Dan Corner Issues Statement on Snake-Handling Controversy
Mark Randall Wolford died after being bitten by a poisonous snake last month. He believed that Christians were commanded by Jesus in the Bible to handle serpents without fearing death. Dan Corner disagreed with Wolford's belief.
NEW YORK, NY, July 05, 2012
Mark Randall "Mack" Wolford, pastor of the House of the Lord in Matoaka, W.Va., died after a rattlesnake bit him on the thigh May 27 at the Panther Wildlife Management Area, according to a Christian Post article. The Washington Post reported that Wolford died at a friend's home after a service. No one called for emergency help after the bite occurred. However, this was not the first bite Wolford endured from a poisonous snake, considering he grew up with a father that supported snake-handling in the ministry. Like his father, Wolford believed Jesus asked his followers to handle snakes without fear of death in Mark 16:17-18. Dan Corner, director of Evangelical Outreach, strongly disagrees, offering a different interpretation of the passage."Mark 16:17-18 does not endorse intentionally handling poisonous snakes," Dan Corner said. "To do such is to tempt God the same as what the devil suggested when he tempted Jesus to throw himself down from the top of the temple to have the angels protect him (Luke 4:9-12)."
The Mark 16 passage cited by Wolford and Dan Corner state, "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." Wolford previously said he spent a lot of time handling serpents and wanted to get others involved as a way to keep the faith going.
Critics, such as Dan Corner, argue that the Bible does not command people to handle poisonous snakes, a practice that has expanded since its beginnings in the late 1900s. Alabama, West Virginia and South Carolina, and possibly several other states, are reportedly where snake-handling is still practiced.
Ralph Hood, a psychology and religion professor at the University of Tennessee, said there were more than 100 documented cases of serpent bite-related deaths. He said the Bible does ask people to take up serpents, but does not guarantee they won't be bitten. Unfortunately, many people live with a misconception that they won't get hurt by snakes.
"If they're bit, that's up to God," Hood said. "The issue is obedience to God. There's no magic power type of stuff. They know the reality of it because so many families have had people hurt and killed."
Dan Corner believes the best way to prevent such tragedy is to keep snake-handling away from the congregation and ministry.
ABOUT:
Dan Corner is director of Evangelical Outreach. He is also the author of The Believer's Conditional Security, The Myth of Eternal Security and Is this the Mary of the Bible? More than thirty-five years ago, Dan Corner was saved. Since then, he has been helping others learn about eternal life.
Website: http://dancornerteachings.com