Snake handling
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Snake handling is a religious ritual in a small number of Christian churches in the U.S., usually characterized as rural and Pentecostal. Practitioners believe it dates to antiquity and quote the Bible to support the practice, especially:
- "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." (Mark 16:18)
- "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
Founders
George W. Hensley, a preacher who had left a Pentecostal church when it stopped embracing snake handling, is credited with creating the first holiness church dedicated to snake handling in the 1920s. Sister-churches later sprang up throughout the Appalachian backwoods. However, the roots of the snake handlers can be traced further back to strict Calvinists, who were among the early English and Scotch-Irish settlers colonizing the Appalachian area.Many of the later followers were brought into the belief through traveling preachers in the late 19th century, attracted by charismatic preachers who boasted great miracles and demonstrated wonders. James Miller, without hearing about Hensley's ministry, received a Revelation from God to handle serpents and baptize in the Jesus Only formula of Acts 2: 38 in the King James Bible. After the birth of the 21st Century, Snake Handling spread to Canadian soil. Thomas C. Plecity, a Jesus Only Branhamite who claimed to have never heard of Hensley or Miller, claimed to have received instruction from God to spread the validity of Mark 16: 17 & 18 in late 2004. #redirect
Snake handlers today
As in the early days, worshippers are still encouraged to lay hands on the sick, speak in tongues, and provide testimony of miracles. Gathering mainly in homes and converted buildings, they generally adhere to such strict dress codes as uncut hair, no cosmetics and ankle-length dresses for women and short hair and long-sleeved shirts for men. Most snakehandlers preach against watching television, secular news papers, all types of tobacco and alcohol. They also abstain from worldly holidays such as birthdays, Halloween, and Christmas dismissing them and other holidays as Pagan and not Scriptural.Most religious snake handlers are still found in the Appalachian Mountains and other parts of the southeastern United States, especially in such states as Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio. However, they are gaining steady recognition from News broadcasts, movies and books that are either for or against the non-denominational movement.
In 2001, there were about 40 small churches which practiced snake handling, and most are considered to be holiness-Pentecostal or charismatic. In 2004, the practice moved north and across the border as there were four snake handling congregations in the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Most, if not all, use the King James Version of the Bible and consider other versions to be demonic, or at least false. Like their predecessors, they believe in a strict and literal interpretation of the Scriptures. Most of the Sign Following churches are non- denominational. They believe that denominations are 'man made' and carry the Mark of the Beast. The devout often attend services several nights a week. Each service, if the Holy Spirit intervenes, can last up to five hours whereas the minimum time is usually ninety minutes.
Scriptural basis and practice
Those espousing the snake handling practice base their belief upon Mark 16:17-18. It states the following:
- "And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. 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."
- - Mark 16:17-18
Rags soaked in kerosene are ignited and placed in glass jars or empty pop bottles. Then they are passed around for any of the faithful who feel so inclined to touch them by slowly passing their hands through the flames or under their chins for several seconds.
Risks
If a worshipper is bitten, poisoned, or burned during the services, it is believed to be because that individual lacked faith or has sin in their life.[[Citing sources citation needed]] Few seek medical attention after being bitten.[[Citing sources citation needed]] While children attend the services, the worshippers strongly deny that any of them have been bitten.[[Citing sources citation needed]]Several of the leaders in these churches have been bitten numerous times, as indicated by their distorted extremities.[[Citing sources citation needed]] Hensley, said to be the founder of modern snake handling in the Appalachian Mountains, died from snakebite in 1955. Another prominent leader, a 34-year-old evangelist, died in 1998 after being bitten by a timber rattler at the Rock House Holiness Church in rural northeastern Alabama. Members of his family contend that his death was likely due to a heart attack, although his wife had died three years earlier after a snake bite while in Kentucky.
The law
The states of Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee have passed laws against the use of poisonous snakes and/or other reptiles in a place that endangers the lives of others or without a permit. The Kentucky law specifically mentions religious services. Most snake handling practices therefore take place in the homes of worshippers, which avoids the process of attempting to obtain a government permit for the church. Law enforcement officers usually ignore these religious practices unless and until they are specifically called in. This is not usually done unless a death has resulted from the practice.Snake handling churches
- Rock House Holiness Church in the rural northeast
- True Holiness Believers Gathering, Lethbridge
- Holiness Fire Church Of Lord Jesus With Signs Following, Edmonton
- The Right Hand Of Jesus With Signs Following Church, Kamloops,
- Small Believers Of Light Church With Signs Following, Revelstoke
- The Jesus Name Believers Holiness Church, Canton
- Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Kingston
- Holiness Church Of Lord Jesus, Roopville
- Hiway Holiness Church of God, Fort Wayne
- Crockett Church, Fields
- Apostolic Church, Warren
- Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Greenville
- Holiness Church of God in Jesus Name, Carson Springs
- Sand Hill Church, Del Rio
- House of Prayer in Jesus Name, Morristown
- Church Of The Lord Jesus With Signs Following, Jolo
- Full Gospel Jesus Church, Micco
- Full Gospel Jesus Church, Kistler
See also
Church of God with Signs Following
External links and sources
- [Beyond the Serpents, a photo documentary]
- [Cincinnati Skeptics article on snake handling]
- [Snake Oil, a parody fanzine about televangelists]
- [History of serpent handlers]
- ["Snake Handling in the Pentecostal Church: The Precedent Set by George Hensley" by Joi Brown]
- [University of Virginia article on serpent handlers]
- ["Snake Handling" by Pat Arnow, from Southern Exposure] (PDF file)
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