To The Reader’s Forum:

In a recent Post-Journal article by Rev. Mel McGinnis, Charlie Kirk was described as “a martyr too,” like John the Baptist, “a happy warrior for Jesus.” Protestant minister McGinnis notes that Kirk was “a change agent”, that his message was that “this nation needs a Savior. Jesus is the only way…” But there’s another part to this story. It is revealed by the millions of dollars poured into Kirk’s Turning Point organization by ultra-rich Americans to mute criticism of Israel.

It has become obvious that the largest block of supporters of Israel in the U.S. are “Christian Zionists.” That was true of Rev. John Haggee, Pat Robertson, Oral Roberts, Billy Graham and Mike Huckabee et alia.

But for the most part, they were an older, and Southern-based group of Protestants who were devotees of the Scofield Bible. It was apparent to Israel-advocates such as David Horowitz, that a younger group of Christians was crucial to advocate for Israel. Horowitz saw in the young Charlie Kirk just such a candidate; and Kirk praised Horowitz his mentor. “Without David Horowitz, I’m not sure Turning Point USA would exist,” Kirk said. Marxist-turned-Trump-supporter Horowitz ushered Jewish billionaires to support the precocious conservative young Christian.

Kirk was just 18 years old when he founded Turning Point in 2012. Over the years, millions of dollars have been funded into Kirk’s organization, fostering a revival of Christian conservativism among young people. Integral to that revival has been support of Israel, Christian Zionism lite. The narrative went smoothly until recently. Youth has turned away from mainstream media, looking to Tik Tok and other internet sources for alternative reporting. Increasingly they are upset by the war and destruction of Gaza, including forced starvation of the Palestinian people. University students — many Jews among them — have long been active in the BDS movement (boycott, divestment and sanctions).

In 2024, Turning Point generated $85 million; much of that money was from Kirk’s mega billionaire donors. But increasingly, those donors saw their prodigy questioning and finally rebuking the pro-Israel narrative. With Kirk now out of the way, will those who now run Turning Point get back on track, pushing the Christian Zionism advocated by so many Protestant pastors?

Roy Harvey

Mayville