenced by tongues speaking, and physical healing is promised because of Christ’s atonement. Charlie allowed for theistic evolution and the days of Genesis as long ages (“Charlie Kirk educating Bible haters,” Daily Dose of Wisdom, YouTube). Erika Kirk has been appointed the head of Turning Point, though the Bible forbids her to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12-19).
Broad tent evangelical ministries such as Turning Point do some good, but in the end they are building the one-world church and are bridges to every heresy that exists in our day. Christ has already assigned the business of His redeemed people for this age, and it is the Great Commission and the New Testament church (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 3:15). It is impossible to obey Christ’s Great Commission (“teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”) while pursuing a broad tent agenda. While appreciating any good thing in ministries such as Turning Point, we are going to obey God’s Word and mark and avoid error (Romans 16:17) and give our full attention to proclaiming and obeying the whole counsel of God. We refuse to join hands with any remnant of the apostasy, even if it is labeled “evangelical,” for a political agenda or any other purpose.
THE HUMMINGBIRD’S WRISTWATCH (Friday Church News Notes, September 26, 2025, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is from CreationMoments.com, August 18, 2025: “When you remember something that happened and where and when it happened, you are using what scientists call episodic memory. Scientists have traditionally thought that such memory was unique to man. Other scientists suspected that possibly some creatures may have episodic memory. For example, take the hummingbird with its fast metabolism. They need to eat often and remember where reliable sources of nutrition are to be found. At the same time, different flowers regenerate nectar at different rates. Researchers went to the natural habitat of the rufous hummingbird, equipped with some fake flowers and sugar water. The manmade flowers were constructed with reservoirs that could hold the sugar water. Half the flowers were refilled ten minutes after a bird would feed from it, while the other half were refilled twenty minutes after a feeding. Researchers found that the birds quickly learned which flowers were filled at which intervals. They soon returned to the flowers that were filled every ten minutes at ten-minute intervals while they waited twenty minutes in between visits to the other flowers. They noted that the birds did a good job of this even though they were keeping track of eight flowers. It makes more sense to believe that episodic memory is a sophisticated ability that is a gift from a caring God to those creatures whom He knew would need it. Ref: Science News, ‘Hummingbirds can clock flower refills.’”
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mt. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Ro. 13:11-14).
We were deeply saddened by Kirk’s murder. His calm, compassionate, conservative, unifying voice was silenced by a deluded man with a wicked agenda. Kirk was a remarkable young man.
We are reminded of the depravity of America’s moral character. This is evident by the vicious murder itself, as well as by the many voices that were raised in support of the murder (including large numbers of men and women in the military). Nothing President Trump does will change the vile moral character of America or protect the nation from God’s judgment. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Psalm 9:17).
Charlie Kirk did not preach hate. It is widely stated among his opponents, especially by those who gloated in his death, that he preached hate. One student said, “A lot of my friends that day were like, ‘Well, I feel like I’m happy that Charlie Kirk is dead, but then I also feel guilty that I feel that way.’ I think a lot of it is just he was spreading so much hate, misinformation, encouraging violence, and so I think that in this scenario, a lot of people were not necessarily happy that he died but happy that his voice was silenced” (“Happy That His Voice Was Silenced,” Washington Times, Sept. 23, 2025). This is false and dangerous thinking. To hold to traditional marriage, to a biblical view of male and female, to liberty of speech and liberty of religion, to law and order, to second amendment rights, is not hate. Those who think like this are brainwashed and deceived.
The spirit of sodomy is spreading globally. We see the same characteristics today as in Scripture (Genesis 18-19). Sodomy is vile, unreasonable, oppressive, angry, violent, and destructive. Kirk’s assassin, Tyler Robinson, was the “lover” of a homosexual man “transitioning to a woman.”
The internet is gravely dangerous, as is the online gaming world. The internet is an unprecedented communication tool that is an instrument for much good, but it is also a jungle of error, heresy, and nuttiness and a cesspool of moral depravity. “Markings on [Robinson’s] bullet casings point to a dark movement in meme culture--where young people fantasise about disrupting and destroying the world through chaos. ... Many perpetrators of modern violence are young men embedded in intense online communities such as Twitch and 4chan--where many memes originate” (“The sinister role of ‘black pilling,’” Independent UK, Sept. 19, 2025). Robinson’s family said he changed over a short period of time through depraved, nihilistic internet influences. Utah Governor Spencer Cox warned of Robinson’s links to gaming and the “dark internet,” which he called “poison.” He said the “radicalization began amid video games, Discord chats, Reddit forums, and obscure memes” (“Reddit culture,” El Pais, Sept. 16, 2025). By social media, skillful recruiters of various persuasions actively seek to propagandize young people and lead them into hateful, violent views. They have their own in-house terminology and memes. They dehumanize their enemies. They use “dark and sarcastic humor.” “At the same time, social media algorithms function to shunt users into ever more sensational content” (“Kirk shooting suspect,” The Conversation, Sept. 16, 2025). This is a loud wakeup call for churches to take effective measures to protect their members from the grave dangers of the internet.
From a political conservative viewpoint and even a general religious viewpoint, Kirk’s assassination might result in the growth of conservative thinking among young people and some element of “spiritual” awakening (though probably not biblical regeneration). Charlie’s wife, Erika, said in an interview that since the assassination they have received tens of thousands of requests to form Turning Point ministries on campuses across America.
