What killed snake handler Coots

[Luke2427]

His death is tragic. More tragic, however, is the stupidity he promulgated that led to it. A SEMESTER in a good seminary would have kept him alive. The unbridled ignorance filling so many pulpits in America is doing immeasurable harm to the Kingdom of God here.

But what killed him was not the snake that bit him. What killed him was far deadlier. What killed Coots is killing the influence of Christianity in this nation, and, by proxy, killing the nation. The real killer was a deadly, venomous cocktail of ignorance and arrogance. Jamie Coots was a snake handler because he did not know some things that a decent seminary education would have taught him. He did not receive such an education because he believed he did not need one. He thought God spoke to him. Hear it from his own lips:

“You feel that anointing and then the Lord speaks to your heart telling you what to do. It is a feeling of power, but it is a feeling of peace,” he said then. “You’re in your body and you know what you’re doing and you can’t control it. There is such a power coming over you and you are obedient to the Spirit of God and you compelled to do what He tells you and you know it will be all right.”- Jamie Coots

Who needs to know the original languages when the God who gave the Bible interprets it in one’s own head for him? Who needs hermeneutics (science of proper interpretation of texts) when the Holy Ghost gives you powerful emotional experiences, trances, in which he reveals the meaning of texts? Thinking that God does that keeps one from pursuing the education he needs and puffs one up with unfathomable pride. Ignorance and arrogance- these mingle to make the deadly cocktail that killed this Christian and is killing Christianity in this culture.

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is not limited to snake handlers. It is coursing through the veins of every Christian who spurns education, who thinks God speaks to him and he does not need teachers.

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is the truly deadly venom in this culture today.

 

[JonC]

Look at denominations that build a foundation on their interpretation of a few passages taken out of context. Not all are uneducated - perhaps it gets more difficult when dealing with matters of faith. Do you think that they look for "something more" to justify their faith?

 

[convicted1]

When I saw the thread title, 'stupidity' was honestly the first word that I thought of that truly killed him.

 

[JonC]

I remember this one a while back.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/...shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/

It really is sad how misguided people can be. Snake handlers, Heaven’s Gate, Scientology…the list goes on.

Luke is right. The result of discipleship:

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; Ephesians 4:14

 

[convicted1]

I remember this one a while back.

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/...shines-light-on-lethal-appalachian-tradition/

It really is sad how misguided people can be. Snake handlers, Heaven’s Gate, Scientology…the list goes on.

Luke is right. The result of discipleship:

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; Ephesians 4:14

My brother-in-law(wife's brother) knew Mack Wolford personally. He even had him as a FB friend. They worked together in North Carolina at a Burlington Denim factory in Mooresville before my wife and I started dating. When the factory shut down, both moved back to WVa, and he joined that church that eventually killed him.

 

[glazer1972]

The curse.

 

[Thousand Hills]

satan's little hand puppet

 

[Amy.G]

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is the truly deadly venom in this culture today.

Arrogance is heart issue and cannot be educated out of a person.

 

[convicted1]

I reckon why Tennessee banned snake handling was one time Sissy Amy was in a meeting and timber rattler and two cottonmouths bit her. Those in attendance never saw such anguish...it broke the congregant's heart watching three innocent snakes dying such cruel deaths..:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Luke2427]

Arrogance is heart issue and cannot be educated out of a person.

That's what education does. It humbles us. It shows us how much we don't know.

 

[righteousdude2]

Me thinks....

A SEMESTER in a good seminary would have kept him alive. The unbridled ignorance filling so many pulpits in America is doing immeasurable harm to the Kingdom of God here.

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is the truly deadly venom in this culture today.

....that your opinion of seminary is over-rated, or stretched a little further than it should be. It doesn't take a seminary class, let alone a semester in seminary, to recognise the childish behavior or that playing around with something as deadly as a snake is something a sound and sane man, woman or child should not be doing!

Total disregard for nature and the powerful recourse of not paying due respect of the creatures that God put upon this earth is what killed that man. Not the lack of a seminary class.

Although, I will say this ... you should be the front man for a seminary, as you may recruit some folks who need to learn what this man didn't know: Snakes with venom, KILL!

Even if you have all the faith in the world, tempting God or fate will one day catch up with you and put you under the ground!

God bless you Luke! This is merely my opinion, and I do respect where you are coming from! :applause:

 

[convicted1]

I reckon why Tennessee banned snake handling was one time Sissy Amy was in a meeting and timber rattler and two cottonmouths bit her. Those in attendance never saw such anguish...it broke the congregant's heart watching three innocent snakes dying such cruel deaths..:smilewinkgrin:

I heard their deaths were actually a relief to them. I heard that, their fangs rotted and fell out, they squirmed, writhed in pain, turned green, and then died. I'd be ashamed if I was you Sissy. A hoe to the back of head would been more humane than what you did to them. Rumor has it that snakes in Tennessee run the other way when they see you now. :laugh: :flower:

 

[pinoybaptist]

Arrogance is heart issue and cannot be educated out of a person.

bravo, Amy.G, well said, and to the point.:thumbs::applause:

 

[Yeshua1]

His death is tragic. More tragic, however, is the stupidity he promulgated that led to it. A SEMESTER in a good seminary would have kept him alive. The unbridled ignorance filling so many pulpits in America is doing immeasurable harm to the Kingdom of God here.

