Any "Snake Salvation" fans out there?

[Jessie]

http://www.wate.com/story/24737348/kent ... snake-bite

[silverscreenselect]

http://www.wate.com/story/24737348/kent ... snake-bite

National Geographic missed out on a chance to get some sky ratings...

[Jessie]

http://www.wate.com/story/24737348/kent ... snake-bite

National Geographic missed out on a chance to get some sky ratings...

They certainly did! Of course they're planning a "tribute" episode to Pastor Coots. I actually watched the show a few times because one of the churches featured is in the county I'm from in Tennessee. Here's a clip of Little Cody, the dead pastor's son, getting bitten while snake hunting.

[jaybee]

So I remain totally confused on the entire concept: If they believe that a true Christian will not be harmed by a serpent bite.....and they are bitten......and they die?????

Makes me feel like after they plant the dead reverend Jim Bob Bo Billy in the ground that they hope to find some kiddie porn in his desk at church just so they can claim the bible is still 'right'.

[earendel]

So I remain totally confused on the entire concept: If they believe that a true Christian will not be harmed by a serpent bite.....and they are bitten......and they die?????

Makes me feel like after they plant the dead reverend Jim Bob Bo Billy in the ground that they hope to find some kiddie porn in his desk at church just so they can claim the bible is still 'right'.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover. [NRSV]

Note that the quote doesn't say anything about being bitten - it simply says that they "will pick up snakes". Those who believe in snake-handling have conflated this verse with the one that mentions drinking "any deadly thing".

Having said that, the issue isn't that the person who is bitten and dies isn't a true Christian, but rather that that person's faith wasn't strong enough.

[silverscreenselect]

Having said that, the issue isn't that the person who is bitten and dies isn't a true Christian, but rather that that person's faith wasn't strong enough.

This sounds suspiciously similar to the "tests" they used in Salem to determine if someone was a witch.