Snake Handling Churches

[Confessional Lutheran]

Snake- Handling is a phenomenon that gained currency in parts of Appalachia, particularly as an expression of Christian devotion. This link will speak of the faith movement that has spawned today's churches that still use poisonous snakes in their services.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0407_030407_snakehandlers.html

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/snake-handlers

 

[MoreCoffee]

Snake- Handling is a phenomenon that gained currency in parts of Appalachia, particularly as an expression of Christian devotion. This link will speak of the faith movement that has spawned today's churches that still use poisonous snakes in their services.

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0407_030407_snakehandlers.html

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/snake-handlers

Isn't it amazing what a contested verse in The Gospel according to Saint Mark can yield in terms of practises and beliefs?

 

[Confessional Lutheran]

Isn't it amazing what a contested verse in The Gospel according to Saint Mark can yield in terms of practises and beliefs?

It really is. I mean, there are other denominations out there that seem to focus on certain verses while ignoring others, but these people are calling God out on what is recorded in the Gospel of St. Mark. I mean, literally risking their lives for their expression of faith. It's amazing. I think they're putting God to the test, which we are not to do as Christians, but they're pretty set on their beliefs.

 

[MoreCoffee]

It really is. I mean, there are other denominations out there that seem to focus on certain verses while ignoring others, but these people are calling God out on what is recorded in the Gospel of St. Mark. I mean, literally risking their lives for their expression of faith. It's amazing. I think they're putting God to the test, which we are not to do as Christians, but they're pretty set on their beliefs.

There is a great deal of truth to the proposition that nearly everybody is more born into their religion than conscientiously choosing it. Snake handling is generational for the most part. A kind of culture handed down in a community.

 

[Imalive]

They'd better handle the real snake behind it.

 

[psalms 91]

I truly believe thT given the right circumstances this verse is true but I also think they forgot that thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God

 

[Confessional Lutheran]

I truly believe thT given the right circumstances this verse is true but I also think they forgot that thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God

That's a very good point. I wonder how they reconcile their theology with that particular verse ( which crops up time and again in both Testaments).

 

[user1234]

That's a very good point. I wonder how they reconcile their theology with that particular verse ( which crops up time and again in both Testaments).

Great question, and it points us to a great passage, a wonderful gem in Luke10 that shows the awesome power and divine authority of Jesus as God, and also His love and care for us, and grants us such comfort and assurance of salvation.

Verse17~
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name.

{Now check out Jesus' response, which only God Himself could truthfully make, imo}
18~ And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightening fall from heaven. {Wow!}

19~ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. {Wow again!}

20~ Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

{And wow and wow and Amen thank you Lord Jesus Amen!}

 

[MoreCoffee]

Moses was instrumental in the parting of the red sea and Joshua was instrumental in the drying up of the Jordan river and the collapse of the walls of Jericho but these things are not the norm for Christians nor were they for Israelites. God's special times call forth special responses and special events. Pentecost was one of God's special times and so was the spread of the gospel in the life times of the apostles that Christ chose. The things written in The Acts of the Apostles are not the norm for Christians. The day of Pentecost is not an annual occurrence with the Spirit coming like a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire, people baptised with John's baptism are not found today, Samaritans are not the first non-Jewish converts to Christ each year, and there is no annual first gentile convert to Christ. The pivotal events recorded in The Acts of the Apostles are not repeatable and not norms for current Christian experience.

 

[Confessional Lutheran]

Moses was instrumental in the parting of the red sea and Joshua was instrumental in the drying up of the Jordan river and the collapse of the walls of Jericho but these things are not the norm for Christians nor were they for Israelites. God's special times call forth special responses and special events. Pentecost was one of God's special times and so was the spread of the gospel in the life times of the apostles that Christ chose. The things written in The Acts of the Apostles are not the norm for Christians. The day of Pentecost is not an annual occurrence with the Spirit coming like a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire, people baptised with John's baptism are not found today, Samaritans are not the first non-Jewish converts to Christ each year, and there is no annual first gentile convert to Christ. The pivotal events recorded in The Acts of the Apostles are not repeatable and not norms for current Christian experience.

