"And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk. 16:17-18).
The following video depicts churches in the deep south that emphasize Mark 16:17-18. It seems to me that those in this video are well meaning but clearly misguided. They are carrying on a tradition that was undoubtedly ingrained in them since childhood. They believe they are being faithful to their flock, and to their God. I can envision such folk flipping through their bibles seeking the truth and how they may know it, and lo' and behold, they come across Mk. 16:17-18: "Well by golly looky here! Praise God! This is how I'll demonstrate that I truly believe: The word plainly states that these signs will accompany them that believe...amen...the word doesn't say they might pick up snakes, the word doesn't say they can under certain circumstances pick up snakes, nope, the word says that they WILL pick up snakes! Those who believe will pick up snakes! Jimmy-boy go out there and wrustle me up some of them there snakes and we'll properly worship the Lord."
Look, I'm not saying this to mock those in the video. I am simply re-stating their reality. Some of these people are as simple as simple can be. They are not all there upstairs. How do we respond to an anomaly like this? "They are not doctrinally sound. They are heretics. They are going to suffer in hell, in torment, forever and ever". Really?
The following video depicts churches in the deep south that emphasize Mark 16:17-18. It seems to me that those in this video are well meaning but clearly misguided. They are carrying on a tradition that was undoubtedly ingrained in them since childhood. They believe they are being faithful to their flock, and to their God. I can envision such folk flipping through their bibles seeking the truth and how they may know it, and lo' and behold, they come across Mk. 16:17-18: "Well by golly looky here! Praise God! This is how I'll demonstrate that I truly believe: The word plainly states that these signs will accompany them that believe...amen...the word doesn't say they might pick up snakes, the word doesn't say they can under certain circumstances pick up snakes, nope, the word says that they WILL pick up snakes! Those who believe will pick up snakes! Jimmy-boy go out there and wrustle me up some of them there snakes and we'll properly worship the Lord."
Look, I'm not saying this to mock those in the video. I am simply re-stating their reality. Some of these people are as simple as simple can be. They are not all there upstairs. How do we respond to an anomaly like this? "They are not doctrinally sound. They are heretics. They are going to suffer in hell, in torment, forever and ever". Really?
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