We would warn that Charlie Kirk’s memorial service featured Christian rock, which is ecumenical, charismatic, mystical, immodest, and conformed to the world. The music went on for about two and a half hours! One song, “The Blessing,” consisted largely of the word “amen” sung repeatedly for many minutes. We’ve heard of “7/11 music,” which refers to seven words sung 11 times, but this was 1 word sung 35 times! If this is not “vain repetition,” I don’t know what is (Matthew 6:7). This empty-minded, hypnotic type of thing creates the emotional experience sought by charismatic worshipers. There were 100 million streams in the first 24 hours, so there is no doubt that this event will increase the influence of contemporary Christian music. Unsaved people can be attracted by it because it is the world’s music and the lyrics typically don’t deal with “negative” Bible truths such as repentance, judgment, testing, discernment, contending for the faith, or separation.
We must warn about the Kirk’s Christianity and Turning Point’s broad tent ecumenism. “TPUSA Faith exists to unite the Church around primary doctrine...” The doctrinal platform is so narrow, in fact, it encompasses the Roman Catholic Church. “Kirk’s wife is Catholic and for the last few months of his life he had been attending Mass with her” (“Charlie Kirk and the Catholic Church,” The American Catholic, Sept. 14, 2025). Erika Kirk was educated at Notre Dame Preparatory High School in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Catholic News Agency said “Charlie Kirk was ‘this close’ to becoming Catholic” (Sept. 19, 2025). There is a photo online of him attending mass (“Charlie Kirk showed deep respect toward Catholic faith,” Catholic Vote, Sept. 11, 2025). The Catholic mass is a heretical abomination whereby the blessed wafer, the host, allegedly becomes the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ by the instrumentality of the priestly ritual. The host is kept in a tabernacle or a monstrance and worshiped as Christ. The mass is called “a re-sacrifice of Christ” by the Second Vatican Council. “For in it Christ perpetuates in an unbloody manner the sacrifice offered on the cross, offering himself to the Father for the world’s salvation through the ministry of priests” (Vatican Council II, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery, Introduction, C 1, 2). Kirk wore a “Saint Michael the Archangel Pendant,” which is now worn by Erika (Breitbart, Sept. 21, 2025). Charlie was associated with Dream City Church in Phoenix, a rock & roll congregation that is part of the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination that believes a born again child of God can lose his salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience to be sought subsequent to salvation and is evidenced by tongues speaking, and physical healing is promised because of Christ’s atonement. Charlie allowed for theistic evolution and the days of Genesis as long ages (“Charlie Kirk educating Bible haters,” Daily Dose of Wisdom, YouTube). Erika Kirk has been appointed the head of Turning Point, though the Bible forbids her to teach men (1 Timothy 2:12-19).
Broad tent evangelical ministries such as Turning Point do some good, but in the end they are building the one-world church and are bridges to every heresy that exists in our day. Christ has already assigned the business of His redeemed people for this age, and it is the Great Commission and the New Testament church (Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Timothy 3:15). It is impossible to obey Christ’s Great Commission (“teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”) while pursuing a broad tent agenda. While appreciating any good thing in ministries such as Turning Point, we are going to obey God’s Word and mark and avoid error (Romans 16:17) and give our full attention to proclaiming and obeying the whole counsel of God. We refuse to join hands with any remnant of the apostasy, even if it is labeled “evangelical,” for a political agenda or any other purpose.
THE HUMMINGBIRD’S WRISTWATCH (Friday Church News Notes, September 26, 2025, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The following is from CreationMoments.com, August 18, 2025: “When you remember something that happened and where and when it happened, you are using what scientists call episodic memory. Scientists have traditionally thought that such memory was unique to man. Other scientists suspected that possibly some creatures may have episodic memory. For example, take the hummingbird with its fast metabolism. They need to eat often and remember where reliable sources of nutrition are to be found. At the same time, different flowers regenerate nectar at different rates. Researchers went to the natural habitat of the rufous hummingbird, equipped with some fake flowers and sugar water. The manmade flowers were constructed with reservoirs that could hold the sugar water. Half the flowers were refilled ten minutes after a bird would feed from it, while the other half were refilled twenty minutes after a feeding. Researchers found that the birds quickly learned which flowers were filled at which intervals. They soon returned to the flowers that were filled every ten minutes at ten-minute intervals while they waited twenty minutes in between visits to the other flowers. They noted that the birds did a good job of this even though they were keeping track of eight flowers. It makes more sense to believe that episodic memory is a sophisticated ability that is a gift from a caring God to those creatures whom He knew would need it. Ref: Science News, ‘Hummingbirds can clock flower refills.’”
CONCLUSION: The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this obviously does not imply an endorsement. We trust that our readers will not be discouraged. It is God’s will that we know the times (1 Ch. 12:32; Mt. 16:3) and that we be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves. The News Notes remind us that the hour is very late, and we need to be ready for the Lord’s coming. Are you sure that you are born again? Are you living for Christ? “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof” (Ro. 13:11-14).
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Distributed by Way of Life Literature, publisher of Bible Study Materials and reports for Fundamental Baptists and other fundamentalist, Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. OUR GOAL IN THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF OUR MINISTRY (REPORTS AND FRIDAY NEWS) IS NOT DEVOTIONAL, BUT TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO ASSIST PREACHERS IN THE PROTECTION OF THE CHURCHES IN THIS APOSTATE HOUR.
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Way of Life Literature preaching and publishing ministry is based at Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. A mail stop is maintained in Port Huron, Michigan.
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