Jesus is my ride or die.

There’s no question that the tragic passing of Charlie Kirk sent a shockwave around the world. I was running errands when my assistant, a former President of her Turning Point USA chapter, messaged me: “Charlie Kirk was just shot.”

We exchanged several texts that day as the news unfolded. Every hour that passed without an update on his condition meant one thing: Charlie passed away and they weren’t ready to break the news yet. The sinking feeling of it all began to settle deeper and deeper as the day progressed.

I felt a shift happen, but I hadn’t yet processed it. I felt sadness for Charlie’s family and sadness for the disgusting way people treat one another. What has to happen in someone’s mind to even consider stealing a life? It makes no sense to me.

Don’t misunderstand. The shift has been happening slowly for some time. The world is becoming more hostile. There are criminal and evil things happening every day, and it’s sickening. I believe Charlie’s death was the last straw for many people, myself included.

The world has a lot of evil in it, but I also believe there is an abundant amount of goodness and light. Whatever we focus on, we will find. Many struggle to focus on the light because the media does such a good job perpetuating darkness.

I remember attending a 10x Growth Conference a few years ago. Kevin Hart was one of the speakers, and he affirmed that he wants to be a positive force for good in the world. He admitted the mission is often difficult because bad news travels faster and further than good news.

I’ve thought about that often ever since. He’s right! Bad news does travel faster and further, and the media knows it. They need ratings. They need to make money, and the best way is to stir strong emotional responses. Polarizing headlines and divisive language are part of the strategy to pull viewers in and sell advertising.

That’s my main point. As I’ve been training my new assistant, I’ve emphasized what matters most to me with the hopes that she will get inside my brain, learn how I think, what I find important, and be able to eventually move like me.

We’ve had several conversations about the value I place on authenticity — that who you get to know online is the same person you’ll meet in real life. I’ve probably stressed that a lot, because I believe authenticity is something the world desperately needs more of.

Getting to know me means getting to know that I am a man of faith. My belief in and desire to follow Jesus Christ is at the center of my life. It’s because of Jesus Christ, I want to be a good person and bring value to those I meet. It’s because of Him that I want to be a better husband and father. It’s because of Him that I believe no monetary success can compensate for failure at home, and that life is about more than building a company, a podcast, or wealth. My belief in him is what guides the type of leader I want to be for my teams, and the way that I build my companies.

I think The Dealer Playbook audience has assumed that about me, but the events of the past week made me pause and reflect. If authenticity is mission critical, why haven’t I made it abundantly clear?

I’ve always tried to be kind and welcoming. I’ve never hesitated to share my beliefs or have conversations about God when the opportunity arises, but I haven’t used my microphone to amplify the positive influence I want to bring into the world. People who truly know me understand that my faith is at the center of my life, but I believe The Dealer Playbook — a gift that has blessed me tremendously — is something I’ve partly buried in the ground instead of multiplying. In that regard I feel like the servant in the parable of the talents, who was given a gift and hid it away.

After several days of reflection, I’ve asked myself why that is. Why haven’t I taken a more firm public position about what motivates my every move? My best guess? I’m at the tail end of a generation that was taught there’s no room for politics and religion in one’s profession. Those two topics are controversial and are easy gateways to contention and division for many people. I don’t believe this is an excuse, but the only conclusion I have at this point in time.

Which is ridiculous. One should never make decisions based on fear and I won’t be doing that any longer. Enough is enough. It’s time to lift the torch, and reflect the light of Christ as best as I can.

I’m not here to sell anyone on my faith. I will, however, hold up my torch more intentionally to show that men and women of faith work in the car business, and that faith is an essential part of a thriving life and career in retail automotive. The Dealer Playbook can serve as a professional education platform that equips people to build incredible careers, and it can also be a rallying point for other people of faith across the world to connect and grow together inside of our great industry.

That’s been the mission for the last 11+ years of producing the show. Not just to talk about making more money, but to explore what it takes to make a lasting positive impact with the auto industry as the vehicle that facilitates it (pun intended).

The shift many of us felt has ignited a flame in my chest that cannot be ignored.

I cannot stand up and stand out if I am sitting down and staying quiet. It’s time to come together to speak of Christ, rejoice in Christ, and testify that He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Savior and Redeemer of the world.

Because I have been given much, I must give. The greatest gift to give is a testimony of Jesus Christ. He will not leave us comfortless. He is my ride or die, and I believe He is yours too.

Let’s unite and dominate together.

God bless.

MC