I grew up in a state in the Deep South. Not really proud of it, but I didn't choose my circumstances of birth or adoption. Far south of the Kentucky town where the latest fatality due to snakebite happened,
there was/ is a town not too far from the city I lived in for 30 years which was nationally infamous for 1) Mass hangings of young black men for alleged rape of a white girl earlier in history 2) A big old junk sale in the town square fairly often- it is a rusty pile of junk and hound dogs and a few mules and people come from many states away to see the spectacle. 3) Being home to " Unclaimed Baggage" which is, or at least used to be, a wonderful place to rummage and
4) For very closed off sects of snake handling " churches". I use the term " church" loosely here.
I've identified the town without naming it, so if anyone in the same state posts here, then you know where I'm talking about.
The snake handling sect used to stay up in the hills.. Stayed to themselves and buried their dead snake handlers in private. Then the media came, 20/20 or 60 Minutes or both and more came, and the town became nationally infamous for the snake handlers. I personally think the town is cursed with some strange kind of inbreeding or strange belief system which is handed down generation to generation. There are also frequent '"ghost sightings' in this town. It truly is a wretched place, IMO.
I grew up hearing and reading Bible stories and praying. I am a born- again Christian. My God is one of mercy, and also warnings for His people. One of the things the Bible says is NOT to tempt God. There is the story of Jesus being tempted by Satan in the wilderness.... Over and over, Satan offered a fasting and weak human all the riches of the world- if he would only bow down to Satan. Jesus triumphed over Satan but warned us that Satan is loose in the world. The snake- handlers seem to worship a life form which has been associated with Satan since the book of Genesis in the garden of Eden-- snakes.
The Bible says " God is not mocked". My parents were much closer to knowing what the snake- handlers did than I ever knew, because it was a HUGE thing in that one town when they were young. Back then, novelties were a rarity I guess, so people knew what was going on behind closed doors.
My parents talked to me about the snake-handlers, a few of whom were quasi- famous or infamous and the patriarchs of families who were brought up doing that with snakes.
I was taught that it is evil to taunt God, to test God or to test one's faith in a public and dangerous way.
Each one of us has the ability to pray to God and His Son Jesus for faith, and strength, but we do not have the right to demand it.
I rejoice when a snake- handler dies. Because right there is the person's testimony to the entire group that man's faith is NOT strong enough- we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we do our works not in public venues such as dancing around with poisonous snakes. Christians do good works to help OTHERS and glorify his name.
Nothing about handling poisonous snakes in an altered state of consciousness ( the dancing, moaning and speaking in tongues that accompanies the snake- handling) is for the glory of God. It is for the glory of the person or people doing the snake handling.
If I had not grown up with great instruction from my parents who used this town in the Heart of Dixie to teach me about idolatry and false prophecy, as well as some other sins, then I would not have such a hard heart about it, I guess.
The practice is the practice of fools, not Christians. I do not weep for their dead. I weep for those too blind to see and get out alive, and find Jesus in their hearts. He is my savior. A writhing pile of rattlesnakes are not anything but reptiles which belong in their natural habitat or shot because of their dangers to animals and humans.
I had no idea this practice had spread beyond the small town where it started over 60 years ago. I think that's a shame.. But I grieve not for the loss of any of the snake- handlers. They MOCK God.
This is all my opinion from living less than 35 miles away from the strangely named " churches" which practiced snake- handling as their special private entitlement to spiritual ecstasy and their mortal agony. I'm sorry if it sounds harsh. I've had MANY years to form informed opinions on the subject, and it sickens me that religion can be so perverted.
ETA: In the town which is known for extremely old sects of snake handling " churches", there ARE children exposed to this way of life from babes in arms onward. Mostly, the snake handlers ARE long- standing families. The " tradition" of snake handling is passed down from generation to generation. The kids are obviously brainwashed into a warped normalcy. No normal person would dance around with venomous snakes unless they had grown up with the practice and considered it an " honor" to do so. The sects which do this are extremely closed off and secretive. If you or I drove up to their " service", we might be escorted off the woodsy property with a loaded gun. I think this is because there are minor children present and the parents know what they are doing is illegal. Putting their children in harm's way deliberately.
