Picking Up Snakes

[Frank Buffalo]

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands,

Just curious: How many Christians here have picked up dangerous snakes to prove their belief in Christianity? How did it go? Do you consider this a good test of faith?

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Mark 16:17 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands,

So Steve Irwin?

 

[Eddi]

I'm like Indiana Jones

I don't like snakes

They are horrible and they don't even have legs

 

[Viker]

I'm like Indiana Jones

I don't like snaked

They are horrible and they don't even have legs

What about corn snakes? They're friendly and pretty.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

I'm like Indiana Jones

I don't like snakes

They are horrible and they don't even have legs

I love snakes, they are beautiful, I have one

 

[Audie]

I love snakes, they are beautiful, I have one

What kind of snake?

Mom taught me not to be afraid but to know what is dangerous in Hong Kong
if you go in a nature reserve.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

I have picked up many different snakes, but not for religious purposes. Snakes are beautiful, interesting creatures. Fascinating. Playing with venomous snakes is a foolhardy undertaking in my view.

 

[Dan From Smithville]

What kind of snake?

Mom taught me not to be afraid but to know what is dangerous in Hong Kong
if you go in a nature reserve.

My parents taught us about them too, so we didn't end up trying to catch the wrong kind as children or adults. Fortunately, there are not as many venomous snakes in the middle of the US as there are in warmer, more tropical parts of the world.

 

[1213]

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands,

Just curious: How many Christians here have picked up dangerous snakes to prove their belief in Christianity? How did it go? Do you consider this a good test of faith?

I think it should not be taken as a test of faith, because:

And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it has been written: "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You on their hands, lest You strike Your foot against a stone." (LXX-Psa. 90:11, 12; MT-Psa. 91:11, 12) Jesus said to him, Again it has been written: "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." (Deut. 6:16)
Matt. 4:6-7

I believe God will protect, but we should not intentionally try to harm us.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands,

I'm not a Christian myself, but in all fairness, there are a number of ways Christians deal with this.

1. The ending to Mark was edited into the text at a much later date. Most Christian Bibles include it, but have footnotes indicating this. Since its authenticity is questionable, so is its authority.

2. The "snakes" are considered by some to be metaphors for Satan, and how Christians are triumphant over him.

3. There are those who believe that miracles were a necessary thing during the time of the apostles in order to confirm their message, but are not needed or meant for later times.

4. And there are those who view this verse as hyperbole meant to emphasize the power and authority of the early church, and not meant to be taken literally.

Perhaps you should edit your video to acknowledge these ideas, instead of setting up a strawman to knock down.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Mark 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands,

Just curious: How many Christians here have picked up dangerous snakes to prove their belief in Christianity? How did it go? Do you consider this a good test of faith?

I am a snake catcher, but it has naught to do with faith, it is just good reptile management to relocate them to a safe place.

Trained by this fellow.

Julian Craig

Julian Craig is an Australian leading herpetologist, training workers across the country in the safe work practices in snake catching and snake awareness

beccraig.wixsite.com

Regards Tony

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

What kind of snake?

Mom taught me not to be afraid but to know what is dangerous in Hong Kong
if you go in a nature reserve.

He’s just a harmless corn snake
if I had more space, I’d get some type of boa constrictor. They can be pretty friendly and docile. I think it’s irresponsible to keep snakes in small enclosures, so I couldn’t.
There are some keepers in America who own land and keep call kinds of reptiles including front fanged venomous snakes, crocodile monitors, Rhino Iguanas.
I’d love to be able to have some type of monitor but they would require a lot of space and care

 

[Tamino]

Different idea: perhaps the snakes are a reference to the so-called Horus Cippus. A popular kind of magical Stela in Egypt at this time. The child-god Horus is holding snakes in his hands to show his control over these dangerous animals and the stelae were supposed to protect from or help cure snake bites.

I wouldn't be surprised if early Christians knew about these and re-interpreted the imagery in their own context.

 

[Audie]

View attachment 100290

He’s just a harmless corn snake
if I had more space, I’d get some type of boa constrictor. They can be pretty friendly and docile. I think it’s irresponsible to keep snakes in small enclosures, so I couldn’t.
There are some keepers in America who own land and keep call kinds of reptiles including front fanged venomous snakes, crocodile monitors, Rhino Iguanas.
I’d love to be able to have some type of monitor but they would require a lot of space and care

that’s a pretty snake. I looked it up, not too big and popularvpet.

We have monitor lizards and Burmese pythons in nature areas here.
Ive handled a medium size python, very tame.

I don’t keep a pet but there’s tokay geckos that l see on my patio
and I encourage them with crickets and by attracting other insects.

Theres 8 or 10 kinds of venom snakes here, cobras, kraits,
vipers..not all easy to recognize unlike in USA where anyone
can easily know which are dangerous.

 

[ChristineM]

Not Christian but o do have a little interaction with snakes.

Often enough one of the cats will bring a snake into the house,. lucky not a venomous beastie. Smooth snakes and grass snakes.

I won't pick them up by hand because although they are not poisonous they can create a terribly smell and spray it on you or hiss, lunge and bite

One time an asp viper (of Cleopatra fame) was curled up in our bio bin outside. I opened the lid to pour some fruit peeling ln and saw it move before it lunged. The council tool that one away

 

[Twilight Hue]

It's a reptile..... OOHhh. Ohhh. Ooooo.....

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

that’s a pretty snake. I looked it up, not too big and popularvpet.

We have monitor lizards and Burmese pythons in nature areas here.
Ive handled a medium size python, very tame.

I don’t keep a pet but there’s tokay geckos that l see on my patio
and I encourage them with crickets and by attracting other insects.

Theres 8 or 10 kinds of venom snakes here, cobras, kraits,
vipers..not all easy to recognize unlike in USA where anyone
can easily know which are dangerous.

Yes cornsnakes are manageable as pets but they can be active and are semi arboreal so still require a decent amount of space.
You’re lucky to be able to see reptiles naturally. Tokay Geckos are very cute as with all geckos. I’ve held a Burmese before. He was very chilled

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

Different idea: perhaps the snakes are a reference to the so-called Horus Cippus. A popular kind of magical Stela in Egypt at this time. The child-god Horus is holding snakes in his hands to show his control over these dangerous animals and the stelae were supposed to protect from or help cure snake bites.

I wouldn't be surprised if early Christians knew about these and re-interpreted the imagery in their own context.

I believe in a lot of cultures snakes have spiritual associations with re-birth, power and psychic abilities. They are also misunderstood and commonly perceived to be more dangerous than what they are which is why handling them can be impressive and awe inspiring to a lot people. Although they are quite primitive emotionally, individuals have different temperaments and they can be intelligent enough to not perceive every person as a threat - so really it depends on the snake and the circumstances

 

[Audie]

Yes cornsnakes are manageable as pets but they can be active and are semi arboreal so still require a decent amount of space.
You’re lucky to be able to see reptiles naturally. Tokay Geckos are very cute as with all geckos. I’ve held a Burmese before. He was very chilled
View attachment 100298

I did say “ medium” size!
like 2+ metres!

That thing would eat me!

 

[Shaul]

There are more dangerous things that could be picked up, like a book.