The question the existence of snake handlers raises is this: “Why shouldn’t they handle snakes? For that matter, why don’t all Christians pass around rattlesnakes every week?” It would make for a lively page in the church supply catalogues. Right there next to the thuribles and charcoal and incense might be the “snake page”. Why there would be a whole range of venomous snakes. The best and most exotic would be reserved for the Episcopalians and Anglicans. “We import only the best spitting cobras from India for your snake handling ceremony.” or for the Lutherans, “Baby coral snakes straight from the desert of Arizona! Add a splash of color to your snake handling liturgy.” or for the Presbyterians–”discreet small scorpions for your venom ceremony–they can be handed around on a little tray by the deacons.” For the mega churches: “Does your church shake, rattle and roll? Get your full sized timber rattlesnakes from us!”
But of course snake handling remains an eccentric past time of only a relatively few Christian groups. Sensible people all condemn such dangerous and insane practices. I wish to stand this cruel condemnation of the snake handlers on its head. Why should we condemn the Pentecostal Holiness in the Name of Jesus snake handlers for insane and dangerous practices, but we condone the Episcopalians for having lesbian bishops or making a man who left his wife to marry his boyfriend a bishop? Why do we condemn the Pentecostoal Holiness folks for handling snakes, but do not condemn the Lutherans for practicing witchcraft in their liturgy?
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