09/16/2025
Letter from Dr. Eric Cook:
A Letter to Our Churches: Rising Up in Faith and Truth
From the Union Baptist Association
Dear Pastors and Church Families,
It is with heavy hearts that I write to you following the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, a young man who lived out his faith with unwavering boldness. In one of his final interviews, Charlie declared that he wanted to be remembered for "courage for my faith," saying "The most important thing is my faith." His life exemplified what it means to be a fearless follower of Jesus Christ, and his martyrdom calls us to examine our own commitment to advancing God's kingdom.
A Call to Rise Up
The darkness in our nation grows deeper, but we must remember the words of our Savior in Matthew 25:1-13 about the wise virgins who kept oil in their lamps. Brothers and sisters, we need oil in our lamps because it is getting darker out there. The forces of evil seek to silence the voice of truth, but we serve a God who has already won the victory.
Charlie Kirk understood that faith without action is dead. He knew that the Church cannot remain silent while lies and deception grip our communities and nation. We are called to be salt and light, to pull down the idols and strongholds that have taken root in the hearts and minds of our Nation.
Our Sacred Responsibility
Scripture declares in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 that "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." We have been given the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the most powerful force in the universe – and we are responsible for making it known in every sphere of society.
This includes the public square. This includes our schools, our businesses, our communities, and yes, our policymaking. We cannot retreat into our church buildings while the culture around us crumbles. We must engage fearlessly because we possess the truth that sets people free.
The Time is Now
The voice of righteousness must echo throughout our land, and it must begin with us. Each of our congregations represents a lighthouse in the darkness, but we must ensure our light shines brightly beyond our walls. We must:
• Equip our members to articulate biblical truth with boldness and grace
• Engage in the political process as informed citizens guided by Scripture
• Stand against the lies that have infected our educational systems, media, and government
• Raise up young leaders who will carry the torch of truth into the next generation
Charlie's Legacy Lives On
Though they silenced Charlie's voice, they cannot silence the Gospel he proclaimed. His death reminds us that there is a cost to discipleship, but also that our citizenship is in heaven, not earth. We do not fight with hatred or vengeance, but with the love of Christ and the power of His truth.
Let us honor Charlie's memory by refusing to remain silent. Let us be the generation that rises up, that speaks truth to power, that pulls down the strongholds of lies with the battering ram of God's Word. Let us make Christ known in every corner of our communities, our states, and our nation. The darker it gets, the brighter our light must shine. The louder the lies become, the clearer our voice of truth must sound. We have been called for such a time as this. Will you answer the call? Will your church rise up? Will you ensure that the voice of righteousness echoes throughout our land?
The Gospel is worth living for. As Charlie Kirk's life demonstrated, it is worth dying for as well.
Serving the King Together,
Eric
