In a recent worship service, the pastor invited worshippers to come forward to the altar for prayer. He then explained the precautions involved in the laying on of hands and anointing with oil in the season of the coronavirus pandemic. As we were driving home after the service my daughter-in-law asked, “If we are to have faith to believe God for healing, why can’t we have faith to trust God to keep us safe from the coronavirus?”
After reflecting on her sincere question, I remembered the post-resurrection words of Jesus:
These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (Mark 16:17-18).
As a Pentecostal, I believe that God has given us authority over demons (Acts 8:7; 16:18; 19:12); I believe in speaking in tongues (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:10-11); and I believe in divine healing (Acts 3:6-7; 4:22, 30; 5:16). I also believe that God can indeed protect us from serpents and deadly poisons (Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3-5).
Here’s the rub – every tongue is to be discerned and interpreted. The improper manifestation of tongues-speech reduces the spiritual gift to meaningless babble (1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:4ff). I have witnessed genuine healings, but not everyone is healed. Healings are uncommon miracles – that’s what makes them so remarkable. And even though Jesus has given to his disciples power and authority over all demonic spirits, the spiritual warfare remains intense.
The exercise of faith and the practice of spiritual gifts must be guided by discernment and wisdom.
During the early days of the Pentecostal movement, some worshippers practiced snake-handling as a witness to the power of God. A.J. Tomlinson, the first general overseer of the Church of God (Cleveland TN), even endorsed the practice as “very effective for good” (Church of God Evangel, Sept 19, 1914; cf. “The Signs that Follow,” Church of God Evangel, Apr 10, 1920).* Even so, other church leaders warned that the practice of snake-handling was a misappropriation of God’s power with fatal consequences (M. S. Lemons, “A Misappropriation of His Power,” Church of God Evangel, May 3, 1919). Within a few years, the practice fell out of favor because some worshippers were bitten by snakes and died.
I am reminded of the temptation of Jesus in which the devil suggested that Jesus jump off of the “pinnacle of the Temple” and even quoted scripture that suggested God’s protection. Jesus responded, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:5-7). In other words, God’s grace does not protect against the reckless disregard of wisdom.
During the coronavirus pandemic many friends and colleagues have suffered and recovered, some miraculously. But, others have died. So, I will treat this virus like a snake – with great caution and wisdom. If offered the chance to handle a snake, I will firmly refuse. That’s not a lack of faith, it is the practice of wisdom. Pastors who act in good conscience to protect their congregations from the coronavirus are exercising godly wisdom. Those who choose to disregard caution are like snake-handlers – don’t be surprised when you are bitten.
For a more detailed report, see Michael J. McVicar, “Take Away the Serpents from Us” in The Journal of Southern Religion.
