Jamie Coots, a famous snake-handling preacher in Kentucky, died this past week due to a snakebite. Something about this story unsettles me.
This is not because I have a history with snake handling pastors, and I don’t have any long-standing issues with reptiles either. Actually, it’s not even his death which troubles me, but rather the way he described his approach to handling snakes.
Coots stated, “I made a vow to God when I first started taking up serpents that if ever I was bitten I wouldn’t go to [the] hospital. I believe that when it’s my time to go there ain’t a doctor in this world that can keep me here.” He insinuates that his faith has a certain purity to it because he is trusting God instead of physicians.
Coots puts modern medicine and faith at odds with each other
Coots felt he demonstrated his faith in God by refusing medical assistance for the snakebite. This choice has left his church in pain and sorrow. As a congregation, they have to push through this tragedy and reconcile his death with our good God.
Don’t mishear me though. I would never say God is not in the business of healing. I firmly believe God can and does miraculously heal people in an instant. I have seen it happen more than once.
I have felt God move intestinal kinks under my fingers to prevent emergency surgery. I have prayed for back pain and seen immediate results. My wife and I have prayed for a terminally ill coworker and watched her leave the hospital healthy 48 hours later. I wholeheartedly believe in the kingdom of God, expressed in miraculous healings.
I also believe in medicine and physicians. And there is no conflict in these beliefs. My daughter is on two anti-epileptic medications, among other pills. We have seen her without her seizure meds, and it’s horrible. She has twenty or more seizures every day.
These drugs are a gift from God for her health. Our choice to medicate our daughter does not lessen our faith in God.
The faithful and mature Christian is never sick
This is a related teaching about illness that is equally painful. I spent many years in churches that taught this, and I have seen so many people hurt by this theology.
Wise and seasoned leaders would sincerely ask me if I had any sin to confess when I asked for healing prayer related to my seizures.
One of my friends was told her husband would have overcome his cancer if only she had believed more. I met her four years and one husband later, and she was still scarred from that encounter.
When my shoulder pain flared up, I was informed that it would dissipate if I would only raise my hands and worship freely. Guilt was heaped onto my soul when I couldn’t do it without pain.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Pain and sickness are not good. They do not come from God. He does not judge us by inflicting us with terrible things.
Our God is gentle and compassionate. Full of love, He looks to bless us, not curse us. Our God is good. He loves snake-handlers and physicians. Just like He loves all of us.
Totally agree with your views on this. I too, am sad for this pastor’s congregation as well as family members that may not have agreed with him. I remember when I was in Bible school for a short time hearing our professor share that someone told him he would not be in a wheelchair if he trusted God more. This man was such a gently Godly man. I’m sure the enemy loves it when we twist the truth. Just like he did when he visited Eve, while she had a fruit snack.
There is a mix of sadness for the congregation and agitation about the arrogance of this man’s thoughts. The presumption he had, that God would heal him because of his faith, just aggravates me immensely.
For him to have continually been in that dangerous place, kinda makes me wonder if he had a death wish.
this isn’t not a topic I’ve read about, I am glad you branched out and challenged us with something new. Good word Chris
I have faith in God but I still wear my seatbelt. God never calls us to suspend wisdom. It’s sad when people use “faith” as a precursor to what God choses to do or not do. Good post Chris. #dudewriters4ever
God gives us common sense. We are expected to use it. People can sincerely believe and be sincerely wrong.
Chris, that you for stepping up and sharing this. Of course, as you know, my husband and I were “victims” of the “if you have enough faith” theology. I know that God heals, and to seek medical help is not a lack of faith. It’s so sad that many have fallen into this type of bad theology.
I heard about this yesterday on NPR, I’m glad you wrote about it. I don’t want to judge anyone’s expression of faith, but doing something dangerous to prove how the strength of your faith seems legalistic and prideful to me. Doesn’t it say in the Bible that you are not to tempt God, or did I just make that up?
It is challenging to read something and truly believe it is a call from God. Sometimes, “calling” can seem to trump logic sadly
You did not make that up. One of the ways that Satan tests Jesus is by asking Him to jump off a roof. He even quotes Scripture that would indicate Jesus would be protected. Jesus responded by saying it is not right to put God to the test.
Now you make me wish I would have used THAT scripture. It preached a whole lot better than James 1
It mostly makes me mad, because the church then becomes a place to mistrust, instead of a sanctuary. This is something I sort of address in my book, and it is definitely a passion of mine.
