• September 22 at 14:01你知道，我禁不住会想，他们试图让我朋友查理·柯克噤声。他们试图让我们亲爱的朋友查理·柯克噤声。而今天，今晚，我们与查理同行，为查理发声，声音比以往任何时候都更响亮。 那个从我们身边夺走查理的邪恶凶手，期望我们今天举办一场葬礼。然而，我的朋友们，我们举行的却是一场庆祝查理·柯克和他的主耶稣基督的复兴大会。 我们聚集在亚利桑那炎热的太阳下的这座体育场里，被一座我们父辈从沙漠中建立起来的伟大闪亮城市所庇护。而正是从这片沙漠中，查理·柯克建立了一场运动。他改变了我们这个时代保守主义的面貌，并在此过程中，改变了美国历史的进程。对于这个国家正在成长的一代又一代人来说，查理是善良、勇气和致力于公开辩论的典范。他是一位伟大的辩手，我们也因此而爱他。但查理热爱辩论，不是因为他擅长于此，而是因为辩论是把真理之光带到黑暗之处的载体。 查理·柯克在他的一生中带来了许多真理。查理带来了这样的真理：年轻人应该在未来中占有一份，他们理应有发言权。他带来了这样的真理：婚姻和家庭是最高的呼召，远比任何工作或教育资历都重要。他带来了这样的真理：我们的国家若不能为其社区带来秩序、为其人民带来繁荣，便会衰落。他带来了这样的真理：生命是宝贵的，我们必须在所有阶段、所有时刻为保护生命而战。但最重要的是，查理带来了这样的真理：耶稣基督是万王之王，所有真理都源于这第一个也是最重要的真理。 但是查理，他所做的远不止是讲述真理。他活出了真理。查理明白，最好的传福音方式不在于你说了什么，而在于你如何生活。在这座城市里，他活得很好。他建立了一个美好的家庭。他有一位美丽的妻子，两个心爱的孩子，以及一个充满爱与敬虔的家。在这一点上，他向我们展示了家庭的重要性。他在世上度过的三十年里，带着一种足以让任何人都感到骄傲的基督徒美德生活。在这一点上，他展示了追随上帝的重要性。他是一个善良的人，一个勤奋的人，任何父母都会为有他这样的儿子而自豪。在这一点上，他展示了勤奋的美德。他尽职且充满爱，正如任何孩子希望他/她的父亲那样，在这一点上，他展示了坚强的基督徒父亲的重要性。他无所畏惧，他胆识过人，正如任何追随者希望领袖所具备的品质。在这一点上，他向我们所有人展示了在他死后该如何继续前行。 你们知道，查理·柯克热爱历史。他钻研了那些构成我们文明基础的思想。他所代表的，是苏格拉底在2500年前建立的传统：去质疑，去探寻，去教导。他是雅典和耶路撒冷——理性之城和上帝之城——集于一人之身。但即使他热爱那些地方，它们也不是他的家。美国才是他的家，他愿意为之献身。 查理以一种富有感染力的热忱爱着这个国家。任何与他交谈过的人都知道并能感受到这一点。他知道美国是一个美丽的地方，我们拥有这些不可思议的理念。但他也知道，我们的国家是过去、现在和未来几代人之间的契约。他相信这个国家最好的日子不在我们身后，而在我们前方。但他知道，那些更美好的日子必须靠争取才能得来。必须为之奋斗。我们必须牺牲、工作并说出真理。他知道，拯救美国不能仅仅靠组织研讨会，或是在对的人面前谈论对的书。他所创建的运动要求更多。它要求勇气，要求辛勤工作，要求建设，它要求领袖。我的朋友们，在查理·柯克身上，我们找到了一位伟大的美国领袖。 现在，我们整个政府团队都在这里。但这不仅仅因为我们像爱朋友一样爱查理——尽管我们确实如此——更是因为我们知道，没有他，我们不会在这里。查理建立了一个重塑我们政治平衡的组织。“转折点”让数以百万计的年轻人彼此对话，让数以百万计的人参与到倡导中来。他要求我们不仅要谈论拯救我们的国家，更要我们真正地去行动，并且一起行动。 但即使查理的建设规模宏大，他的伟大也从不仅仅在于他的抱负。他的伟大同样体现在日常的瞬间中，体现在他日复一日对待普通人的方式上。你知道，通过一个人在镜头之外如何对待他人，你可以了解他很多。查理对待工作人员就像对待美国总统一样好。当我在2021年竞选参议员还一无所成时，查理帮助我，不是因为我未来会是副总统，而是因为我是一个亲爱的朋友。就在几个月前，当一位白宫工作人员为工作的重担和初为人父的责任而挣扎时，我看到查理在西翼的走廊里停下手中的事，为那位工作人员祈祷。因为查理相信我们都是上帝的孩子，他以恩典对待每一个人。而这，或许就是查理·柯克不朽的遗产。 你知道，我曾在后台告诉别人，我总觉得在公开场合谈论我的信仰有点不自在。尽管我深爱主，尽管这是我生命中重要的一部分，但在过去两周里，我谈论耶稣基督的次数比我整个公众生涯中谈论的都多。而这，就是伟大的查理·柯克不可否认的遗产。 他爱上帝，因为他爱上帝，他想要理解上帝的创造物以及按照祂的形象所造的男男女女。现在，过去一周里，关于查理能以善意对待任何话题、任何人的能力，已经说了很多——这一成就之所以可能，只因查理知道我们都是上帝的孩子。他内心深处明白《圣经》的真理，出于这份自信，其他的一切便水到渠成。那份对福音不可动摇的信念，让他将意见分歧不视为需要征服的战场，而是视为追求真理过程中的中途站。他知道爱他人是正确的——爱你的邻人，你的对话者，你的敌人。但他也明白他有责任说出何为对、何为错，区分何为假、何为真。 查理在做他所爱之事时被杀害：讲述真理，宣告他的信仰，构筑一个梦想。现在他走了，我们的心感到如此空虚，因为他从我们身边被夺走了。他从他的父母和他的妹妹身边被夺走。他从我们亲爱的艾丽卡和他们美丽的孩子们身边被夺走。艾丽卡，我知道我代表整个礼堂的人说，我们爱你，我们将永远不会停止站在你身边，就像查理所做的那样。他被鄙视那些从一开始就使我们文明变得伟大的美德的人夺走，那些美德包括：对话、探求真理、家庭和信仰。 在他死后，我们看到了人性中最丑恶的一些部分。我们看着人们诽谤他。我们看着人们为他被谋杀辩护，并庆祝他的死亡。我知道这让你们愤怒，就像这也让我愤怒一样。但在这些时刻，人们很容易只看到我们同胞最坏的一面。我发现自己希望能拿起电话，和我的朋友谈谈，征求他的建议和忠告，问他该如何回应这种仇恨以及产生这种仇恨的灵魂。但我无法给我的朋友打电话，因为他因说出真理而被谋杀。我只能猜测他可能会说什么，以及他会鼓励我做什么。 我想的是这样。我想他会鼓励我坦诚面对邪恶仍在我们中间行走的事实——不是为了一个虚假的“昆巴亚”时刻而忽视它，而是要直面它，诚实地将其视为一种病态。但我也认为他会鼓励我，他会鼓励我们所有人，去关注美好的一面。他会鼓励我们记住，每一个庆祝他被谋杀的仇恨声音背后，都有一千个正在哀悼他并为他的遗产日夜奋斗的人。他会告诉我祈祷。我对此确信无疑。他会告诉我为我的朋友祈祷，也为我的敌人祈祷。他会告诉我穿上上帝所赐的全副军装，然后回去工作。他会告诉我们要致力于讲述真理，并且每一天都要为那真理而战。他会告诉我们谈论上帝的爱，以及那份爱适用于全人类大家庭中每一个人的事实。 查理遭遇了可怕的命运，我的朋友们。我们都知道，我们都看到了。但我认为，这并非最坏的命运。面对枪手，比一生都害怕说出真理要好。为你的信仰受迫害，比否认基督的王权要好。在这个世界上英年早逝，比为了一个没有目标、没有风险、没有爱、没有真理的安逸生活而出卖自己的灵魂要好。 基督在《约翰福音》中告诉我们：“我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上，你们有苦难；但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。” 查理鼓起了勇气，现在我们也必须这样做。我看到你们许多人这样说，许多人在社交媒体上谈论“为了查理”。我们必须为了查理做这件事。为了查理，我们将每一天都说出真理。为了查理，我们将把美利坚合众国重建至伟大。为了查理，我们绝不退缩，绝不畏缩，绝不动摇，即使枪口就顶在面前。为了查理，我们将记住，站着捍卫美利坚合众国、捍卫真理，比跪着死去要好。 我的朋友们，为了查理，我们必须记住，他是美利坚合众国的英雄，他是基督教信仰的殉道者。愿我们的天父赐予我们勇气，像查理那样生活。这就是我们必须为查理做的事。 你跑了当跑的路，你跑的很好，我的朋友。我爱你。接下来的事就交给我们了。 谢谢。
