What gospel was preached at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service?

As a historian of American Christianity, I’ve visited my fair share of megachurches over the years, and I have watched my share of Christian right political rallies. Watching the memorial service for Charlie Kirk showed the two kinds of events merging on a grand scale.

More than one speaker framed the country’s political polarization as a spiritual battle. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told the crowd to “put on the armor of God” to fight the evil forces trying to destroy this country. President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller shouted angrily about the “army” that Democrats “have arisen in all of us.”

Activist Jack Posobiec talked about the spiritual battle to save Western civilization. Kirk disciple Benny Johnson urged the crowd to “wield the sword against evil.” All urged evangelical Christians to fight the culture war harder than ever.