Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #5

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Scripture does tell us The Master can confer upon us the power to pick up deadly serpents without fear (Matt 16:18; Luke 10:19) but it also warns us not to "put the Lord, your God, to the test.’' (Matt 4:7; Deut 6;16). These snake handler cults make Christians look backward and stupid and they really ought take into consideration all of Scripture, not just what pleases them.

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Cincy yes, I also see the problem with the person not the Scripture.
Putting the Lord to the test, seeing Christianity as a TV demonstration of something odd like this, as opposed to a life of service to God and your fellow man. Perhaps his snake handling skills and ignorance allowed him to survive as long as he did. Nobody up here attempts this so I really don't know firsthand. It's all speculation for me.

I do think the proper context for understanding the "right" way to survive a serpent bite is more like the snake bite Paul received in Acts while putting wood on the fire. Or the survival of the King's incinerator for Shadrach and company, or the Daniel Lion's den experience. None went out looking for danger but each survived it by God's choice when encountered.

Christianity shouldn't be reduced to some dopey formula, it's way more than that. Can you imagine Jesus having a TV show demonstrating his miracles? He repeatedly refused to prove his identity via miracles.

There's one more Scripture that comes to mind, Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

[I think we nailed these guys]