Jamie Coots is a pastor in Kentucky, the USA. Jamie claimed that he was immune to snake bites as God had given him power over snakes. He used to handle snakes like viper and rattlesnakes during the church services. In one of the services, he was bitten by a snake. While the congregation noticed he was getting weak, he refused to call emergency health professionals. Instead, he drove home and was lying down. When the emergency health care personnel reached home, he was forcefully taken to the hospital, where he was declared as brought dead. (Daily Hunt 3 June 2024)
Faith and presumption: There are people like Jamie Coots who do not understand the difference between faith and presumption. Faith is based on God, His Truth, His Word, His Promises, and His Will. The Bible does not teach that believers are given immunity against snake bites. The presumption is based on the misapplication of the verses in the gospel of Mark. (Mark 16:17-18) The verse means, there could be situations when they may be forced to drink poison or thrown amid serpents…etc. However, the disciples may be unharmed or die as martyrs.
Miracle for Paul: In Malta, after the shipwreck, Paul was getting warmth from the fireplace, when a snake encircled his hand. He just withered it off and was unharmed. (Acts 28:1-8) Indeed, this is what the gospel of Mark teaches.
Provoking snake and testing God: The Lord Jesus Christ refused to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, as tempted by Satan. He wanted the Lord to claim God’s Promise of sending angels and expect angels to hold him from falling. The Lord rebuked Satan stating that Testing God is sin. (Matthew 4:5-7) Jamie Coots was not only provoking the snake, he was testing God, by his immaturity, presumption, and misapplication of the Scripture.
Inviting trouble: The Bible does not teach the people of God to invite persecution and trouble. The Lord taught his disciples to be wise as serpents and not play with serpents. (Matthew 10:16)
Am I following sensation creators or the Scriptures?