Snake handling Churches.

[Reynolds]

What are y'all's thoughts? I honestly think they are 100% sincere but 100% misguided. Seems to be slightly picking up in popularity again. Also seems more real now. Using a lot more rattlesnakes and lot less Copperheads. Snakes are wide awake. Don't appear to be glutted full of food and kept cold anymore. Also don't appear to be milked. Seems ones in it now are serious and the con men are gone.

 

[Walter]

What are y'all's thoughts? I honestly think they are 100% sincere but 100% misguided. Seems to be slightly picking up in popularity again. Also seems more real now. Using a lot more rattlesnakes and lot less Copperheads. Snakes are wide awake. Don't appear to be glutted full of food and kept cold anymore. Also don't appear to be milked. Seems ones in it now are serious and the con men are gone.

Lunatic fringe Christians

 

[JonC]

My thoughts are "Stupid fools tempting God".

I thought they were dying out.....literally.

 

[xlsdraw]

My instinct has Always been to kill snakes. That's not going to change.

 

[Reynolds]

My instinct has Always been to kill snakes. That's not going to change.

Mine too.

 

[Salty]

When I was station manager in Green Valley, WV; I played this song one day.
A lady called up very upset because her church was a snake handling church.
I invited her and her pastor to come to the station and have a serious discussion
about the "doctrine" Well, they never came.

 

[Reynolds]

When I was station manager in Green Valley, WV; I played this song one day.
A lady called up very upset because her church was a snake handling church.
I invited her and her pastor to come to the station and have a serious discussion
about the "doctrine" Well, they never came.

My grandaddy used to play that and the Yellow Volkswagen.

 

[Salty]

NIV "The most reliable early manuscripts and other acient witnessses do not have Mark 16:9-20"

HSCB "These verses do not appear in the oldest and best manuscripts of Marks Gospel"

NKJV "Verses 9-20 are bracketed in the NU-Text aa noo original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus although nearly all other manuscripts of the Mark contain them.

NASV "16:9-20 These verses do not appear in two of the most truthworthy manuscripts of the NT, though they are part of many other manuscripts and versions. If they are not a part of the genuine text of Mark, the abrupt ending at verse 8 is probably because the original closing were lost. The doubtful genuineness of verses of 9-20 makes it unwise to build a doctrine or base an experience on them (especiallRicey vv 16-18)"

John R. Rice Reference Bible (KJV) The material from v 9 to the end of the chapter is not found in the Sinaitic and Vatican manuscripts. It appears in many other old manuscripts but with some variations. We believe, however, that it is an authentic closing of Marks Gospel. Nothing revealed in this passage is contrary to other Scripture"

 

[rockytopva]

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. - Mark 16

And a picture of the Lord Jesus handling serpents….

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? - Matthew 23

My vision of a snake handling church are good people dealing with serpents of two legs.

 

[kyredneck]

July 5, 2021

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

According to a new report, snake handling is on the rise within Baptist churches across the country. The report, released by NAMB this past Tuesday, says that the practice of snake handling as part of Sunday morning worship services has risen in Baptist churches from 2% in 2006 to 17% this spring.

Al Wittner, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, LA reported the exciting results of snake handling. According to Wittner, "A few weeks ago, we began with just a few black snakes. The folks in the pews felt a little uneasy at first, but they warmed up to it very quickly. By this past Sunday, we added Rattlers and Copperheads. I think the added dimension of poison really increased interest. We had at least 40% of our members in attendance, which was the highest percentage in years."

NAMB's report also indicates that some churches are planning on adding snake handling as a third ordinance. Along with baptism and the Lord's Supper, snake handling will be a regular part of church gatherings. Pastor Wittner said, "We haven't yet decided whether or not to make snake handling an ordinance. But, if it keeps bringing the lost in through the front doors of the church, we might just have to do so."

When asked what has brought about the recent increase in snake handling, NAMB indicated that it can be traced to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's recent conference on the last 12 verses of the book of Mark. At the end of the conference, the majority of the scholars said that they believe the last 12 verses are original. This has caused many pastors and laypeople to study those 12 verses.

Mark 16:17 -18 has caused the stir. In this text, Jesus says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

According to Pastor Wittner, "We had never really thought much about that last chapter of Mark . Then, after we heard about what happened at Southeastern, we decided that we needed to take another look. We certainly believe in Jesus, so we thought we had better pick up serpents. We haven't yet drunk any deadly poison, but this is scheduled for our fall revival. No volunteers have come forward, but I have faith that they will.

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

 

[just-want-peace]

My grandaddy used to play that and the Yellow Volkswagen.

Just finished listening to both - absolutely hilarious!! Never heard before.

 

[Reynolds]

July 5, 2021

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

According to a new report, snake handling is on the rise within Baptist churches across the country. The report, released by NAMB this past Tuesday, says that the practice of snake handling as part of Sunday morning worship services has risen in Baptist churches from 2% in 2006 to 17% this spring.