You know, I can't help but think that they tried to silence my friend, Charlie Kirk. They tried to silence our dear friend, Charlie Kirk. And today, tonight, we speak with Charlie and for Charlie, louder than ever. The evil murderer who took Charlie from us expected us to have a funeral today. And instead, my friends, we have had a revival in celebration of Charlie Kirk and of his Lord Jesus Christ. We gather here in this stadium in the hot Arizona sun, shielded in a great shining city our fathers raised out of the desert. And from this desert, Charlie Kirk built a movement. He transformed the face of conservatism in our own time, and in doing so, he changed the course of American history. To rising generations across this country, Charlie exemplified kindness, courage, and a commitment to open debate. And he was a great debater, and we loved him for it. But Charlie loved debate not because he excelled at it, but because it was the vehicle for bringing the light of truth to dark places. And Charlie Kirk brought many truths in his life. Charlie brought the truth that young people deserved a stake in the future, and that they deserve to have a voice. He brought the truth that marriage and family were the highest callings, far more important than any job or educational credential. He brought the truth that our nation would fade unless it brought order to its neighborhoods and prosperity to its people. He brought the truth that life was precious, and we must fight to protect it at all stages and at all times. But most of all, Charlie brought the truth that Jesus Christ was the King of Kings, and that all truth flowed from this first and most important one. But Charlie, he did so much more than tell the truth. He lived it. Charlie understood that the best evangelization was not in what you said, but in how you lived your life. And in this city, he lived his life well. He raised a wonderful family. He had a beautiful wife, two beloved children, and a loving and godly home. In this, he showed us the importance of family. He lived the three decades he had on this earth with a sense of Christian virtue that would make any man, any person proud. And in this, he showed the importance of following God. He was a kindhearted man, a hardworking person, and any parent would be proud to have him as a son. In this, he showed the virtue of industriousness. He was present and loving, as any child would hope of his or her father, and in this, he showed the importance of strong Christian fatherhood. He was fearless, and he was bold, as any follower would hope would be true of a leader. And in this, he showed all of us how to carry on after his death. You know, Charlie Kirk loved history. He devoured the ideas that formed the foundation of our civilization. He stood for a tradition that Socrates established 2500 years ago: to question, to search, and to teach. He was Athens and Jerusalem—the city of reason and the city of God—in one person. But if he loved those places, they were not his home. America was his home, and he was willing to die for it. Charlie loved this country with a contagious intensity. Anybody who talked to him knew it and felt it. He knew that America was a beautiful place and we had these incredible ideas. But he also knew that our country