How Should Christians Respond to Tragedy?

"We’re here to point people to Jesus. The world doesn’t need Jesus plus something. The world needs Jesus." — Pastor Matthew Johnson

When tragic events unfold in the public eye, Christians wrestle with how to process the grief, how to respond, and how to speak to others about it. In this episode of The Branch Podcast, Pastors Chris Reed, Matthew Johnson, and Anthony Lombardi sat down to reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the questions it raised for the church. Their conversation moved from the immediate emotions of shock and loss to the deeper call of believers: to keep Jesus at the center.

Pastor Matthew explained that every service at The Tree Church is prayed over, planned, and Spirit-led. While there are moments in history that demand a complete shift, such as the Sunday following September 11, this was not one of those times. Instead, the pastoral team stayed faithful to their original plan: to lift up the name of Jesus, point people to His love, and provide a space for the Holy Spirit to bring comfort.

Rather than offering commentary on every public event, the pastors affirmed that the church’s responsibility is to be steady and consistent, always directing people to Christ. The fruit of this approach was clear: thirty-four people gave their lives to Jesus that Sunday, and many more responded in faith.

The pastors acknowledged that many viewed Charlie Kirk primarily through his political platform, while others saw him as a strong Christian voice. This tension created confusion about whether his death should be addressed as a specifically Christian tragedy.
Pastor Matthew shared that conflating politics with faith often distorts the message of the gospel and creates unnecessary barriers.

He reminded listeners that Christianity is not “Jesus plus politics.” The calling of the church is to proclaim Christ above all, knowing that real transformation happens when hearts are turned to Him.

Throughout the conversation, the pastors returned to one theme: the danger of dehumanizing others. Whether in grief or in anger, when we see those who disagree with us as enemies or evil, we lose sight of their God-given dignity. Pastor Anthony noted that this is often where hate begins, and, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, the fullness of hate leads to destruction.

Instead of labeling others as irredeemable, Christians are called to model love, patience, and humility. The pastors emphasized that even those who oppose us are image bearers of God, and treating them with respect and compassion is essential to living out the gospel.

The pastors also offered clear steps for believers when faced with tragedies like this:

• Pause Before Reacting. Quick responses often come from raw emotion and can wound others. Taking time to sit with God first allows space for His peace to shape our words.
• Measure Your Relationships. Honest, loving conversations should happen where there is trust and room for dialogue. Social media is rarely the most fruitful place for heated discussions.
• Lead With Curiosity. Instead of assuming motives, ask questions and seek to understand. This builds bridges and demonstrates humility.
• Know When to Disengage. Constantly refreshing news feeds and comments only heightens anxiety. Turn to prayer, worship, and healthy rhythms that bring peace.
  
  

Overcome Evil With Good. As Romans 12 teaches, Christians must resist the urge to repay hate with hate. Instead, we show the love of Christ, even when it is hardest.

The conversation closed with a powerful reminder: the Christian response to tragedy is not rooted in politics, but in the life and hope of Jesus Christ. Even in the face of shocking violence, the call remains the same, lift up Jesus, trust His Spirit to comfort, and invite others to know Him.

As Pastor Matthew said, when people turn to Christ, everything changes. That is the heart of the church, and the hope for the world.