That is very true. Of course, God still is with us and He shows His Providence in many ways, including the occasional miracle, but the period covered by St. Luke in the Book of Acts was a history written to record God's activities among His people during the Church's infancy. Our experience is somewhat different.

 

[MoreCoffee]

That is very true. Of course, God still is with us and He shows His Providence in many ways, including the occasional miracle, but the period covered by St. Luke in the Book of Acts was a history written to record God's activities among His people during the Church's infancy. Our experience is somewhat different.

God is present in his church and he speak to his people but not by self-claimed prophets nor by visions reported by self-claimed visionaries God speaks in the reading of holy scripture and in sound teaching and in acts of love for one's Christian brothers/sisters and for the needy no matter who they are. Some people see visions and some hear voices and some have a message for others to hear, none of that comes from being a self-claimed prophet it all comes from God deciding to send a vision or a message to people who (after proper examination) have a credible story to tell and who do not seek privilege, payment, or personal fame.

 

[user1234]

Yes, He's an awesome God! And He's still saving ppl and building His Church, His Body, the same way, too, one heart at a time, by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone, with faith coming by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Yes, He's an awesome God! And He's still saving ppl and building His Church, His Body, the same way, too, one heart at a time, by grace alone through faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone, with faith coming by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Not one heart at a time usually it is whole families who come to Christ. In the west where individualism rules as a kind of demigod people may come one at a time separated from their families but in much of the rest of the world it is not that way.

 

[Confessional Lutheran]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/life.../gJQA3fRP5U_story.html?utm_term=.dfcc933cc331

Not every minister who has handled snakes has walked away from being bitten. The thing is that their faith is so strong that they would defy the danger that they understand is present, but through their faith believe that such dangers do not apply to them. They may have a strong faith, but is it their faith or Jesus Christ that they should focus on? " I believe, I believe" is all very well ( even demons believe and rightfully fear), but they really should be focusing more on their names being written in Heaven rather than malignant spirits being subject to them.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...lford-dies--hours-hes-bitten-RATTLESNAKE.html

It is an integral part of their worship, but a potentially lethal part. It has also become a tradition that will apparently be very fiercely guarded by those groups who choose to observe it.

https://www.christianpost.com/news/...-coots-death-from-bite-son-takes-over-115068/

 

[user1234]

Not one heart at a time usually it is whole families who come to Christ. In the west where individualism rules as a kind of demigod people may come one at a time separated from their families but in much of the rest of the world it is not that way.

Yes one heart at a time. Not sure what the 'western individualism ruling as a kind of demigod' comment is supposed to imply, nor what your politics in the 'east' or 'south' are, nor what your views of politics has to do with salvation, but Jesus saves individuals.

Not sure what this imaginary line is you've concocted between some 'western part of the world thats separated from their families', as opposed to 'much of the rest of the world' that is what.... all united with theirs??

Certainly Jesus can save diff members of a family, or some other grouping, at the same event.....He can save 3000 at the same occasion if He wants, but they're still 3000 unique individuals He saved, whether family, friends, or even strangers.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Never mind snerfle. It had nothing to do with politics. Carry on

 

[user1234]

Never mind snerfle. It had nothing to do with politics. Carry on

Okay, then, sure thing! :thumbsup: †

 

[Andrew]

Isn't it amazing what a contested verse in The Gospel according to Saint Mark can yield in terms of practises and beliefs?

Im going to start a church where we literally baptise people in fire

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[Lamb]

Im going to start a church where we literally baptise people in fire

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See you in jail? LOL

 

[Andrew]

See you in jail? LOL

Hey its not my fault if they get burned, that just means they dont have enough faith, plus we got the water baptism right after...

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