You've never killed anyone—or have you?
Before you skip this episode thinking it doesn't apply to you, let Charlene Condu challenge that assumption. In a culture where character assassination has become entertainment, where cancel culture is the norm, and where we justify destroying people's reputations because we disagree with them, this commandment is more relevant than ever.
Charlene takes an unflinching look at the assassination culture we're living in—both online and offline. She explores how anger, gossip, and social media have weaponized our words into tools of murder. From the comment sections to the church parking lot, from political discourse to family group chats, we've normalized the kind of hatred that Jesus equated with murder itself.
But it doesn't stop there. Charlene addresses the terrifying escalation we're witnessing: when character assassination becomes actual assassination. She discusses recent high-profile cases—from the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting where the killer became a folk hero, to political assassination attempts, to the 8,000% increase in death threats against federal agents. We're living in a moment where people are making heroes out of assassins and scoffing at victims. And our hardened hearts have made us unsurprised by murder.
This episode will make you uncomfortable. It should. Because chances are, you've participated in character assassination without even realizing it. We all have.
But there's hope. Charlene doesn't just call out the problem—she offers a path forward. How do we speak truth without destroying people? How do we disagree without dehumanizing? How do we protect ourselves from being assassinated while refusing to become assassins ourselves?
If you've ever hit "share" on a post tearing someone down, if you've ever listened to gossip without shutting it down, if you've ever celebrated someone's public downfall, if you've become numb to political violence—this episode is for you.