Honest question about snake handling?

Question

To anyone who does it or attends a church where it happens: From what I understand, the point is to put your lives in God's hands, as God will (hopefully) not let the serpent bite you. If this is true, wouldn't the same apply to throwing yourself off a cliff (God will keep you safe)?

I guess what I'm asking is, why put yourself in harm's way? If God wanted you harmed, I'm sure he'd find a better way to do it than wait for you to grab a snake.

PLEASE no disrespectful answers. I'm trying to learn here.

Rebel G - Thanks for the answer, but I'm still left wondering...why do it?

Doesn't the bible say not to tempt the Lord? Also, again why tempt the bite?

Answer 1

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. —Mark 16:17-18

For serpent-handling churches, these verses hold no symbolism—they are the literal words of the Lord that have inspired worshiping believers to handle poisonous snakes for a hundred years.

I too believe that if If God wanted you harmed, he would fined a better way.

Answer 2

Not with that type of Church.

But sometimes people take text out of context and build a whole religion on it. I don't understand it either. They say it is evidence of a true believer who are empowered and protected by God.

In Mark 16:17-18, it also speaks of drinking poison but I don't see anyone doing that today! These signs disappeared in the early Church.

We should not test the Lord, as some did and were killed by snakes.

The test is correct doctrine. It is the Word of God that is the great sign in this hour.

Answer 3

The scripture to which you make reference is found in Mark
chapter16 verses 15 through 20. It says in reference to the serpents that those who believe will pick up serpents and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them. Prior to those words it says they will cast out demons and speak with new tongues. A lot of controversy surrounds these passages. Some think it is the commission to speak in tongues, but although you see people speaking in tongues and you see them handling snakes, I have never seen or heard of anyone drinking poison to support the fact that they were a believer. Now that takes a lot of faith.

Answer 4

My grandmother was a member of the Holiness Church which practiced snake handling. She was never bitten, but I know of many people who were. You are sort of correct in your description of the belief. It is a test to show the strength of your commitment to God. It shows that you are not only willing to trust in Gods protection, but also that you are willing to die and be with him. Being bitten does not mean you are a sinner who is not protected by God (which is what some think it means). Most of them admit that a bite is the result of mishandling th snake. There are proper, safe ways to handle any snake and learning how to do that is part of the religious teaching.

Answer 5

Doug,you are absolutely correct...it is tempting God..The people that practice snake handling and the drinking of strychnine poison have taken a sing text from the Bible and have have set up camp around it....Peter clearly teaches against do this.."No one single text is to be interpreted on it's own"(my paraphrase)...There is evidence that seems to indicate that God does honor faith at times, even when it is misplaced..as many true stories surround those who not only allow themselves to be bitten by poisinous rattlers but also consume labratory tested strychnine, poison. Those who KNOWINGLY tempt God in this fashion,however,will get to be with him sooner.

When the Apostle Paul was bitten by a poisinous snake,it was by ACCIDENT...he shook it off and was unharmed. But to practice this act of faith testing is certainly not scriptual at all...It is in error to do so.

Answer 6

You have it right as to the point of doing it. I agree it is silly to put yourself in harms way.
If someone wants to handle snakes because they find them interesting or they live in an area where there are a lot of them and they don't want to kill them just move them I would say learn how to do it right and recognize they are dangerous reptiles.
Don't do it to prove Gods protection, He might let you get bit to wake you up from being stupid.

Answer 7

Doug Doug, you are correct in that if God wanted you harmed, he'd find a better way to do it than to grab a snake. God also gave most people good common sense to know better about such things. To do something like that just for the sake of doing it, is tempting God to my opinion. Now to grab a snake that is about to bite your child is another story.

Answer 8

I don't understand why people do that. First, I am a firm believer in God. God is not going to stop a serpent from biting you. However, if it is in God's will that you will be bitten, than so be it.

Go doesn't want you to put yourself in harms way.

Answer 9

It's a shame that a lot of people misinterpret Scripture to go along with what they believe (traditions and customs). Hey, just don't go blaming God when they get bit. He never told them to do it. Read the account of the Apostle Paul in Acts 28. He didn't go looking for that snake. He was looking for firewood. That's why God honored his faith.

Answer 10

You are very correct. God gives us wisdom and the Bible also says not to tempt God and to me that's tempting God. He will keep us safe however, if we put ourselves in situations like this voluntarily, we are responsible for the outcome.