Jamie Coots was a delusional Kentucky pastor who to the surprise of nobody, died recently from a rattle-snake bite during a church service. His moron son replaced him as the head of the church and just this past weekend, to the surprise of nobody, got bitten himself.
I get that the Bible says something about the faithful picking up serpents, but the fanaticism required to do this, or belong to a church where this is done, defies logic and reason to me.
Here's a helpful picture of what a snake-handler might look like handling snakes....
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10 comments:
I can not comment on this Pastor, nor his son, but I can comment on snake handling. It is biblical, it is not insane, and most importantly you need to be listening to God. This should not be done of ones own accord, as a look at me how great I am. This only happens when listening to God, as to when, where, how it is to be done. You pick up the snake when God says, not one moment before, and you put it back down when He says to. I have gone to a snake handling churches, and when this happens the presents of God is so strong. If you have never been to a snake handling church, maybe you should go, see, and God will bless you. Oh don't worry they will not bring a snake near you. If they do, then it is a church not following God.
The only reason God would command somebody to handle a poisonous snake is if it gave him glory somehow. Snake handling invites only ridicule and scorn from people like me....and I am a Christian. Imagine any scenario that this would make Christianity appealing to a non-Christian. I can't.
Should a minister also walk into a fiery furnace or a lions' den?
I think a reminder of this classic is appropriate:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law.
I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly
states it to be an abomination. ... End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of
God's Law and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbours. They
claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus
21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A
friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not
Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2.
The passage clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I
don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a
defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my
vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27.
How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different
crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse
and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of
getting the whole town together to stone them? - Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we
just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people
who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable
expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan,
Anonymous
Right you are, capt. Excellent point.
That routine is amusing, Cappy, but a little bit misleading. The rules to which that skit refers were given to the ancient Israelites and to them alone. The rules never applied to anyone else. (The same is true of the Ten Commandments, BTW.)
Ok Isaac, then on what therefor, is your strident and curiously personal objection to gay people being married based, if not the biblical caution against it? I mean if old testament rules weren't meant for all people for all time?
As Christians, either we must believe that the Bible's rules apply to everybody today, or they are just personal suggestions that men wrote and Christianity adopted. If the latter is the case, then everything in the Bible can be taken with a grain of salt, as parables, fables, and stories to make us feel guilty for our behavior so that we go to church and tithe in order to purchase forgiveness. Sounds like modern organized religion to me.
"...on what therefor, is your strident and curiously personal objection to gay people being married based...?"
Marriage is a religious rite that has been co-opted by secular society. It is God who causes two people to become "one flesh", i.e. married. The state cannot do that. God's standard is one man/one woman/married until one of the two dies. The state needs to confine itself to civil partnerships.
"As Christians, either we must believe that the Bible's rules apply to everybody today...."
That sounds good, Ed, but it is not Biblical. God's rules are for God's people. Everybody else is free to do as they please with the tacit understanding that "whatsoever a man sows that also shall he reap."
Moreover, a person does not become a Christian by observing Biblical strictures. He observes Biblical strictures as a result of having been indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit has not taken up residence in a man, he is not a Christian.
If a non-Christians gave up every sin of which they were aware, they still would not be a Christian and they would not be entitled to a Christian's reward (which, btw, will be on Earth, not in Heaven).
As you can see, there is no eternal benefit in a non-Christian observing God's rules. He might as well eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow he will die (as in dead; caput; finis; not sentient).
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