Snake-handling preacher killed by snake, just like his dad
Mark Wolford (Photo for The Washington Post by Lauren Pond)
If you lie down with dogs, you get fleas. Lie down with timber rattlers, and you’ve got a good chance of not getting up again.
That’s what happened to West Virginia pastor Mark Wolford, reports The Washington Post.
Wolford died while hosting an outdoor service Sunday at Panther Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia. During the ceremony, the lively preacher sat a rattler on the ground and sat next to it. The snake did what snakes do — it bit him on the thigh.
Instead of going to a hospital, he went home and tried to recover. His kidneys shut down within three hours. Someone called paramedics when it was too late.
Wolford, who combed the woods for vipers, should have known better. In 1983, when he was 15, he saw his dad die while “taking up serpents.”
But faith, which has never actually moved a mountain, has a way of moving people away from reality.
“Praise the Lord and pass the rattlesnakes, brother,” wrote Wolford on his Facebook page as a way of advertising the Sunday service.
His funeral will be held Saturday, exactly one week after his 44th birthday.
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154 comments Add your comment
cj
May 31st, 2012
1:18 pm
LBW-the first step is to be born again (John 3), then if you ask God, He will grant you the wisdom to “test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world”
We are commanded in Scripture to “forsake not the assembling of yourselves together”. We are also instructed to watch and be careful, to pray, seek the Lord and be aware of false teaching. We are living in the End Times, which is why there are so many confusing teachings. The Lord doesn’t want us to be confused, which is why He gave us His holy Word to study and know the Truth. Don’t believe everything you hear, but be saved, study the Word and have true discernment as to what is right and what is wrong. God will show you.
Tom
May 31st, 2012
1:23 pm
And here’s a final score from West Virginia……Darwin 1, Moonbats 0
Stay tuned for “NightLine”…..
Mike
May 31st, 2012
1:24 pm
The Lord told the disiciples they would take up serpents,but I don’t think he ever mean’t doing it as a show in church, more than likely he means out in the mission field,when confronted by heathens or some other situation.
Mike
May 31st, 2012
1:27 pm
Tom and other unbelivers, don’t mock,its for real, you will know for certain,about 5 seconds after you die.
jw
May 31st, 2012
1:35 pm
So – did he go to heaven or hell? We will have to wait awhile on that one, I guess. If I remember my country church rearing, him being bit by the vipers was a lack faith – death was considered no faith in God’s word at all.
I’m like the rest of you – kinda stupid to allow this to happen – there are many more ways to prove your love to Christ and do prove his works than kissing serpents! LOL! I kinda like the old testament view of bruising your heel trying to kill them.
Not too bright if you ask me!
Tom
May 31st, 2012
1:42 pm
Mike, there have been over 2,700 unique entities in recorded history (that is, that we know of…going back to the earliest writings of the Sumerians)…that meet the definition of a ‘god’ or ‘goddess’. Each just as ‘valid’ or ‘true’ as any other, based simply on who you asked and when.
Over 2,700….and I bet I only believe in one fewer of them than do you.
For God so loved the world
May 31st, 2012
1:42 pm
“So I guess we shouldn’t take the Bible, literally?”
False! The Bible is absolutely to be taken literally IN CONTEXT. So many people both Christian and non-believers try to cherry-pick verses out of the Bible to prove a point.
Christ was in no way telling anyone to go grab some poinsonous snakes just for kicks. If you study the Bible in the words preceding Mark16:17-19, you will find conditions for the events Jesus decribes to occur. On the other hand there are certainly many miracles that happen still TODAY for those who abide in Christ.
jw
May 31st, 2012
1:49 pm
Being alive today is the greatest miracle of all.
IF
May 31st, 2012
1:52 pm
This is another example of people twisting scripture. Mark 16:18 “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” means that God will give you power over your enemies! This type of behavior tests God, Luke 4:12 says “…’Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” We have to continue to seek Him for knowledge and understanding. God Bless!
Imnewhere
May 31st, 2012
1:54 pm
Snake 1 – Man 0