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I used to live in Lexington and travelled into the eastern Kentucky mountain country where snake handling is prevalent in rural churches.
The sad thing is that those folks base their doctrine on words found in Mark 16: 9-20. Unfortunately those verses are not found in the earliest manuscripts of Mark. The entire section was an addition probably placed there to satisfy early Christians who may have been upset by the startling end of the original writings that ended with verse eight.
And it is a prime example why no one should attempt to read and understand scripture without a foundation in textual criticism. That poor preacher died for nothing.
I used to live in Lexington and travelled into the eastern Kentucky mountain country where snake handling is prevalent in rural churches.
The sad thing is that those folks base their doctrine on words found in Mark 16: 9-20. Unfortunately those verses are not found in the earliest manuscripts of Mark. The entire section was an addition probably placed there to satisfy early Christians who may have been upset by the startling end of the original writings that ended with verse eight.
And it is a prime example why no one should attempt to read and understand scripture without a foundation in textual criticism. That poor preacher died for nothing.
What do you mean, he died for nothing? Just because his rituals differ from your and don't make much sense to you doesn't mean he died for nothing. He professed God's word. He loved Christ. One day, Christ choose him to join Him in paradise. You call that "Nothing?"
I saw a TV report about snake-handling churches once, and I have to say, at least these folks looked like they were having fun at church. The church my mom took me to was like going to a funeral every Sunday. I couldn't imagine why people seemed to actually WANT to go there.
There's a store in Frederick, Maryland, that sells alcoholic beverages, called "Trout Liquors". It made me try to write a song about a religious cult of "Trout Lickers", but I couldn't get anywhere with it.
if the snake handlers are trying to show that they can handle snakes and not get injured, then i think their demonstration failed. probably because they were not rightly dividing the Word of God, and using it for entertainment and ignorant purposes (ignorant because they really do not understand what that verse truly means)
if the snake handlers are trying to show that they can handle snakes and not get injured, then i think their demonstration failed. probably because they were not rightly dividing the Word of God, and using it for entertainment and ignorant purposes (ignorant because they really do not understand what that verse truly means)
They are drawing attention to themselves. Next it is a bit phony as they take in the poison in small doses to build up immunity. They know it isn't God doing it and they will run from a truly deadly snake such as a Black Mamba. They know better.
Once I seen the white serpent in the spirit and it came and bite me on the hand , and boy did it hurt for and few minutes ..... In the authority of the spirit the white serpent represents strife and contention and it rules over false religions .... See this preacher handles snakes in the natural where some Christians have to deal with snakes in the spirit , as theses snakes in the spirit are fallen angels
Shouldn't that boy get at least an honorable mention in the annual Darwin Awards ceremony? I mean, he ALMOST improved the gene pool by removing himself from it.
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I mean, he ALMOST improved the gene pool by removing himself from it. 
