Shooting Back: The Right and Duty of Self-Defense

By Charl Van Wyk

Book Overview

Charl Van Wyk was just an ordinary Christian man until July 25, 1993 - the day that would become known as the St. James Massacre. It was on this date that Van Wyk shot back at the terrorists who were attacking an innocent congregation gathered in prayer, and saved many lives in the process. More than just a remarkable story of courage under fire, Shooting Back deals forthrightly with the consequences of his actions, while addressing the concerns that plague so many God-fearing people in these lawless times, such as: Should we carry arms? When is it appropriate to defend ourselves and our families? What can we do when our God-given right to self-defense is legislated away from us? In Shooting Back, Van Wyk tackles these difficult questions using the light of Scripture and insights from his own experience to make the case for self-defense.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979045118
• ISBN13: 9780979045110
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: WND Books
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Self-Defense Understanding As A Christian

Mr. Van Wyk has done a great service to those Christians who understand both, that some in the world will do them harm, and that they do have the right to protect themselves. It is unfortunate that so many will accept as fate, things that could be countered or fought against. God gave man free will. It is that very will, and the evil that is in this world that would cause someone to do wrong or harm others. We do not have to sit idly by and accept this as God's will for it is not. We have a right to protect ourselves, our family and others from violence. Mr. Van Wyk does a great job in pointing this out from a first hand perspective, and deserves thanks for having had the strength and understanding to confront the situation he did, as well as the struggles that followed.

Protecting yourself against an armed invader.

Excellent example of how one armed citizen can make the difference between life and death.

"Turn the other cheek" doesn't mean being a door mat

As a Christian, I am often asked how I can support things such as gun ownership. This book provides a classic example how lethal force can meet God's approval. Charl Van Wyk was in a church service in South Africa when the congregation was attacked by terrorists. Van Wyk was armed with a .38 revolver which he kept with him at all times, and he returned fire, driving the terrorists off. The final toll was 11 dead and 53 wounded. No one knows how many more would have been killed if Van Wyk had not been armed.Van Wyk then details his own doubts after the fact and how he sought counseling. With his studies in the Bible on the subject of the Christian and self-defense, he presents the case for the biblical foundation, and the distinction between defense and revenge.The book does its job of presenting the biblical mandate for us to protect the innocent, but I do have to say that I'm knocking off one star because he could have made his case in about half the space.This book is an excellent answer to those who think a Christian should EVER raise his hand in violence - for any reason whatever. My copy is going to get passed around to a lot of my friends.

Meeting the Author

I have been privileged to meet the author and spend some time with him. Mr. van Wyk is no macho gun-waving shooter. Rather he is a mild-mannered family man who has strong principles and did what he had to do under very unpleasant circumstance. He does not consider himself a "hero" for his actions during the St. James Massacre. I found him very articulate. He is able to communicate his ideas clearly, both in person and in his writings.I highly recommend the book "Shooting Back" for every Church leader. It is a "must read" for everyone, whether you use firearms or not.

Shooting Back-The Right and Duty of Self Defence

Shooting Back by Charl van Wyk is a great book. What a testimony; in reading this book, I learned a lot about what God says about self defense and why gun control is so very devastating to a society. I understand that, in recent months, the author has been given incredible opportunities to speak publicly about reconciliation and forgiveness to the terror organization that committed this atrocity. Amazing!