Snake Handling and the Gospel
Snake Handling Pastors Continue To
Die From Bites; Flocks In Shock.
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“ 17 And
these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out
demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands . .
.” (Mark 16:17-18)
As
much as I enjoy poking fun at my own faith I don’t think that this is a funny
story. I mean, people are actually dying from snake bites.
Yet
the madness continues.
LATEST
SNAKE HANDLING DEATH CASES
Over the summer
John David Brock, a member of Mossy Simpson Pentecostal Church, was bitten by a
snake during a service in July.
He
refused medical treatment and went about his way. Shortly after he passed.
Unfortunately, it was not the only time such an event
happened.
Pastor Jamie Coots, pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus
Name church, was bitten in 2014 and he also passed away hours later from his
snake bite wound.
Also, in 2014, Pastor Mack Wolford passed away from a snake
bit after not receiving treatment for his bite.
Crazy enough, 3 decades earlier, his father also died from a
snake bite!!
WHERE SNAKE
HANDLING STARTED
One might wonder
how such a crazy tradition started.
Believe
it or not, there is a scriptural basis for such a practice … kind of.
It
really depends on how one would go about interpreting Mark 16:15-18.
15 He said to them, “Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will accompany
those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with
their hands; and when they drink deadly
poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well.”
This is why the context here matters.
When
this was spoken by Jesus He was right about be taken up into heaven.
Mark
does not contain the same text of the Great Commission as in Matthew 28.
In
Mark this was the version of the Great Commission chosen to record.
But what was Jesus saying to his disciples?
Are believers supposed to handle snakes and drink poison?
No
of course not. He does suggest that if the events DO occur that they would have
level of protection from them.
But
He never encouraged them to go do these things to themselves.
Jesus
was really describing more of a safety net of sorts for those who believe, not
a promise that He will heal them from all stupidity.
WHY IT
NEEDS TO STOP
There is a
difference between God enabling His believers to spread the gospel and God
healing people from stupidity.
Just
as most parents would encourage their child to be bold and take a risk, knowing
that they (as parents) can offer a level of protection and support to
accomplish the goal; Jesus is protecting His followers while on the risky
job of completing the work He left for them.
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