The practice of snake handling in Christian worship services is controversial and typically associated with certain Holiness and Pentecostal churches, particularly in the Appalachian region of the United States. Those who handle venomous snakes as part of their religious rituals believe they are exercising Biblical faith and following the example set forth by Jesus Christ and his disciples. However, the practice is widely condemned as dangerous and entirely unnecessary by most mainstream Christian denominations.
Scriptural Basis
Snake handlers point to several passages in the Bible which they interpret as requiring or permitting the handling of venomous snakes as an act of faith:
- Mark 16:17-18 – “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.”
- Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.”
- Acts 28:3-6 – “When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.’ He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.”
Based on these verses, snake handlers believe that God protects true believers from harm when they handle snakes. They see it as a sign of obedience and faith in God’s power.
History
The origins of snake handling in Christianity can be traced back to the early 20th century in Appalachia. Key figures include:
- George Went Hensley – A Pentecostal minister from Tennessee who popularized snake handling in the 1910s after supposedly being bitten by a rattlesnake and surviving. He based the practice on his interpretation of Mark 16.
- Maggie Garnett – An Alabama woman who brought attention to snake handling practices in the 1940s. She was featured in national magazines and newsreels showing her serpent handling rituals.
- Jamie Coots – A prominent Pentecostal pastor and snake-handling minister from Kentucky featured on the National Geographic reality show “Snake Salvation” in the 2000s.
The practice originated from a holiness movement but grew more closely associated with Pentecostalism over time. Outbreaks of snake handling tended to follow revivals in the Appalachian region. The practice became especially popular in small towns and mountain communities with limited medical access, where people prayed for divine protection from venomous snakebites.
Beliefs and Rituals
Snake handling services generally take place in small, rural churches. Practices can vary between congregations but often include:
- Participants singing, praying, dancing, and entering ecstatic trances.
- Handling venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes and copperheads with bare hands as an act of faith in God’s protection.
- Drinking strychnine and other poisons.
- Speaking in tongues, interpreting it as communication from God.
- Anointing the sick with oil or laying hands on them to heal.
- Rushing anyone who is bitten to the altar to be prayed over.
Leaders of snake handling churches believe they have the gifts of divine healing and protection. Catching snakes and surviving bites without medical treatment is seen as proof of their anointing by God and a sign to nonbelievers.
Most snake handlers avoid intentionally provoking snakes to bite them. Getting bitten is not considered a positive outcome, but viewed as a test of faith to endure. However, they usually refuse medical treatment if bitten, relying on prayer alone to heal them.
Legality and Mainstream Acceptance
Snake handling as a religious practice has faced extensive criticism, legal restrictions, and low acceptance among mainstream Christian denominations.
Many Christians argue there is a lack of true Biblical basis for handling venomous snakes. They consider it an unnecessary test of God’s protection based on questionable interpretation of scriptures.
Snake handling services involve considerable health risks, not just for participants but potentially others they encounter after being bitten. As a result, most U.S. states have laws banning the use of venomous snakes in religious services. Legal punishments can include fines, prison time, and seizure of illegal animals.
However, some snake handling churches persist, especially in rural Appalachian regions. Leaders of these congregations often argue they should be exempt from such laws based on guarantees of religious freedom. They continue illegally using snakes despite legal consequences at times.
Participants tend to view the controversy and legal restrictions as persecution for their faith. But leaders face heavy criticism for promoting dangerous practices with little theological basis, and for neglecting medical treatment for bites.
Notable Snake Handling Incidents
There have been numerous major incidents related to snake handling services over the years, including fatalities. Some examples include:
- In 1955, Reverend George Went Hensley, the popularizer of snake handling, was fatally bitten by a snake during a service in Florida. He refused medical treatment and died.
- In 1998, snake handler John Wayne “Punkin” Brown died after being bitten by a timber rattlesnake at the Rock House Holiness Church in Alabama. The bite came just after he had proudly handled the snake during a service.
- In 2012, Mack Wolford, a pastor from West Virginia, died after being bitten multiple times by a rattlesnake he owned, which he had handled frequently in services. He refused medical treatment on religious grounds.
- In 2014, Jamie Coots, star of the “Snake Salvation” reality show, suffered a fatal bite to his right hand during a Kentucky service. The event was not filmed, but Coots had been bitten multiple times before while being filmed handling snakes.
These and other snakebite deaths have made national news and fueled public outrage over the practice. Victims are often praised as martyrs by their fellow snake handlers, while critics decry them as evidence of the ritual’s irresponsibility.
Snake Handling in the Modern Era
The popularity of snake handling within Christianity has diminished over time, but dozens of churches still exist, most concentrated in Appalachia. Key traits of modern snake handling religion include:
- Congregations are small, secretive, and localized to rural areas.
- Leaders tend to preach strict moral standards and literal interpretation of the Bible.
- Services involve ecstatic worship practices like lively music, dancing, and trances along with snake handling rituals.
- Snake handling gives participants a sense of danger, excitement and proving oneself before God.
- Social media has allowed more publicity of services, often featuring younger adherents.
- Leaders continue holding services with snakes despite legal bans in most states, risking fines and imprisonment.
Overall, snake handling persists as an enigmatic religious practice, viewed as bizarre and fanatical by outsiders but representing faith, tradition, and Christian obedience to its small number of devoted followers.
Key Takeaways
- Snake handling developed in the early 1900s Appalachian Holiness movement and grew among certain Pentecostals.
- Key scriptural basis is Mark 16:17-18 about believers picking up serpents, drinking poisons without harm.
- Rituals involve ecstatic worship practices and handling venomous snakes as acts of divine faith.
- The practice is widely condemned as medically dangerous with thin biblical support, but persists in rural Appalachian regions.
- Snake bites and deaths among handlers generate criticism, but are seen as sacrifices by adherents.
- Snake handling gives followers a sense of danger, excitement and proving their faith despite legal restrictions in most states.
