When someone dies, especially a public figure, people rush to remember the things they said. That has happened with Charlie Kirk. His words stirred strong feelings. Some called them bold. Others called them offensive. And after his death, those words became the focus—people judging, mocking, and dismissing.
But here’s the question: why do we so often take words of warning as insults, instead of asking where they come from?
The Bible gives us a picture of this. In the book of Proverbs, warnings are called wisdom. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” In other words, sometimes the people who care about us most will say things that sting—not because they hate us, but because they love us enough to warn us.
Think about it: if someone saw you walking toward a cliff, wouldn’t you want them to yell? The shout might feel harsh. It might even embarrass you. But their heart wouldn’t be judgment—it would be love.
Jesus often warned people, too. He told the Pharisees that their hearts were far from God. He told His disciples that following Him meant carrying a cross. To many, His words felt offensive. And yet every warning came from a heart that wanted people to live, not fall.
But as a society, we don’t like warnings anymore. We prefer compliments. We want to hear, “You’re fine just the way you are.” So when someone speaks strongly, even out of concern, we shut them down as “judgmental.” Instead of asking, “What’s in this person’s heart?” we assume the worst.
Ezekiel 33:8–9 gives a picture of a watchman: someone who sees danger ahead and sounds the alarm. If the people ignore him, they fall into ruin—but the watchman did his job. His warning came from responsibility, not hatred. That’s what truth-tellers do. Their words may sound sharp, but often their heart is to protect, not condemn.
Charlie Kirk spoke in ways that some people hated. Maybe he didn’t always get it right—who of us does? But it’s worth asking: what if some of his words were meant as warnings? What if behind the sharp edges was a heart concerned about where the world was headed? If we dismiss every hard word as judgment, we might miss a message we needed to hear.
Our challenge is to learn to look deeper. Jesus said in John 7:24, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” That means we can’t just react to tone, or to words that make us uncomfortable. We need to look at the heart.
When someone warns you—whether it’s an employer, a teacher, a pastor, or even a friend—don’t ask first, “Do I like how this sounds?” Instead ask, “What’s their heart for me? Do they love me enough to tell me something I don’t want to hear?”
You will always hear voices all around you: some flattering, some challenging. The flattering ones will make you feel good, but not all of them are for your good. The challenging ones might sting and hurt, but sometimes those are the voices that save you.
So here’s the lesson: warnings are not always insults. Strong words are not always judgment. Sometimes they are love in disguise, spoken by someone who cares enough to risk being misunderstood.
And that’s how God speaks to us, too. His Word doesn’t just comfort—it also convicts. It doesn’t just soothe—it warns. But behind every command, every caution, is a heart of love that longs for us to live.
Joy in Truth 