Al Wittner, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, LA reported the exciting results of snake handling. According to Wittner, "A few weeks ago, we began with just a few black snakes. The folks in the pews felt a little uneasy at first, but they warmed up to it very quickly. By this past Sunday, we added Rattlers and Copperheads. I think the added dimension of poison really increased interest. We had at least 40% of our members in attendance, which was the highest percentage in years."

NAMB's report also indicates that some churches are planning on adding snake handling as a third ordinance. Along with baptism and the Lord's Supper, snake handling will be a regular part of church gatherings. Pastor Wittner said, "We haven't yet decided whether or not to make snake handling an ordinance. But, if it keeps bringing the lost in through the front doors of the church, we might just have to do so."

When asked what has brought about the recent increase in snake handling, NAMB indicated that it can be traced to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's recent conference on the last 12 verses of the book of Mark. At the end of the conference, the majority of the scholars said that they believe the last 12 verses are original. This has caused many pastors and laypeople to study those 12 verses.

Mark 16:17 -18 has caused the stir. In this text, Jesus says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

According to Pastor Wittner, "We had never really thought much about that last chapter of Mark . Then, after we heard about what happened at Southeastern, we decided that we needed to take another look. We certainly believe in Jesus, so we thought we had better pick up serpents. We haven't yet drunk any deadly poison, but this is scheduled for our fall revival. No volunteers have come forward, but I have faith that they will.

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

Is that a real article or satire similar to The Babylon Bee?

 

[Scarlett O.]

Is that a real article or satire similar to The Babylon Bee?

It's satire: The title of blog cited is "Religion Roundtable: Satirical Blog News Pointing to the Truth Through Humor"

Religion Roundtable: Snake handling on the rise in Baptist churches

 

[JonC]

July 5, 2021

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

According to a new report, snake handling is on the rise within Baptist churches across the country. The report, released by NAMB this past Tuesday, says that the practice of snake handling as part of Sunday morning worship services has risen in Baptist churches from 2% in 2006 to 17% this spring.

Al Wittner, senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, LA reported the exciting results of snake handling. According to Wittner, "A few weeks ago, we began with just a few black snakes. The folks in the pews felt a little uneasy at first, but they warmed up to it very quickly. By this past Sunday, we added Rattlers and Copperheads. I think the added dimension of poison really increased interest. We had at least 40% of our members in attendance, which was the highest percentage in years."

NAMB's report also indicates that some churches are planning on adding snake handling as a third ordinance. Along with baptism and the Lord's Supper, snake handling will be a regular part of church gatherings. Pastor Wittner said, "We haven't yet decided whether or not to make snake handling an ordinance. But, if it keeps bringing the lost in through the front doors of the church, we might just have to do so."

When asked what has brought about the recent increase in snake handling, NAMB indicated that it can be traced to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's recent conference on the last 12 verses of the book of Mark. At the end of the conference, the majority of the scholars said that they believe the last 12 verses are original. This has caused many pastors and laypeople to study those 12 verses.

Mark 16:17 -18 has caused the stir. In this text, Jesus says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

According to Pastor Wittner, "We had never really thought much about that last chapter of Mark . Then, after we heard about what happened at Southeastern, we decided that we needed to take another look. We certainly believe in Jesus, so we thought we had better pick up serpents. We haven't yet drunk any deadly poison, but this is scheduled for our fall revival. No volunteers have come forward, but I have faith that they will.

Snake Handling On The Rise In Baptist Churches

Love this part - " We haven't yet drunk any deadly poison, but this is scheduled for our fall revival."

 

[rlvaughn]

NIV "The most reliable early manuscripts and other acient witnessses do not have Mark 16:9-20"...

James Snapp, Jr. has a lot of material on his website supporting the longer ending of Mark (including patristic quotations that are older than Vaticanus and Sinaiticus). Lots of interesting stuff to look at. Anyone interested can search the site.

What are y'all's thoughts? I honestly think they are 100% sincere but 100% misguided. Seems to be slightly picking up in popularity again. Also seems more real now. Using a lot more rattlesnakes and lot less Copperheads. Snakes are wide awake. Don't appear to be glutted full of food and kept cold anymore. Also don't appear to be milked. Seems ones in it now are serious and the con men are gone.

I have no doubt that some, maybe even many, are 100% sincere (though misguided). In the past I have read about some who were not, which may be some of the con men you mention.

When I was station manager in Green Valley, WV; I played this song one day.
A lady called up very upset because her church was a snake handling church.
I invited her and her pastor to come to the station and have a serious discussion
about the "doctrine" Well, they never came.

I always understood this was an exaggerated story that was based on some truth of Bagwell and the Sunliters singing at a snake handling church. But I never knew for sure. Wendy could tell a story.

...According to a new report, snake handling is on the rise within Baptist churches across the country...

Gonna get a list of those churches, don't want to accidentally show up at one of them!