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American Churches celebrate Kirk's 'ascension' with AI images of Charlie, Jesus & the US flag [1]

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Date: 2025-09-18

“You must not lie or deceive one another” — Leviticus 19:11 (NIV)

In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination, the Christian right is writing a hagiography of the man. They are entitled to. They can say what they want. Trump and his MAGA chorus may be working to stifle free speech, but America still has a First Amendment.

However, free speech is not always honest speech. And some American Churches are sailing close to a deceptive wind. They will argue they aren't lying. And perhaps by some legal standard of truth, they aren't. But they are making stuff up.

The Religious News Service explains one instance:

Megachurch pastor Jack Graham was in the middle of his Sunday message to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, this past weekend when he paused to cue up an unusual sermon illustration. After encouraging people to respond to the killing of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk by turning to God, he instructed the congregation to listen to a roughly minute-long audio clip of what sounded like Kirk delivering a short speech. "Hear what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week," Graham said. As the clip, which encouraged listeners to "pick up your cross, and get back in the fight," ended, the congregation burst into applause. A few seconds later, they rose to their feet in a standing ovation. But the clip they listened to was not, in fact, Charlie Kirk from beyond the grave. As Graham made clear when he introduced the segment, the congregation was listening to a production generated entirely by artificial intelligence: The clip, which has gone viral online, was a cloned version of Kirk's voice delivering what appeared to be an AI-generated response from a chatbot asked what Kirk would say in the wake of his own death. [Bolding mine]

The RNS report is clear. The Pastor did say the video was an AI creation. Although I hope that, even absent that disclaimer, no one in the congregation would have thought it was actual audio of Kirk speaking. But you never know. The faithful already have some paranormal beliefs. Who's to say they won't believe Kirk is speaking from beyond the grave?

However, bearing that in mind, we should note that Graham also asked the audience to "Hear what Charlie is saying." That was a lie. Charlie wasn't saying anything. If the Pastor had used AI-generated images/video, and played audio of Charlie actually saying something — and God knows, there must be thousands of hours of him speaking — then Graham would have a claim to honesty.

But AI created the video and said the following words (video at the bottom):

"First, I want you to know that I'm fine. Not because my body is fine. But because my soul is secure in Christ. Death is not the end. It's a promotion. Don't waste one second mourning me. I knew the risks of standing up in this cultural moment. And I'd do it all over again.

Would Charlie do it all over again? We don’t know. The AI Kirk continues.

Second, do not let this violence divide us further. The enemy wants chaos, fear, and retaliation. Don't give it to them. Instead, double down on truth. Double down on courage. Double down on your faith and your families. That is how you honor me.

At first, I was heartened to hear that AI Charlie was saying that America should not be divided. Sadly, as soon as he mentioned “enemies,” I realized he meant the MAGAs should stop their squabbling and unite against the non-MAGA Americans. That doesn’t sound very Jesus-like.

AI Kirk then doubles down on the hostility:

Third, remember this. America is worth it. Free speech is worth it. Fighting for the unborn, for families, for sanity in a culture gone mad, is all worth it.

And triples down

So dry your tears. Pick up your cross. And get back in the fight. Do it with joy. Do it with strength. And never ever let evil think it won.

Dear God, that’s a lot of fighting. Whatever happened to love thy enemy?

Graham wasn't alone. At least two other large evangelical Protestant churches — Dream City Church, AZ , and Awaken Church in San Marcos, CA — also played the video during their services on Sunday. The Pastors at both churches did make explicit that the clips were AI. But the objection remains the same. Kirk never said the words.

The video played at these churches is a drop in the ocean of social media images and clips featuring a fake Kirk appearing with people he never met, saying things he never said. The Religious News Service has a list of samples - CLICK HERE .

All of this is legal. Humans have long depicted their heroes in all manner of imaginary situations. But to play this video in church seems unethical in a religion that has a commandment that warns against bearing false witness.

The Bible underpins Christianity. It is a large book, covering history, genealogy, morality, laws, medicine, science, interpersonal relationships, social arrangements, love, faith, charity, punishment, and instructions on how to attain a blissful and eternal afterlife. For many Christians, it is a guide in which not all events are literally true. For others, it is the inerrant word of good written by human scribes, infallibly guided by God.

However, regardless of how you view it, the Bible is clear that lying is a no-no. Proverbs 12:22 says, "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord." It is not the only time the Bible demands honesty from the believer. However, anyone who has seen how conservative leaders cherry-pick their book to focus on the bits that hurt people will not be surprised that they ignore the inconvenient bits.

Jesus told his followers to turn the other cheek. It is a vain request in MAGA America. These people are out for blood, no matter what their Son of God believed.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/9/18/2344313/-American-Churches-celebrate-Kirk-s-ascension-with-AI-images-of-Charlie-Jesus-the-US-flag?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web

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