On February 15, 2014, Jamie Coots, a snake handling Pentecostal pastor, died from a poisonous snake bite. It was not the first time he was bitten. Years earlier he lost part of a finger to a snake bite. His premature death has followed far too many with the same distorted practice and misapplication of Scripture — people like Pastor Mark Randall “Mack” Wolford, Mack Ray Wolford, John Holbrook and George Went Hensley. Few could doubt the snake handlers sincerity, but that doesn’t mean they are rightly dividing the word of truth. To intentionally handle snakes, as they boldly do for proof of salvation, etc., is tempting God to protect them. Just like the Jehovah’s Witnesses who have lost some of their own through a denial of a blood transfusion, snake handlers die prematurely and senselessly through a misuse of Scripture.
When Paul was snake bitten, he didn’t intentionally handle that snake. Also, he killed it afterwards by throwing it in the fire (Acts 28:3-5). There is no connection between Paul’s experience and what the snake handlers do in our day. [Below is a video of Jame Coots when he was still alive.]
