Snake-handlers believe the practice shows faith and God's power. The text for the belief is Mark 16:17-18: "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 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."
Long was bitten at the East London Holiness Church. Police have information that says she was handling a yellow timber rattler that struck her on the right cheek, Mitchell said.
The sheriff's office in Lee County, Va., said Long apparently was related by marriage to a snake-handling preacher there who died in April 2004 after being bitten by a snake during an Easter service.
2006-11-12 16:24:51 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Did someone nominate the snake-handling preacher for a Darwin award?
2006-11-12 16:27:55 · answer #1 · answered by kristalshyt 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of times it works for believers like that. Personally, I feel that snake handling smacks of presumption. Perhaps that is what happened there. It doesn't prove anything, though, according to atheist rules. It's just anecdotal.
2006-11-12 16:37:34 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God never intended us to go out and start messing around with snakes, or to go out and drink poison. However, snakes were used to punish people and this included Christians, also they were forced to drink poison. Paul the apostle was bitten by a poisoness snake and nothing happened to him. God can save us from this stuff, but he didn't mean we should go out and search it out for ourselves. I believe that is why that person was killed. Not because of his lack of faith, but because of his belief that he should go around harassing snakes instead of spreading the gospel.
2006-11-12 16:30:09 · answer #3 · answered by RYAN P C 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Signs of True Believers
* Mk.16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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."
* Lk.10:19 "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."
2006-11-12 16:36:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's natural selection....
even deeply religious people know better than to tempt God by purposely putting themselves in harms way.
2006-11-12 16:30:11 · answer #5 · answered by chefzilla65 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just their god's punishment for ignorance.
2006-11-12 16:37:28 · answer #6 · answered by Gorgeoustxwoman2013 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