LONDON, Kentucky, USA. (AP) -- A woman who was bitten by a snake at a church that neighbors say practices serpent handling died of her wounds hours later, a newspaper reported.

Linda Long, 48, was bitten Sunday at East London Holiness Church, where neighbors said the reptiles are handled as part of religious services, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Tuesday.

Long died at University of Kentucky Medical Center about four hours after being bitten, authorities told the newspaper.

"She said she was bitten by a snake at her church," said Lt. Ed Sizemore of the Laurel County Sheriff's Office.

Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in Kentucky. Snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine.

Police said they had not received any reports of snake handling at the church.

Snake handling is based on a passage in the Bible that says a sign of a true believer is the power to "take up serpents" without being harmed.


I guess she just wasn't Christian enough. How sad for her family. I guess they even prayed for her.

Now I've heard everything!!

Kentucky, USA. (AP) -- 'A woman who was bitten by a snake at a church that neighbors say practices serpent handling ....
'Handling reptiles as part of religious services is illegal in Kentucky. Snake handling is a misdemeanor and punishable by a $50 to $100 fine.'

Shouldn't churches be keeping to the law?

This is a very sad case, isn't it? That poor woman and her bereaved family. Why did they have to suffer? Because their church caused them to suffer, by breaking the law and telling her that she wouldn't be hurt if she were a good Christian. Sounds a bit like witch-ducking to me.

I have seen quite a few programs on this type of worship, the churches are in back woods rural areas,where the church goers are worked up with music and dancing into a "religious frenzy" taking out rattle snakes and handling them while dancing, believing that God will protect them. Some of them even drink posion! this practice comes from (Mark 16:15-18 NIV) He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. {16} Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. {17} And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; {18} 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." which leads me to think about the Devil's testing in the wilderness and where Jesus stood on this issue: (Mat 4:6-7 NIV) "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" {7} Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" To intentionally do something risky or dangerous and expect God’s protection is contrary to what Christ taught.He stated, in Matthew 4:7, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God. (Mark 16:15-18 is God’s promise to protect His people (those He has called to do the Work of preaching the gospel) in dangerous situations beyond their ability to control. It is not a command to put oneself in harm’s way. Just my 2 cents

Thanks for that, terryluvsgoldensand keets.

I wonder why, then, these Christians do put God to the test.

I doubt if the woman is going to pay the $50 to $100 fine.

I've heard of these instances before, as well as those who refuse medical attention which involves blood transfusions, and the like.

While the more unusual practices raise our eyebrows, I think they are just extreme examples of how human adherents to a religion like to focus on ways to "test" "true believers."

Other religions have rituals which seem strange, also - like walking on hot coals.

As if the ordinary trials of life - like a single mother trying to provide for her children - aren't tests enough of faith and dedication.

There seem's to be two types of people, legalist who are strict adherants of the "letter of the law"
They concentrate not on its purpose.
and non legalist who look for the meaning or "beyond the letter of the law" and concentrate on the spirit of the law.
In Luke, Jesus battles the Pharisees over the proper understanding of the relationship between the letter of the Law and the spirit of the Law.

Maybe that is why some seem to put God to the test, not thinking in actuality they are testing God, because they have not actualy looked at the "spirit"of the law, but just looked at the law

Just my 2 cents
Terry

Really!

And if that single mother had the child out of wedlock, she is scorned by the faithful.

Good insight, Terry. And good point, Mbas. Indignant scorn seems to be what the literalists do best. As if their sins don't stink.

Perhaps I am opening Pandora's box here:

"And if that single mother had the child out of wedlock, she is scorned by the faithful"

My feelings:
Sometimes judging becomes social sport. People find fun and fulfillment in their judging of others.In situations like this, to me it is not about really judging the act right or wrong. It is about bashing others to make one feel superior or more moral or even perhaps "More Christain".

Yet in reality that is the farthest thing from being Christian.

How could I scorn or judge someone for having a child and being single, or for being divorced, or what ever "sin" I perceive, *example here* Yet I knowingly accept the wrong change from a cashier.
Am I not being dishonest? am I not cheating or stealing from the store?

Yet being a single mom is worse than stealing?
Something wrong with this picture in my eyes
What makes one sin worse than another?


Just another of my 2 cents
"There but for the grace of God Go I"

Good points ~ I wonder if we need a new thread on 'judging people'.