The Tim & April Show
Episode 49: "The Christian Nationalist Spectacle of Charlie Kirk’s Funeral"
Podcast: The Tim & April Show, The New Evangelicals
Date: September 26, 2025
Overview
In this special, jam-packed episode, Tim Whitaker and April Ajoy dissect the highly publicized memorial service for Charlie Kirk, focusing on its transformation from a Christian event into a Christian Nationalist spectacle. Drawing from their firsthand experiences exiting evangelicalism, they unravel the seamless intertwining of faith, politics, and culture in the modern MAGA movement. The hosts critique the co-opting of Christian symbolism and language by political actors, and highlight how the event’s messaging exemplifies the dangers and allure of Christian Nationalism in contemporary America.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
1. Intro & Context ([00:41-04:46])
- Introduction of the show to a broader, multi-platform audience.
- The New Evangelicals’ mission: exposing Christian Nationalism and providing a more loving, inclusive path for Christians.
- Appeal: Not attempting to convert listeners; open, critical discussion for all backgrounds.
2. Setting the Stage: Charlie Kirk’s Funeral as Political Theater ([05:07-10:24])
- April: The funeral has been lauded by conservatives as a “revival” and gospel event.
- Opening with hours of worship music; recognizable worship leaders being featured.
- Tim: Cautions viewers to remember the core teachings of Jesus—a marginalized person living under empire—amidst the spectacle.
3. Decoding the Evangelical Experience ([10:24-23:05])
- Importance of non-dehumanization: Acknowledgment of real grief and tragedy.
- The dual reality: Mourning and manipulation.
- Observations on insider vs. outsider perceptions; normalization of mixing worship and politics.
“It’s kind of like the frog in the boiling pot... By the end of it, we’re full on partisan politics with God still sprinkled in.” — April ([07:34])
4. Worship & Gospel: The Onramp to Nationalism ([10:46-15:25])
Key Speaker: Pastor Rob McCoy
- Delivers a traditional evangelical gospel message before subtly making politics an "on-ramp to Jesus."
“Charlie looked at politics as an on ramp to Jesus. He knew if he could get all of you rowing in the streams of liberty, you’d come to its source. And that's the Lord.” — Rob McCoy ([14:41])
- Tim & April: Highlight the thin line between faith and nationalist rhetoric.
Key Speaker: Frank Turek
- Emphasizes Charlie’s salvation via faith, not his works, but hypes Kirk’s achievements as “saving millions of kids from darkness.” ([18:59])
“Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his savior sacrificed himself for Charlie Kirk.” — Frank Turek
5. Visual Propaganda & Platforming Politicians ([20:09-22:52])
- April: Notes the event’s flyer features political guests, not pastors or even Kirk himself—a subtle deification of political power.
"You would think, since it’s a memorial service, that the person being memorialized...would be on here, but it’s not.” — April ([20:16])
6. Escalation: From Gospel to Extremism ([24:17-29:29])
Key Speaker: Stephen Miller
- Delivers an incendiary, militaristic speech blending nationalist and supremacist language.
“We are the storm. And our enemies cannot comprehend our strength... You are nothing... You have nothing... You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk. You have made him immortal." — Stephen Miller ([24:44-26:21])
- April & Tim: Draw direct parallels between Miller’s rhetoric and Nazi-era speeches.
“When Trump calls immigrants the poison in the blood...and Hitler called Jews the same thing...we’re not exaggerating.” — Tim ([29:29])
7. Political Figures' Role: Sanctifying the Movement ([34:46-43:05])
Key Speaker: Marco Rubio (Secretary of State)
- Presents a standard evangelical gospel, promising reunion in heaven—celebrated by Christian Right as proof their movement is "Christian."
“When he returns, there will be a new heaven and a new earth and we will all be together…” — Rubio ([36:29])
- April: Critiques the narrow, exclusionary fundamentalism at play under the “Christian” label:
“Christian nationalism promotes a very narrow fundamentalist interpretation...They would say that people like you and I are not Christians.” ([39:24])
8. The Martyr Myth & Reaction to Violence ([44:43-53:38])
Key Speaker: Tucker Carlson
- Compares Charlie Kirk to Jesus, portraying him as a truth-teller silenced by evil.
“I can just picture the scene…Why don’t we just kill him? That’ll shut him up…” — Carlson ([48:12])
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April: Points to the manufactured martyrdom of Kirk, who, in reality, was a divisive political figure, not a martyr for faith.
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Broader critique of the right’s claim to truth while weaponizing violence and lies.
