When Hearts Speak Louder Than Headlines: What Proverbs 17 Teaches Us After Charlie Kirk's Death
PREVIEW: What your reaction to Charlie Kirk’s death says about you. Proverbs 17 has the answer. It’s been one week since Charlie Kirk was gunned down on stage. One week since a man known for boldly confronting cultural lies with biblical truth was murdered—while doing what he’d done for years: refusing to remain silent. And now, one week later, the real headlines are not written by journalists. They’re written by people’s reactions. The glee.The mockery.The "he deserved it" commentary.The silence of some who should have spoken.The cheers of others who shouldn’t have. We are witnessing a national moment of exposure. Not just of political division—but of the hidden motives, fears, pride, and hate in the hearts of men. “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.” (Proverbs 17:3) We are in a furnace moment. And it’s not just happening “out there.”It’s happening in you. In me. In the Church. In the culture.And Proverbs 17 gives us divine insight into what God wants us to learn—about ourselves, our stewardship, and our relationships. SELF - What Pressure Reveals in You “The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.”(Proverbs 17:3) This verse gives us the interpretive key for everything else in the chapter—and everything we’re watching unfold in culture. God uses heat to bring impurities to the surface. He allows conflict, loss, injustice, and even persecution to do something we resist: reveal who we really are. The word trieth in Hebrew (בָּחַן – bachan) means to test, to examine, to prove by pressure. The image here is of a smith holding silver in a refining pot, slowly increasing the heat until the dross separates. That’s what God is doing in you. That’s what He’s doing in your family. That’s what He’s doing in America. Charlie Kirk’s death is a furnace. And whether you’re rejoicing, raging, or retreating in silence, this moment reveals your heart. Ask yourself: - What came up in me when I heard the news? - Did I respond in prayer—or pride? - Did I feel sorrow—or smug superiority?