was a covenant between the generations past, present, and future. He believed this country's best days were not behind us, but ahead of us. But he knew those better days would have to be earned. They would have to be worked for. We would have to sacrifice and work and tell the truth. He knew that America wouldn't be saved just by pulling together seminars or talking about the right kind of books in front of the right kind of people. The movement which he created demanded more. It demanded courage. It demanded hard work. It demanded building, and it demanded leaders. And my friends, in Charlie Kirk, we found a great American leader. Now, our whole administration is here. But not just because we loved Charlie as a friend—even though we did—but because we know we wouldn't be here without him. Charlie built an organization that reshaped the balance of our politics. Turning Point brought millions of young people into conversation with one another, brought millions of people into advocacy. He asked of us not just that we talk about saving our country, but that we actually go and do it, and we do it together. But even as Charlie built on a grand scale, his greatness was never only in his ambition. It was measured in the everyday moments as well, in the way that he treated ordinary people each and every single day. You know, you learn a lot about someone by how they treat others when the cameras aren't on. Charlie treated staffers as well as he treated the President of the United States. When I was just a guy pulling at nothing in my Senate race back in 2021, Charlie helped me not because I was a future Vice President, but because I was a dear friend. I saw just a couple of months ago, when a White House staffer struggled with the weight of his job and the responsibilities of new fatherhood, Charlie stopped what he was doing in the hallways of the West Wing and said a prayer for that staffer. Because Charlie believed that we were all children of God, he treated everyone with grace. And that is perhaps the enduring legacy of Charlie Kirk. You know, I was telling somebody backstage that I always felt a little uncomfortable talking about my faith in public. As much as I loved the Lord and as much as it was an important part of my life, I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public life. And that is an undeniable legacy of the great Charlie Kirk. He loved God, and because he loved God, he wanted to understand God's creation and the men and women made in His image. Now, much has been said over the last week about Charlie's ability to approach any topic, any person in good faith—an achievement that was only possible because Charlie knew that we were all children of God. He knew deep down the truth of Scripture, and from that confidence, everything else flowed. That unshakable belief in the gospel led him to see differences in opinion not as battlefields to conquer, but as waystations in the pursuit of truth. He knew it was right to love others—your neighbor, your interlocutor, your enemy. But he also understood his duty to say what is right and what is wrong, to distinguish what is false from what is true. Charlie was slain doing what he loved: telling the truth, proclaiming his faith, building out a dream. And now he's gone, and our hearts feel so empty because he's been taken