But what killed him was not the snake that bit him. What killed him was far deadlier. What killed Coots is killing the influence of Christianity in this nation, and, by proxy, killing the nation. The real killer was a deadly, venomous cocktail of ignorance and arrogance. Jamie Coots was a snake handler because he did not know some things that a decent seminary education would have taught him. He did not receive such an education because he believed he did not need one. He thought God spoke to him. Hear it from his own lips:

“You feel that anointing and then the Lord speaks to your heart telling you what to do. It is a feeling of power, but it is a feeling of peace,” he said then. “You’re in your body and you know what you’re doing and you can’t control it. There is such a power coming over you and you are obedient to the Spirit of God and you compelled to do what He tells you and you know it will be all right.”- Jamie Coots

Who needs to know the original languages when the God who gave the Bible interprets it in one’s own head for him? Who needs hermeneutics (science of proper interpretation of texts) when the Holy Ghost gives you powerful emotional experiences, trances, in which he reveals the meaning of texts? Thinking that God does that keeps one from pursuing the education he needs and puffs one up with unfathomable pride. Ignorance and arrogance- these mingle to make the deadly cocktail that killed this Christian and is killing Christianity in this culture.

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is not limited to snake handlers. It is coursing through the veins of every Christian who spurns education, who thinks God speaks to him and he does not need teachers.

This kind of arrogance and ignorance is the truly deadly venom in this culture today.

Think he died due to misunderstand/bad interpretation of the passage at end if the Gospel of mark!

And he didi not need seminary, just someone to show him valid rules on how to study and apply the Bible!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

When I saw the thread title, 'stupidity' was honestly the first word that I thought of that truly killed him.

Right, what killed the guy was his own stupidity. Everything else is conversation. The guy was a fool.

 

[webdog]

That's what education does. It humbles us. It shows us how much we don't know.

I'm not getting what you are saying. There are many grade school educated, satanists and occultists that would not pick up a poisonous snake. What the pastor did was tempt God while not using the common sense He gave him. It had nothing to do with seminary, languages, etc.

Using your logic, based on your determinism you have gained from seminary, languages, etc., it would reason one could walk across the freeway blindfolded and leave the results of it up to God as everything has been determined beforehand.

 

[Yeshua1]

I'm not getting what you are saying. There are many grade school educated, satanists and occultists that would not pick up a poisonous snake. What the pastor did was tempt God while not using the common sense He gave him. It had nothing to do with seminary, languages, etc.

Using your logic, based on your determinism you have gained from seminary, languages, etc., it would reason one could walk across the freeway blindfolded and leave the results of it up to God as everything has been determined beforehand.

THAT kind of determinism would not be of Yahweh though, more akinto Allah of islamic faith!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I'm not getting what you are saying. There are many grade school educated, satanists and occultists that would not pick up a poisonous snake. What the pastor did was tempt God while not using the common sense He gave him. It had nothing to do with seminary, languages, etc.

Using your logic, based on your determinism you have gained from seminary, languages, etc., it would reason one could walk across the freeway blindfolded and leave the results of it up to God as everything has been determined beforehand.

Oh, ho ho ho.......ha ha ha ......Touche, a little Jujitsu move on a Wednesday morning......I LIKE IT! :thumbs:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I reckon why Tennessee banned snake handling was one time Sissy Amy was in a meeting and timber rattler and two cottonmouths bit her. Those in attendance never saw such anguish...it broke the congregant's heart watching three innocent snakes dying such cruel deaths..:smilewinkgrin:

YOU CAD; I should challenge you to a duel sir! That sister is a flower of the South & I will not have you sully her reputation ....even in jest.

I shall make allowances however, noting your probably drinking som dat WV River Water as of late. Trust me, coming from NJ, you done never ever want to drink da water.:laugh:

Snowballs @ 10 paces :tongue3:

 

[saturneptune]

I told this story sometime back, but a couple of years ago, on a mission trip to Eastern Kentucky, I walked up to one door the was unique to say the least. This guy answers the door, and asks me to wait a minute. He came back with a box that contained a rattlesnake. Anyway, he says "lets see how strong your faith is, stick your hand in this box." My reply......"good day sir, and have a nice life."

To me, this has nothing to do with education. It has to do with a basic understanding of Scripture and common sense. To be honest, I do not know why anyone who would consider handling a snake or participating in a service that handled snakes who be allowed to walk around in society.