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There’s been a lot of talk about snake handling in church lately. Both the states of TN and NC have issued ordinances against the practice in various churches. Obviously, the practice of handling live, poisonous reptiles is far from reasonable.
At the same time, there is much historical evidence and discussions about early Pentecostal holiness churches that not only practiced snake handling but used is a proof of once true faith and sanctification. There a good number of Pentecostal publications out there, supporting the practice once being prominent in some churches. (Please read attached article).
So my question is: if you needed to handle a poisonous snake for a few minutes in order to prove your faith, would you even have the faith to do it?
Short Yes/No answer would suffice.
Pete Fiske
Not necessary.
Varnel Watson
So basically – NO 🙂
Corey Forsyth
No…. and I live near the infamous snake handling church in Kingston GA that is featured on TONS of documentaries and news stories…
Varnel Watson
Lots of people live near salvation their whole lives never to be truly saved 🙂 Ricky Grimsley “Snake handling to me is like cutting off peoples arms to see if we have faith to reattach them. Dumb?” Imagine all these Christians dying for their faith. Dumb? No, sir, I dont think so!
Michael Stidham
Not this cowboy.
That said, there was a time when COG/COGOP actually DID handle snakes? I thought that was just calumny tossed around by the Anderson Churches of God.
Mary Ellen Nissley
NO.
If I was asked to handle a snake to prove my faith, I would return the favor with a 3point sermon:
#1. Though I handle snakes and have not charity, I am nothing.
#2. By THIS shall all men know you are my disciples–if you handle snakes?
#3. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
James Craig
HALLELUJAH AMEN !!!!!!
Mike Stidham
#1 Nope. #2 Nope. #3 Nope. That would be my three point sermon when asked to handle poisonous snakes.
Ricky Grimsley
I think jesus battle with satan in the wilderness tells us all we need to know in the snake handling lunacy.
Jon Ray
The only time I visited a snake handling church (as a research) God healed me entirely on the spot in Sand Mt. AL. To this day I have no theological explanation about it
Ali Multiverse
Ali Multiverse liked this on Facebook.
Vlad Stepanov
Snake handling founders died of snake bites. It’s a NO NO. I would not want to be part of such a church.
Ricky Grimsley
Jesus could have turned the stones into bread but he chose not to.
Louise Cummings
Amen
Rick Wadholm Jr
No I would not. Jon Ray and Troy Day, you might be interested to see that I finally visited the Dolly Pond Church of God With Signs Following site. I did a short write up on the trip: https://rickwadholmjr.wordpress.com/2016/05/27/a-brief-snake-handling-journey/
Peter Ciple
No snake handling for me.
Louise Cummings
No. That’s not the way you prove your faith. I don’t remember ever reading where you prove your faith. I just remember where He said Have faith. An faith without works is dead. That doesn’t mean you handle snakes to prove it. In Hebrews. It says Faith is the substance of things hope for. The evidence of things not seen. You just have faith in God. That means you believe there is a God. God does the work. We have faith when we ask we will receive if we have faith in God. The Bible says its impossibly to please God without faith. You have to have faith when you confess Jesus as your Savior. Other wise you couldn’t be saved if you didn’t believe in God you couldn’t be saved. Because we must believe He is God in our heart. And confess it with our mouth. To be saved. He didn’t say you had to handle a snake to prove your faith. Just believe in God that He is God. Nothing hard about that. Unless you have doubt instead of faith.
Timothy Ross
Snake Handling is a extreme sadly has been taught among Baptist then early Pentecostals in certain circles.
A.J Tomlinson’s son in Law handled snakes in the Church of God movement which banned the practice as unbiblical. They started a branch of there own from what I understand.
Mark 16:10-end of the Chapter is not even in all Manuscripts of the Bible note. But the idea of signs and wonders need to be understood in the Context of the Book of Acts not today, Paul did not pick up a snake but was bit by a snake and lived.
Mary Ellen Nissley
Timothy Ross, are you saying that you disagree with the Pentecostal understanding of sings and wonders being for today? If so, we need a new thread to discuss this on.
Timothy Ross
Mary no but that area of scriptures are not in the Scrolls possibly is my reason for bringing up.I by no means believe gifts are passed away.
Mary Ellen Nissley
Can you help me understand why you said this:
“…the idea of signs and wonders need to be understood in the Context of the Book of Acts not today.”
Varnel Watson
Snake handling came from the roots of Appalachian religion. Yes it was largely forbidden but also yes it is a part of Pentecostal history that should not be so easily disregarded and discarded. It just made good biblical sense to those people http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/late-1800s-pentecostal-revival/