from us. He's been taken from his parents and from his sister. He has been taken from our darling Erika and their beautiful children. And Erika, I know I speak for this entire auditorium when I say that we love you and we will never stop standing by your side, just as Charlie did. He was taken from us by those who despise the virtues that actually made our civilization great to begin with: dialog, truth-seeking, family, and faith. In the wake of his death, we have seen some of the very worst parts of humanity. We have watched people slander him. We have watched people justify his murder and celebrate his death. I know that this makes you angry, just as it has made me angry. But it is easy in these moments to see only the worst of our fellow man. I found myself wishing that I could pick up the phone and talk to my friend and ask him for his advice and his counsel, to ask him how to respond to such hate and the souls from which that hate springs. But I can't call my friend, because he was murdered for speaking the truth. I can only guess at what he might say and what he would encourage me to do. And here's what I think. I think he would encourage me to be honest that evil still walks among us—not to ignore it for the sake of a fake "kumbaya" moment, but to address it head-on and honestly as the sickness that it is. But I also think he would encourage me, he would encourage all of us, to focus on the good. He would encourage us to remember that for every hateful voice celebrating his murder, there are a thousand people mourning it and fighting for his legacy every single day. He would tell me to pray. I'm certain of it. He would tell me to pray for my friends, but also for my enemies. He would tell me to put on the full armor of God and get back to work. He would tell us to commit ourselves to telling the truth and to fight for that truth each and every single day. He would tell us to talk about God's love and the fact that that love applied to everybody across the whole human family. Charlie suffered a terrible fate, my friends. We all know it, we all saw it. But I think it is not the worst fate. It is better to face a gunman than to live your life afraid to speak the truth. It is better to be persecuted for your faith than to deny the kingship of Christ. It is better to die a young man in this world than to sell your soul for an easy life with no purpose, no risk, no love, and no truth. Christ told us in the Gospel of John, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." Charlie took heart, and now we must do the same. I've seen so many of you say, so many on social media, talk about "For Charlie." We must do this for Charlie. For Charlie, we will speak the truth every single day. For Charlie, we will rebuild this United States of America to greatness. For Charlie, we will never shrink, we will never cower, and we will never falter, even when staring down the barrel of a gun. For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees. My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America, and he is a martyr for the Christian faith. May our Heavenly Father give us the courage to live as Charlie lived. That is what we must do for Charlie. You ran a good race, my friend. I love you. We've got it from here. Thank you.
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