Would you be willing to die for your beliefs?

Question

I ask this as I have just read an article on my local new website of a woman in Kentucky who died while handling a snake at her church. The church is known for snake-handling even though it is against Kentucky law.

I believe the subject of snake handling in a round about way derives from the Gospel of Mark in the Bible which talks about the statement that a sign of the true believer is the power to take up a snake without being harmed.

The woman, must have believed it.. she did it and she died for it. Would you die for what you believe in?

Answer 1

While serving in the military I was "willing to die" for America, which in my mind was a "body of people" and not an idea or what I believed in. This was further amended after a few months to . . try and not die and if in war try and kill the enemy.

I would not die for "what I believe in".

Answer 2

Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
the one in Kentucky misunderstands the verse. the apostles had the ability to do these things and the reason is seen in in verse 20.

Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

this worked with the apostle Paul : Act 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Act 28:4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Act 28:5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
these were miracles to confirm the word for they did not have it in print as we do today, so now that we do have it today there is no more need miracles.
if i were to die for my beliefs it would be because my life was at stake and i hope i never have to find out as many Christians did in the first century.

Answer 3

Yes, I would. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be scared. But the Bible tells me "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

I think you're correct about the Mark 16:18 reference. I don't view the woman's death as proof of unbelief, as one answerer wrote, though. I think many folks misinterpret this passage, particularly "Holy Rollers." To live after a deadly snake bites you takes the spritual gift of healing and miracles; we don't all have that gift so we wouldn't all live! I view the Mark 16:17-18 as a partial list of the characteristics Christians will exhibit. The full list came when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. But that's another topic!

Peace.

Answer 4

Yes I would die for my beliefs. I recently read a story about a Muslim woman in Freemont, California, who was gunned down while she walked to school with her 3 year old daughter to get her other children. A man got out of the car and shot her in the head because she was Muslim - identified by her scarf. She died still holding her child's hand.

Answer 5

AND also, when Satan tempted Jesus to jump off of the high temple, Jesus told him not to tempt God. She committed suicide, the Bible says that those who commit suicide can never be saved, therefore she will burn up in Gehenna.
To answer your other question, yes, I would happily die for my beliefs, just like people did during the spanish Inquisition- led by the Good 'Ole CAtholic Church's influence, the Jews did during the Holocaust, etc.
Suicide is not dying for your beliefs.

Answer 6

She must not have believed, and just did it for show. If she did believe, and was obedient, she wouldn't have gone against a state law.
I personally don't see the need to handle poisonous snakes. But if someone told me to deny Jesus or God or they would kill me. THen I guess yes, I would die.

Answer 7

i would give my life for family and perhaps friends, but that is about it when it comes to beliefs. nothing else is important enough. as for snake lady, this happens quite a bit, as a neighbor to kentucky, i hear of this all the time, many more are bitten and treated, it really is a testament to the stupidity of man...

Answer 8

I would give my life for a lot of things. My God, my country, my family. But I would not give my life to test something like snake handling - I'm sure if God wanted to save me from a car accident, He could. But I'd be pretty stupid to stand in front of a big rig on a freeway just to test my faith.

Answer 9

yes i would that's what the guillotines are for Jesus said in the last days we would be hated for his name sake and i see this is becoming true all around the world he also the world would even want to kill us this is happening all around the world now and when the Anti-Christ appears those who do not take his mark will be beheaded Jesus i would give my life for my Lord this is the greatest thing you could ever do is to give your life for someone we Love Jesus gave up his life on earth as a man for us i sure would give mine and think about all the people in the military who believe in our freedom that are losing their life's for us and what they believe in thank you and God Bless you.

Answer 10

Im an atheist. I wouldnt die FOR my beleifs, for I lack them. Everything we have is either knowledge or the unknown. Either way - I wouldnt die for it. But if I were forced at gunpoint to convert to ANY religion or die - then I would happily take a bullet.