Question about snake handlers

[NeCo99]

Im actually a bit angry about this show, they aired another 2 episodes earlier tonight, and those were the last ones Im going to watch, Im going to email the network too and request the show be cancelled.

IMO, the people seem alot like actors, they play to the camera crew, overacting is rampant. Im not sure they are truly a church, it could be all made up for all I know. The main reason I dislike the show so much, is I realized these people focus on ONE particular verse and nothing else, this is all they talk about, all they do and all they think about, so they are testing God everytime they have a service, and Im half tempted to call a snake handling church and see if they will answer some questions I have, the first thing I would ask them, is why they only use snakes? The verse says ‘serpents’, not just snakes, Id like to see them do the same thing with a 3ft alligator, or a Komodo dragon, these are serpents.

If they handled a Komodo dragon continually and nothing happened to them, I would apologize and join their church right on the spot, as I would know for sure it was the real deal then.

Not advocating this belief system, but…they are not acting. I went to high school with kids whose parents believed in this stuff. The verse about taking up serpents is indeed their belief system. I have noticed that a lot of denominations will use a particular verse as their cornerstone or their basic foundation. I think just like with anything, context is important but of course, we all interpret things differently right? I grew up Protestant in the south and it’s quite common for a church to have a particular scripture on their letterhead or business cards, website, etc. My childhood church used 1 Corinthians 3:9 which is about all us being workers for God. Nothing sinister there but some churches will take their “verse” very serious and very literal.

From what I understand they don’t handle the snakes at every single service and actually do have a regular service (sermon, choir, etc). But at some point the snakes are brought out. My grandmother (Baptist) would say they are testing God. She always had an issue with that because to her why would you keep saying “God show me that I am right by not letting me get killed/hurt/maimed while I do this dangerous thing”. But that is essentially their “belief”. (Coincidentally there is a verse in Matthew about not tempting God). What’s funny is some of the kids in these religions have gone away from it so much than in many areas, the numbers of the churches are declining in great numbers. Some of the kids go to other churches, and some sadly leave religion completely.

Yes, they absolutely do things to somewhat calm the snakes (even small things like making sure to hold them a certain way, etc). These same people drink poison, etc.

I think it’s another example of the extremely literal interpretation of the Bible that many protestant denominations seem to adhere to.