Young snake handlers say they grasp the power of faith
Hamblin, 21, pastor of Tabernacle Church of God in LaFollette, Tenn., is part of a new generation of serpent-handling Christians who are revitalizing a century-old faith tradition in Tennessee.
While older serpent handlers were wary of outsiders, these younger believers welcome visitors and use Facebook to promote their often misunderstood — and illegal — version of Christianity. They want to show the beauty and power of their extreme form of spirituality. And they hope eventually to reverse a state ban on handling snakes in church....
west coast reader wrote: My point was noticing how much of a “troll†(controller) Jim has become even in proxy. If I offended you, I am sorry.
No worries, I'm not easily offended these days even when viewed as a "proxy."
west coast reader wrote: I’ve spent the past 5+ years fasting, praying, and searching, researching in tears and turmoil over the Bible version debate.
Praise the Lord for your love for the Word and careful search for truth! Few seem to care today.
west coast reader wrote: Strongs is helpful to explore the uses of terms in varied settings. I also suggest the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) and King James Concordance (KJC) King James Dictionary (KJVD) Learning Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic doesn’t make you a scholar. The KJV is fantastic! Don’t approach it and God in doubt, rather… seek in Faith!
I appreciate the TSK and Strongs both; I'm unfamiliar with the others. I agree that we don't really need to learn the original languages. My comments were meant to emphasize that the KJV, as beneficial as it has been and still is, is still a derivative work rather than direct inspiration as some seem to think.
Thomas, I meant “Jim†as the topic for (in this case) NOT engaging in his usual KJV slander-fest. And even tho he was not engaged in a KJV slander-fest, because of his ill reputation, it is always assumed that no matter what the topic, he has an anti-KJV agenda.
My point was noticing how much of a “troll†(controller) Jim has become even in proxy.
If I offended you, I am sorry.
I’ve spent the past 5+ years fasting, praying, and searching, researching in tears and turmoil over the Bible version debate. I’ve talked with translators and scholars, listened to and watched debates, and investigated as much as I know how, with as much ability as I have.
I am fully convinced and satisfied that the KJV is absolutely reliable, not watered down.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Pro 25:2)
Strongs is helpful to explore the uses of terms in varied settings. I also suggest the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK) and King James Concordance (KJC) King James Dictionary (KJVD)
Learning Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic doesn’t make you a scholar.
The KJV is fantastic! Don’t approach it and God in doubt, rather… seek in Faith!
west coast reader wrote: Isn't it interesting that even when Jim isn't engaged in a KJV slander-fest that he is able to control the board without even using words? Others do it for him.
Who is engaged in a slander fest? Be careful, you might just start sounding like the more irrational KJV only crowd.
I wasn't knocking the KJV and I don't dislike the KJV at all (I have several copies). I simply stated that these snake handling cults utilize the "tried and true" KJV and it was thus appropriate to allow for it to be used. Jim's motives may have been to highlight a controversial passage that these cults love to quote for a personal reason but it was nonetheless appropriate.
If you're really going to take the argument to its logical end then why use the KJV? Learn Greek and use the TR; those English translations are all watered down from the original languages. Else, why would you need the Strongs?
thomas wrote: no matter where you stand in the debate over (some - Jim's position) modern translations vs. KJV...
Isn't it interesting that even when Jim isn't engaged in a KJV slander-fest that he is able to control the board without even using words?
Others do it for him.
Would this statement be true?: Hatred of God's Word is infectious, and those haters of God's Word, hate God. Their father is the devil, that serpent of old who dares you to charm him. "Go on, are you chicken?" --"Ain't ya got no faith? --Besides, no one can know the truth, and the Bible is filled with errors and we really can't be sure what is says because it's not translated correctly, and we don't know which word to use... the are all there someplace... pick what you like" (folks that is the devil speaking lies)
KJV=Tried and True. KJV+Strongs+1828 Websters= digging tools. Dig in with faith, trust, hope, assurance! Free tools like e-sword and theWord Bible programs, leave you with no excuse not to find the treasure.
Jim hearts KJV wrote: Notice that when Jim Lincoln discusses a controversial verse (like a serpent/healing verse), he resorts to using a KJV. Why didn't he use the inerrant NASB which he always otherwise would? Perhaps he only trusts the more perfect KJV with the most challenging Bible passages.
Well to be fair to Jim, he did quote the very translation that most if not all of these snake handling cults utilize. It is appropriate to quote the KJV in this case no matter where you stand in the debate over (some - Jim's position) modern translations vs. KJV.
Personally I prefer the original texts in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek over the modern English translations that water down the original languages a bit but alas, I can't read any of those.
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.---Amer. KJV
Notice that when Jim Lincoln discusses a controversial verse (like a serpent/healing verse), he resorts to using a KJV. Why didn't he use the inerrant NASB which he always otherwise would? Perhaps he only trusts the more perfect KJV with the most challenging Bible passages.
Kundalini (serpant energy Sanskrit word that means coil)
As I was reading this news article more fully, I noticed right away that what is being described, such as the “tingling†is the same kind of experience that those involved in other occult practices such as Yoga, Tantra, Reiki and so on, also report.
(source is occult site, I won't link it but you have a search engine) Kundalini is a psycho-spiritual energy, the energy of the consciousness, which is thought to reside within the sleeping body, and is aroused either through spiritual discipline or spontaneously to bring new states of consciousness, including mystical illumination.
You really do meet the Spirit of God, by reading His Word. The experiences you “feel†are not trustworthy. Faith in God, is not the same thing as faith in faith. Faith in faith is a deception.
Here is how our faith grows. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17
As a Mormon I got the “burning in my bosom†As a New Ager I got “dreams and out of body experience†As a Charismatic, I got “the tingle and speaking in tonguesâ€
As a Christian, I get the Words of the Living God and the other stuff was exposed for the error it is!
Mark 16:18 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.---Amer. KJV
These were signs done by apostles to establish their authenticity, and not done by everyone! Apostle Paul did the above, but that was it. Listen to, Temporary Gifts the Spirit Gave. Oh, it looks like SA has listed some fine sermons on Charismatics. This nonsense extends to faith healing as well, Does God Still Heal?
I have only 1 question for these snake handlers Which God do they worship? They need to read 2 Corinthians 4:4 and 11:12-15. As to the right God it is Nehemiah 1:5 and Rev.1:8,22:16, also Philippians 2:5-11 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God!!
west coast reader wrote: Where does the Word say anyone should handle snakes as a profession of faith? Jesus answered Satan (the serpent/snake) I Refer to Matt 4:6-7, "...thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." The context of the verse you quoted originally is found in Luke 10: 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 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. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Quoting and reading scripture should be done in context, otherwise you end up with strange and false doctrines.
How would you explain to Pastor Andrew Hamblin that, although Jesus told him to handle snakes, he's somehow engaged in a "strange and false doctrine"? It's the Word, is it not?
2day2 wrote: Where does the Word say snake handling applies only to Apostles?
Where does the Word say anyone should handle snakes as a profession of faith?
Jesus answered Satan (the serpent/snake) I Refer to Matt 4:6-7, "...thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
The context of the verse you quoted originally is found in Luke 10: 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 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. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
Quoting and reading scripture should be done in context, otherwise you end up with strange and false doctrines.
west coast reader wrote: Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20 BTW Jesus was speaking at this time to "the seventy". v:17 Context
Where does the Word say snake handling applies only to Apostles?
Dr. Alan Cairns | 12/29/2008
Denis Lyle | 11/7/2006
COMMENTS | 
, rather… seek in Faith! 
