How about snake handling churches?

We read,one of the signs of those who believe, "they will pick up serpents, and these will not harm them". However, we also read,"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test".Now then, there's a practice in some Pentecostal churches, in parts of the south,where the pastors pick up venomous snakes during the service, to show their faith. Now, we read about picking up snakes, but also, make note of what Jesus said to the devil, when the devil asked Him to jump off the temple,"It is also written,"You shall not tempt the Lord your God". Most viewpoints I read from "mainline" Christians disapprove of the snake handlers,because they feel it's like purposely testing God.Some others say it didn't mean literal snakes,it meant because the devil is called the original serpent, we're immune to the poison of his messages.Now, a viper came out of the fire and fastened itself on Paul, and it did him no harm-- on the other hand, some of the snake handlers have died from bites.So then, some of the Christian said, well, God will protect us if attacked, but not if we're doing it with wrong intent, like to impress Man, show off, test God. What do you think?

 

[Brother James]

There is a few different ways to look at this. The Bible has compared our children, our babies as like unto venomous baby snakes and we have to pick them up. If a snake got in our houses, in our car or our barn or on us we might have to pick them up but to display handling them in church is a form of tempting God unless one got in the church and we had to handle it

 

[Gemmah]

I think snake handling in churches means that we handle the devil who brings all kinds of depression, worry, fear, stress and boredom in our life to cast Him out from your life, from your heart and from your house. If satan is in the church with all kinds of gossip, envy, jelousy and hate and rage then we must fast and pray before Jesus and cast him out of our church. Handling snakes means to cast the devil out in the name of Jesus and He will flee from us. And the peace and joy of the Lord shall fill your heart and the church will be delivered from all kinds of torments and trials satan brings to all of us.

 

[natasha2]

I think that this verse doesnt mean that we will show up/bragg with snake handling, but when the situation arise we will not be harmed (No weapon formed against you shall prosper.) The case with Paul prooves that it is meant in a physical way but i have not meditated about the spiritual facet of this scripture so i am not sure about it.
Bragging with snake handling and even healing miracles in the church is not right. God judges the intents of the heart. Bragging is pride so it seems its a sin. They have no revelation about it, but it should be tested if they are born again or not. Maybe they are saved, who knows.
If we follow the spirit and not the flesh we will not fall into those kinds of "dead works", because everything that is not of the spirit is death and not life. It will not help anybody. Faith comes from the inside out, i think, not from the outside in (real faith that stays), so looking at people that are handling snakes it really doesnt help anyone in the longterm. And its possible that they are testing God with this act.

 

[Steven Bobb]

I think that this verse doesnt mean that we will show up/bragg with snake handling, but when the situation arise we will not be harmed (No weapon formed against you shall prosper.) The case with Paul prooves that it is meant in a physical way but i have not meditated about the spiritual facet of this scripture so i am not sure about it.
Bragging with snake handling and even healing miracles in the church is not right. God judges the intents of the heart. Bragging is pride so it seems its a sin. They have no revelation about it, but it should be tested if they are born again or not. Maybe they are saved, who knows.
If we follow the spirit and not the flesh we will not fall into those kinds of "dead works", because everything that is not of the spirit is death and not life. It will not help anybody. Faith comes from the inside out, i think, not from the outside in (real faith that stays), so looking at people that are handling snakes it really doesnt help anyone in the longterm. And its possible that they are testing God with this act.

Most "mainline" Christians don't approve of it.I would think it would be showing off somewhat.Also, the fact that some have have died doing it, ,might show that they're doing it of their own idea, not on instructions from God.

 

[natasha2]

Most "mainline" Christians don't approve of it.I would think it would be showing off somewhat.Also, the fact that some have have died doing it, ,might show that they're doing it of their own idea, not on instructions from God.

Amen! if you follow the spirit this word will work for you: Nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 

[TeacherGrace]

If you really want to see snake handling around, then go to the zoo. Zoo keepers know how to handle them safely and securely. But if you handle snakes in church there is a danger to be bitten and then you may die. Spiritually speaking, satan is portrayed as a snake who tempted Eve to disobey God. So, if the devil is giving you a hard time in your church or in your life, then in the name of Jesus cast him out and you will be delivered from his hand.

 

[Steven Bobb]

Amen! if you follow the spirit this word will work for you: Nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Ok, you see things in the spirit, maybe moreso than a lot of others, maybe it's your gift.A little time ago, I posted a blog wondering if my late father got saved.It's called,"was my father saved?"Not on the main homepage anymore, but it could be looked up under "view all blogs."About how my father, at a certain point in his life, started talking very much like a Christian,saying things that somebody without the Spirit probably wouldn't know.But I don't know if he "sealed the deal" before his death.Most Christians I know say they believe he did get saved, I also added something at the end of the comments,another thing he said.At some point, if you could check it out, maybe see what you think.

 

[natasha2]

Ok, you see things in the spirit, maybe moreso than a lot of others, maybe it's your gift.A little time ago, I posted a blog wondering if my late father got saved.It's called,"was my father saved?"Not on the main homepage anymore, but it could be looked up under "view all blogs."About how my father, at a certain point in his life, started talking very much like a Christian,saying things that somebody without the Spirit probably wouldn't know.But I don't know if he "sealed the deal" before his death.Most Christians I know say they believe he did get saved, I also added something at the end of the comments,another thing he said.At some point, if you could check it out, maybe see want you think.

Ok, you see things in the spirit, maybe moreso than a lot of others, maybe it's your gift.A little time ago, I posted a blog wondering if my late father got saved.It's called,"was my father saved?"Not on the main homepage anymore, but it could be looked up under "view all blogs."About how my father, at a certain point in his life, started talking very much like a Christian,saying things that somebody without the Spirit probably wouldn't know.But I don't know if he "sealed the deal" before his death.Most Christians I know say they believe he did get saved, I also added something at the end of the comments,another thing he said.At some point, if you could check it out, maybe see want you think.

Ok, i will try, but i will not promise anything, because when i am not sure, i will not state anything. Thank you for trusting me in this matter, i really do see some spirits and have spiritual insights in some things, but salvation of people is still many times a puzzle to me. I know that some believers say, nobody can state that someone is really saved, this is the thing that only God knows (i mean in cases where things are vague). Often, when i am not sure, i have fear of God to say anything about it, because it will be pure speculation or human reasoning.

 

[Blombold]

We read,one of the signs of those who believe, "they will pick up serpents, and these will not harm them". However, we also read,"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test".Now then, there's a practice in some Pentecostal churches, in parts of the south,where the pastors pick up venomous snakes during the service, to show their faith. Now, we read about picking up snakes, but also, make note of what Jesus said to the devil, when the devil asked Him to jump off the temple,"It is also written,"You shall not tempt the Lord your God". Most viewpoints I read from "mainline" Christians disapprove of the snake handlers,because they feel it's like purposely testing God.Some others say it didn't mean literal snakes,it meant because the devil is called the original serpent, we're immune to the poison of his messages.Now, a viper came out of the fire and fastened itself on Paul, and it did him no harm-- on the other hand, some of the snake handlers have died from bites.So then, some of the Christian said, well, God will protect us if attacked, but not if we're doing it with wrong intent, like to impress Man, show off, test God. What do you think?

If the Pastor knows how to handle snakes,that is his business. there are many people who know animals and how to handle them. what is wrong with it. let his congregation judge him. have you heard of the man who sayed thou shalt not judge ?