Erika Kirk, the widow of slain TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk, delivered a heart-wrenching eulogy Sunday afternoon that offered a number of gospel-centered messages for Americans, including a clarion call to pursue “God’s vision for marriage.” Her address to both husbands and wives is a wake-up call for all Christians and American churches: A revival of strong, Godly marriages can save our country.
Carrying on one of her late husband’s core missions, Kirk first called on men to “accept Charlie’s challenge and embrace true manhood. Be strong and courageous for your families.”
While debating on college campuses, Kirk was often smeared as a “misogynist” for holding traditional views of marriage. Not only were his opponents unable to give examples or evidence of his alleged misogyny, but his own wife’s description pulled the rug out from under common misconceptions about the biblical view of marriage that so often maliciously twists what it means for men to be the head of their household.
“Love your wives and lead them. Love your children and protect them. Be the spiritual head of your home. But please be a leader worth following. Your wife is not your servant. Your wife is not your employee. Your wife is not your slave. She is your helper. You are not rivals. You are one flesh. Working together for the glory of God,” Kirk said.
Kirk then went on to address women, particularly wives and mothers:
“Women, I have a challenge for you, too. Be virtuous. Our strength is found in God’s design for our role. We are the guardians. We are the encouragers. We are the preservers. Guard your heart. Everything you do flows from it. And if you’re a mother, please recognize that is the single most important ministry you have,” Kirk said, doubling down on a wife’s biblical calling to submit to her husband, which is often falsely portrayed as being meek or domesticated.
Kirk recounted how she and Charlie never kept score. “We were a team working together for the same mission. I never wanted to be the one standing between Charlie and the task that God prepared for him,” she said.
The predominant secular message to young women is that marriage and motherhood are a recipe for unhappiness. They’re encouraged to find happiness in career success, financial independence, travel, and really anything other than committing to a man (even though a recent survey found married mothers are the happiest among women). Yet, Kirk just preached the opposite:
“My marriage with Charlie was the best thing that ever happened to me, and I know it was the best thing that ever happened to him as well. He wanted everyone to experience that joy,” she said.
Churches should follow Kirk’s lead, pursuing God’s vision for marriage as a key testimony of the Christian life. Marriage is bigger than just the personal relationship between two people. It’s a living testimony of the gospel. By fostering healthy marriages and guiding single people to pursue marriage, churches demonstrate the transformative power of Christ’s love and redemption to a watching world. Young people, seeking meaning in a fragmented culture, can find purpose in marriages that embody this sacrificial love and mutual respect.
