Snake-handling and Sola Scriptura

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Luna_Lovecraft said:
Salvation on Sand Mountain is a compelling read about these churches and their followers. While I obviously question their theology, there’s something astonishing about a group of people who are willing to handle rattlesnakes or drink strychnine for their faith.

Luna
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Thanks for that link, Luna. The book has good reviews; I think I’ll read it.

While it does look like they are “putting God to the test”, which we are told in the Bible not to do, I have to wonder about the snake handling from an animal behavior point of view. Many animals are amazingly perceptive; if these people have no fear—and so don’t carry defensive tension in their bodies when holding the snakes—and also don’t act threateningly towards the snakes, I would imagine the snakes pick up on that and remain calm themselves…most of the time.
 
Until now I only thought that group existed in smokey mountain rattlesnake retreat by ray Stevens!

May he rest in peace
Shalom
 
tabycat said:
Healing and raising the dead are in the same Biblical verse.🙂
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Actually the ending of Mark was not even in the bible, it was added later by an unispired Man.

Thier is a note in I belive the Jerusalem bible that says as much.

But it is in the KJV which Pentecostals used to use exclusivelly.
 
andrewstx said:
Actually the ending of Mark was not even in the bible, it was added later by an unispired Man.

Thier is a note in I belive the Jerusalem bible that says as much.

But it is in the KJV which Pentecostals used to use exclusivelly.
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It may be added later but it was accepted by the Church as inspired. The Catholic Church uses it as one of the liturgical readings during the mass of the solemnity of St. Mark.
 
Reuben_J said:
It may be added later but it was accepted by the Church as inspired. The Catholic Church uses it as one of the liturgical readings during the mass of the solemnity of St. Mark.
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I believe some of the ECFs quote the verse.
 
Bezant said:
You must be joking!
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The OP reflects my first thought. The perils of operating without divine authority except that which you yourself believe is manifold, death by snakebite being only one such peril.
 
JustaServant said:
I believe some of the ECFs quote the verse.
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It may be around as early as even the author himself. The prime reason to say that the said passage was added later was because some of the earliest manuscripts available do not contain it but this could be due to copying omission or pages lost, we can never be sure. What’s important is that the book is considered inspired to be included in the canon.
 
The pastor had Steve Irwin syndrome: if you taunt, mishandle and disrespect dangerous animals long enough eventually one will get you.
 
I’ve always thought the Appalachian snake handlers were a fascinating example of the power of faith in the words of Jesus, and I think they also know about the bit in the sermon on the mount about not tempting the Lord.

I think it’s distasteful for us to be piously thumping our “tradition”. But this is the internet after all.
 
I have read that dying from a venomous snake bite is very painful. Like very, VERY painful.

May God have mercy on his soul.
 
Hokomai said:
I entirely accept the genuineness of your faith, and thank you for sharing it in response to my question. But can you distinguish for me between the faith of the snake-handling man and your own? You too believe things because you have faith that scripture means a certain thing. Is there anything we non-believers can use to distinguish your faith from his?
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Dear Friend:

I think to some it up like I tell me 3 year old, when he decides to jump off the couch onto the coffee table while trying to Karate Kick in the air. “Your gonna get hurt!! Please use your Brain” - Now that is not a bible verse, but I do think it is common knowledge that God gave us brains and we should use them. lol 😛
 
GaryTaylor said:
So they don’t keep Antivenom on hand?
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Oh ye of little faith! 😉

No idea if they have antivenom or not but I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t because they believed if they did it would indicate they didn’t have faith in their god.
 
benjohnson said:
This has made me thankful that God has protected me from snakebites for the past 38 years by giving me a reasonable trepidation and respect for poisonous snakes. Also, bears, crocodiles, and axe welding clowns.

I think the only way to blame this on Sola Scritura would be to carefully check his bible for printing errors - perhaps a negligent publisher swapped out Ezra with Ophiology.
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I laughed so hard reading this. You are funny… I guess what I can’t wrap my mind around is not that they trust God but they are tempting him. I mean if I need a job do I just sit at home, not send out resume? Will God give out my resume and phone number? I think not. My Grams always told me “God helps those who help themselves”. 😃
 
Jim_Dandy said:
It’s the private interpretation of Scripture, a concomitant doctrine of Sola Scriptura, that results in snake-handling and other aberrant beliefs.
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What about Luke 4:12 - And Jesus answering, said to him: It is said: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Scripture says different things at different circumstances. Poor pastor may have just forgotten?😦

MJ
 
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