Serpent Handlers Views
The churches with serpent handlers are churches within the Holiness movement, which is part of the larger Pentacostal movement, which stems from Methodism, which stems from Anglicanism, which, in the United States, stems largely from a puritanical Calvinism. There will be a series of posts here on these movements. Please note that not all Holiness churches feature serpent handling or poison drinking in their services. In fact, most do not.
These [verses] are not metaphors for such believers, but in some cases, controversy over the interpretation of a single word (such as the word shall, in m“They shall take up serpents. ”) has fractured churches, leading to new movements and new ways of thinking among fundamentalist Christian congregations. Such is the case with serpent handlers who sprang from the Pentecostal Church in the early part of the 20th centurys…
But the handling of serpents is only one aspect of a rich and complex faith that stems from a focus on the powers and gifts promised by Jesus to the most faithful believers, via what is perhaps the most enigmatic figure in the bible 2– the Holy Spirit. We cannot understand those who handle serpents without first attempting to understand that concept, because serpent handlers believe it is the Holy Spirit who bestows the gift of protection to those who handle snakes and drink poison[…
For sign followers to receive the power of the Holy Ghost (described above) it takes repentance, remission of sins, and a godly life. Only after these three steps will the Holy Ghost enable the snake handlers to follow the signs. The signs themselves include speaking in tongues, casting out of demons, handling serpents, drinking deadly things, [and] healing the sick (Burton 1993, 17-18). Some members will also anoint themselves with oil [as part of healing], [hold] fire and [stick their] fingers into live electrical sockets while engulfed in the power of the spirit (Covington 1995, 24-26).
Serpent Handlers Images