“All the words that Tucker uses, this whole movement...They never mean...that also applies to us.” — Tim ([53:38])
9. The ‘Revival’ & Spectacle Confirmed ([45:38-47:14])
Key Figure: Tyler Boyer (TPUSA)
“If we could just figure out how to bring the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally. Think you’ve done it.” — Tyler Boyer ([46:39])
- The explicit admission that the event is both a political rally and a revival.
10. The Forgiveness Narrative and Performative Grief ([63:13-73:03])
Key Speaker: Erika Kirk (Widow)
- Her entrance marked by celebratory "sparklers," embodying the full spectacle.
- Moving, public act of forgiveness to Kirk’s murderer.
"That young man...I forgive him." — Erika Kirk ([69:01])
- Tim: Critiques the selective forgiveness: “If the shooter was a Black man, a trans person, or an immigrant...this would not be the speech.” ([70:26])
- April: Adds context on evangelical 'toxic positivity' in funeral traditions.
The Patriarchal Narrative
- Erika’s remarks on marriage and gender roles spark backlash from more extreme right-wing voices.
11. Trump's Final Word: Explicitly Anti-Christian Ethic ([81:07-83:16])
- Trump: Brazenly declares, “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry, I am sorry, Erica.”
“He just gave permission to everybody there to hate his opponent.” — April ([81:26])
- Tim: Draws contrast: “Somehow, April, you and I are false Christians for rejecting this...It is bankrupt. It’s a whitewashed tomb.” ([83:12])
- Stress: This is not a religious revival, but an “Antichrist” movement built on power and dehumanization.
12. Christian Teaching vs. MAGA Ethos ([84:27-87:58])
- April: Reads from Matthew, equating Trumpism with the religious hypocrites Jesus condemned.
“There is one group of people that Jesus consistently called out and that was religious hypocrites. Everyone that we played...would have been those people.” — April ([86:32])
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “It’s kind of like the frog in the boiling pot… By the end of it, we’re full on partisan politics with God still sprinkled in.” — April ([07:34])
- “Charlie looked at politics as an on ramp to Jesus…there is the subtle switch.” — Rob McCoy ([14:41])
- “We are the storm...You are nothing. You can build nothing...You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk. You have made him immortal.” — Stephen Miller ([24:44-26:21])
- “You have to be joking…This is a defunct Antichrist movement that is built on power and control and hatred…” — Tim ([83:12])
- “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.” — Donald Trump ([81:09])
- “That young man...I forgive him.” — Erika Kirk ([69:01])
- “If the shooter was a Black man, a trans person, or an immigrant…I don’t think this would be the speech.” — Tim ([70:26])
- “There is one group of people that Jesus consistently called out...religious hypocrites. And everyone that we just played...would have been the people that Jesus called out…” — April ([86:32])
Important Segments/Timestamps
- Intro & Mission: [00:41–04:46]
- Setting the Stage (Worship & Opening): [05:07–07:34]
- Rob McCoy’s Message ("Onramp to Jesus"): [10:46–15:25]
- Stephen Miller’s Speech: [24:17–29:29]
- Marco Rubio’s Gospel Presentation: [34:46–39:24]
- Tucker Carlson Compares Kirk to Jesus: [44:43–48:12]
- Erika Kirk—forgiving the shooter: [63:13–69:01]
- Trump: “I hate my opponent”: [81:07–81:26]
- Closing Teaching—Jesus vs. Christian Nationalism: [84:27–86:32]
Tone & Takeaways
The discussion is deeply critical but restrained, retaining empathy for those grieving while exposing manipulative, dangerous undercurrents in the way Christian language is wielded for power. Tim and April strike a balance between truth-telling and humanizing, intertwining scriptural analysis with political critique. Their tone oscillates between somber outrage, weary humor, theological clarity, and hopefulness for a Christianity guided by love instead of political conquest.
Bonus: “Weird Christian Shit” Segment ([88:06–94:19])
- A lighthearted weekly feature where Tim & April examine oddities from evangelical subculture—this week focused on “Rapture prepping”: Bibles labeled and left behind for non-believers.
- April: “A lot of Christians...genuinely believed this.”
- Tim: “This is what we call cheap salvation…becoming a follower of Jesus is not just praying some magic words.”
Conclusion
This episode stands as a clarion call against the normalization and celebration of Christian Nationalism, illustrating its grotesque blending of the sacred and the profane. The Kirk funeral-memorial is shown not as a revival, but as a template for the further religious hijacking of American politics—one the hosts urge Christians and non-Christians alike to boldly resist.
For more thoughtful breakdowns and community support, find Tim & April at The New Evangelicals and tune in for future episodes.