Well, I agree with those statement. I think it might be deeper than common sense though, don’t you?
There is a strange dynamic at play around faith and intelligence too. For example, I have been told to “stop thinking and let God stir my faith by offending my intellect.”
Oh good — I really try to stay away from current events, because I want my essays to be relevant whenever people find them. Thanks for the encouragement.
This is unsettling
why snakes? why can’t he have been a kitten handling preacher? This came across my new feed in a very different way–not about the preacher but about the snakes. According to the resources the snakes were obtained illegally. If so, why would a preacher break the law?
Why?, Why?, Why?–this week our friend lost her husband to ALS–she seemingly did everything she could to soak up every last minute with her husband. The tale of two widows . . . one who did everything she could–the other didn’t.
I pray for them both.
I don’ follow the news and had no idea about this. Thank you for sharing, and in such a wise and delicate way.
God has build a great world and has put good sense in us. We have injured both with our pride and stupidity. What do we expect from Him?
Jamie Coots in unsettling, or this theology of illness?
The short answer, Renee, is a very strict and literal interpretation of one particular passage of Scripture, Mark 16:15-18:
‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”’
A few comments:
1) Not every Greek manuscript has these passages, which may (or may not) indicate they were part of the original narrative.
2) The inclusion of snakes and poison is not found anywhere else in the New Testament. Typical biblical interpretation teaches us to view the less clear passage in light of more clear passages on similar topics. An example for this passage would be Matthew 10 or Luke 10. Here we see Jesus sending out disciples and giving them authority for healing and over demons.
3) We do see in the book of Acts that the Apostle Paul was bitten by a snake and did not die, but he was not handling the snake. There are no instances in the New Testament of poison drinking.
This stream of Christianity honestly feels the handling of poisonous snakes to be a demonstration of their belief and faith in Jesus. When you feel strongly that something is required to demonstrate your faith, it causes you to do weird things. Things like illegally transporting wildlife across state lines, holding poisonous reptiles in large crowds, and refusing medical attention when it will save your life.
I worry about how this will impact the youth specifically in his congregation. This is the sort of event that could destroy the faith of an entire church generation. Then again, maybe the church will be able to recenter upon more meaningful practices now.
That’s a really good point Katina. We are often quick to look to God to rescue us from our own stupid choices…whether they happen to involve reptiles or not.
I had not considered this aspect. Now the context of this post is much more about all of us, rather than a fringe group of Christians.
So much about the way he did this troubles me. Especially the hypocrisy. I tend to think that if this man were truly serving God and following the Word of God to the letter, he wouldn’t have broken the law of the authority of the state in order to do so. God’s not like that. The Holy Spirit moves in a way that doesn’t contradict Himself.
If I had a dime for every time someone told me that if I just had “more faith” or “trusted Jesus more” that I would be healed of my depression and anxiety I could retire comfortably! Thank you for your words Chris. God is good, even in the midst of illness whether it is physical or mental.
I know a lot of people who would have a lot of dimes. Sadly, it just doesn’t work this way, right? And yes, God is good. Every day. All the time. Even when we don’t see it.
I repeat that phrase to myself often on my bad days. It’s become a mantra of sorts for me, a way to keep my sanity when things get wild
Bria,
I totally feel where you are coming from. I think (though I could be wrong) that this type of Christianity views handling snakes the same way most of us view sharing our faith. I try to put his actions in the context of this question: If America made it illegal for me to talk about my faith walk with Christ, would I listen?
Granted, my testimony doesn’t have venom…but I digress.
Regardless, it’s very confusing to me. I don’t know how you could read Mark 16 and walk away thinking the answer to the world’s sin problem is snakes. Then again, this theology of illness is at least as confusing to me as a dude holding a king cobra to praise God.
So well said, Chris. I read the comments from your readers as well and I must confess, I get angry. I get downright steamed that so many of you have been burdened by so-called godly men who promote the falsehood that our Lord’s favor has anything to do with our actions.
At what point is it okay to be truly torqued at such things? At what point do we stand up and call certain teachings heresy? I do not know the answer here, just that the older I get, the more angry I get at those who would burden my brothers and sisters with guilt and conditions.
I’ll cease the rant now. 🙂 Very good post on a touchy topic!
Well, Jesus has harsh words for those who cause the church to stumble. Check out Matthew 18:
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
Sounds almost like Jesus joined the mob, right? He takes loving his body very seriously.