The hundreds of thousands of Americans who tuned into Charlie Kirk’s funeral could not help but notice the contrasting messages presented by speakers. “There could not have been a clearer presentation of the gospel” by some speakers, while “it was almost like a political gospel that was spoken” by others, said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on “Washington Watch.” “And I really think it’s a picture of the current conservative movement, if you will.”

On one hand, Pastor Frank Turek affirmed the incarnation and explained penal substitutionary atonement, on the other hand, White House advisor Stephen Miller preached a message of political victory over the enemies of Western civilization.

 On one hand, Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk announced through tears that she forgave his assassin. “On the cross, our Saviour said, ‘Father forgive them, for they know not what they do’ [Luke 23:34],” she said, visibly contending with her emotions. “That young man — I forgive him. I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do. On the other hand, President Donald Trump confessed that he found such forgiveness impossible, apart from a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in his life. Kirk “did not hate his opponents; he wanted the best for them,” Trump began. “That’s where I disagree with Charlie. I hate my opponent. And I don’t want the best for them. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Erika. But now, maybe Erika can talk to me and the whole group, and maybe they can convince me that that’s not right. But I can’t stand my opponent.” We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will convict Trump on the need to forgive his enemies.

Perkins was “troubled” by the content of some of the speeches, concluding that they showed “the contrast between the Kingdom of God, which is countercultural, which is counterintuitive, to the world. I think we actually saw that on display in the conservative movement yesterday.”

Of course, these contrasting messages and visions cannot be reconciled. Jesus himself juxtaposed these views on enemies in the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:43-45). And Jesus contrasted the political gospel with a spiritual gospel in his discussion with Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting” (John 18:36).

The way of Trump and Miller is earthly; the way of Erika Kirk and Turek is heavenly. One may be tempted to ask, which is the real legacy of Charlie Kirk? Which is the real pattern of conservatism?

Yet these questions presume that there is only one conservatism, one legacy of Charlie Kirk — one straw man at which leftist media quills can tilt. In reality, at least two distinct movements were jostling one another for position at Sunday’s memorial service, continue to jostle in the Trump administration, and have jostled around in Republican politics for some time.

Whether either movement — the Christian or non-Christian brands of conservatism — will succeed in claiming an undisputed right to Kirk’s legacy, or for control of Republican politics, remains an open question. The only point that seems settled (for now) is that the two movements will coexist as a confederation of rivals while the values of both remain under assault from the culturally dominant Left.