Several people were fired after mocking Charlie Kirk’s death online, but is that real justice? This article explores a biblical response to offense and mockery, showing why retaliation through job loss does not reflect the gospel. Christians are called to respond with grace and truth, not with silence or celebration when others are punished.
By Michael Peabody –
After Charlie Kirk died, the reactions came quickly. Some offered sympathy. Others stayed quiet. And then there were those who mocked him. A few people posted sarcastic tweets. Others shared jokes or memes. None of it was kind. Some of it was cruel. And for a few of those people, it cost them their jobs.
One teacher was let go. A tech worker was fired after sharing a meme. Another person lost their position at a nonprofit. Employers cited violations of policy, unprofessional behavior, or damage to their organization’s reputation. The message was clear. Mocking a public figure’s death will not go unnoticed. And for many watching, it felt like justice.
But is that what it was?
In a world that runs on outrage, it is easy to mistake consequences for righteousness. Someone says something offensive, and we want to see them pay for it. We call it accountability. We call it consequences. But from a biblical perspective, we need to call it what it often is. Vengeance.
Romans 12:19 says, “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” That’s not just advice. That’s instruction. And it applies even when the offense feels personal. Even when someone mocks a man you respected. Even when they cross a moral line.
Make no mistake. There is nothing virtuous about mocking the death of another human being. It reveals a hard heart and a soul in need of repentance. But firing someone over a tweet does not bring them any closer to the truth. It does not reflect the heart of the gospel. It reflects our culture’s hunger to punish.
Firing someone over a tweet does not bring them any closer to the truth. It does not reflect the heart of the gospel. It reflects our culture’s hunger to punish.
We live in a moment where institutions respond to offense with speed and force. Companies are quick to protect their image. Public statements are carefully written. Offending parties are removed. And sometimes, Christians cheer when it happens. Especially if the person being silenced was saying something ugly.
But we cannot have it both ways. If we believe in the freedom to speak truth, we must also accept that others will say things that are false and offensive. The answer is not to silence them. The answer is to speak more clearly, with grace and conviction.
Jesus was mocked more than anyone in history. He was insulted, spit on, beaten, and publicly humiliated. And 1 Peter 2:23 tells us, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return.” He entrusted judgment to God. He did not call down fire. He did not demand that his enemies lose their jobs.
If Christ could absorb mockery without retaliation, so can we.
That does not mean we stay silent. There is a time to correct and a time to confront. But there is never a time to celebrate when someone is punished for words we simply find offensive. Especially when those punishments come from the same systems we often criticize for suppressing truth.
Some will say that mocking the dead deserves consequences. Maybe so. But biblical justice is not built on emotional reaction. It is built on truth, grace, and a deep trust that God will deal with every offense in his timing.
Biblical justice is not built on emotional reaction. It is built on truth, grace, and a deep trust that God will deal with every offense in his timing.
Romans 12:21 says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” That is the way forward. Not silence. Not appeasement. But goodness in the face of ugliness. Mercy in the face of insult.
So no, Christians should not celebrate what these people said. But we also should not celebrate that they were fired for it. What they need is not cancellation. What they need is Christ.