A Mirror for the Church

Amid the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s martyrdom, there was another troubling incident I cannot shake. A Ukrainian immigrant named Iryna sat frozen in horror after being stabbed on a commuter train. Her alleged attacker, a man with fourteen prior offenses, loomed over her while around them, passengers stared into their phones, unmoved, unwilling to intervene. 

A beautiful young woman lost her life in brutality, and we dare not treat her death lightly. Iryna was a daughter, a friend, a human being made in the image of God. We grieve her death, and we lament the brokenness of a world where such evil prowls so freely. 

Yet I must draw a parallel, as the images of her last moments sadly reflect as a mirror. Look at the scene with me and the connections to our world today: 

The Assailant: The Demonic Agenda 

Evil does not always present with horns and fire; it often creeps deceptively and cunningly, hiding in plain sight. It assaults, it strikes, and shockingly, the world frequently dismisses it, excuses it, or even recasts the predator as the victim. This is Satan’s oldest trick—twist the story until darkness masquerades as light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Satan's tools include antisemitism, LGBTQ and transgenderism, child trafficking, Islamic terrorism, sexual perversion, addictions, violence and lawlessness, abortion, silencing the truth with cancel culture (and bullets), and much more. They are all demonic agendas meant to harm, deceive, and kill the soul and the body. They are murderous and destructive.

Iryna: The Lost World 

Iryna sat innocently, minding her own business. God made her, yet she was unaware of the demonic predator stalking her. She was not doing anything wrong; she was just living her life. Yet she was vulnerable and naive to the spiritual war raging around her. She was unaware of the murderer sitting behind her, prowling and seeking someone he could devour. She was like many people in the world: precious in God’s sight, but blinded to the enemy’s schemes. They are vulnerable and desperately need rescue (2 Corinthians 4:4). 

The Passengers – The Laodicean Church 

The train passengers sat around her, indifferent or unaware of what was happening. Maybe they were in denial of the danger or the reality of events. After all, they were safe and unharmed. This describes much of the Western church—obtuse. 

The demons rage all around us, and we keep our heads down, staring at the glowing screens in front of us. Maybe we will invite them into our churches for a little entertainment-based worship. But most often, we are distracted and unwilling to intervene. We fail to recognize the demons at work because we’ve grown too comfortable with them to engage in battle. This is Laodicea all over again: rich, prosperous, and blind (Revelation 3:17). 

The Western church's modus operandi either joins the culture's rhetoric or remains silent. Neither are acceptable responses from ‘the pillar and buttress of truth’ (1 Timothy 3:15). So few boldly proclaim the truth of God's Word. Let me be clear: These are not the days for pastors to remain ‘neutral.’ 

So, we look at the heartbreaking scene on that commute and realize we are looking in a mirror that reflects the church, society, and even prophecy. The world is bleeding, the enemy is striking, and the Church is scrolling. Can you hear the excuses? “It wasn’t me. I don’t want to be political. There’s nothing I can do. My friends will say I’m a hater or too radical.” Oh, to be radical for Christ.

The Bible is clear. We are watchmen on the wall (Ezekiel 33:7), sounding the alarm to the world and the modern Church. Listen to Paul's words to the church: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). 

We cannot be like those passengers. We must be the ones who stand, confront evil, rescue the vulnerable, carry the light of Christ into the darkest corners, and stand against demonic agendas. Silence and indifference are not options. If we remain passive, the blood is on our hands. But if we warn, speak, and act, we are faithful to our calling—even if the world ridicules or does not listen. 

The time for comfortable Christianity is over. The enemy is no longer lurking in the shadows but stabbing in broad daylight. The question is not whether the devil is on the move, but whether the Church will ignore while he strikes. 

Let me leave you with an encouragement. This is our ultimate confidence: even though we are engaged in the battle, the battle belongs to the Lord. Evil’s reign is temporary, but the King is soon coming, and His reign is eternal. One day soon, Christ will return, and “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Revelation 21:4). 

The darkness may stab in broad daylight, but the Light of the world has already overcome it (John 16:33). Be the light. Be bold in faith, and do not give in to fear. Your hope is not in this world but in the One coming soon, and others need to know this life-giving truth. 

The scene on the commuter train is a mirror and a wakeup call. Will you keep scrolling—or will you take a stand for truth?