Slithering Salvation

 On Evans Drive in Middlesboro, KY sits your typical country church. On the outside it doesn't appear to be any different than any other church. It wrapped in white siding; it has a handicapped ramp going up into the church.

The interior of the church doesn't look any different than most country churches - carpeted floors, an altar, a piano, guitars, drums. What separates this church's appearance from the majority of churches in Appalachia - little boxes sitting in the front. Inside those boxes - deadly serpents - copperheads and rattlesnakes.

First Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name - Middlesboro, KY

Serpent handling is a religious rite observed in a small number of isolated churches in the United States, primarily in the Appalachian and Southern regions. However the practice plays only a small part in the church services. The practice is most commonly associated with the Holiness and / or Pentecostal movement.

The basis for the practice comes from the scripture found in the King James Bible, Mark 16: 17-18: "And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues. 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."

But when did the practice begin? And who started it? Let's take a look into that.

Rev. George Went Hensley

The practice of serpent handling first appeared around 1910 and was associated with the ministry of Rev. George Went Hensley. There is some disagreement among scholars as to whether or not Hensley actually started the practice, but they all agree that he played an important role in advancing the practice.

Hensley was an interesting character to say the least.  He came from a large family that had moved between Tennessee and Virginia. Just before George's birth they settled in Tennessee.  They were very religious Baptist family.  However, Hensley would leave the Baptist faith in 1901 when he married Amanda Winniger.

After their marriage, the couple moved to Ooltewah, Tennessee. There Hensley helped in his brother-in-law's lumber business, worked in the local ore mines, and was involved in making moonshine.  Yes, you read that correctly - making moonshine.

 

Hensley was married four times and fathered thirteen children. Three of those marriages ended because of his drunkenness, frequent travels, and inability to earn a steady income. Yes, you read that correctly - because of his drunkenness. 

In the summer of 1909 or 1910 Hensley experienced a religious conversion.  While studying his Bible in Grasshopper Valley, TN, he ran across the scripture Mark 16: 17-18. He interpreted it to mean that Jesus commanded his followers to take up serpents.  So, Hensley hiked up White Oak Mountain and caught a rattlesnake and soon began conducting snake handling services. He traveled through the Southeastern United States teaching a form of Pentecostalism that emphasized strict personal holiness, and frequent contact with venomous serpents.

During the Prohibition Era (1920-1933), Hensley was arrested in Tennessee on moonshine related charges. He was sentenced to a term in a workhouse; however, he escaped and fled the state.

Even though he was illiterate, he became a licensed minister of the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. He traveled throughout Tennessee conducting Church of God sanctioned services before resigning from the congregation in 1922. At first, he was happy with the Church of God, but began to question whether he was living a sufficiently righteous life. Even though he had practiced snake handling while with the Church of God, it is believed that he really didn't ramp it up until after he left the denomination in 1922.

After escaping from the workhouse, Hensley traveled to Ohio where he held revival services. He and his family rarely stayed any length of time in a location.  

He established the Churches of God With Signs Following in Tennessee and Kentucky. Although he conducted many, many services, some of which drew large crowds and lots of media attention, he made very little money.

During the 1930's George traveled the Southeastern part of the United States, resuming his ministry. He preached throughout the Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana. promoting the practice of serpent handling all the way.  Hensley argued that if believers truly had the Holy Spirit, they should be able to handle venomous snakes and drink poison and suffer no harm from doing so.  Due to Hensley, the popularity of serpent handling as a test of faith increased due to Hensley's messages.   As a result, sister churches sprang up throughout Appalachia.

In 1945, Hensley and Ramond Hayes, a follower of Hensley's teaching started a church together, which they named the "Dolly Pond Church of God With Signs Following." Churches influenced by Hensley are broadly known as the "Church of God With Signs Following."

Rev. James M. Miller

But Hensley wasn't the only one who originated serpent handling in church services, even though he is largely responsible.  In Alabama and North Georgia serpent handling originated with James Miller in Sand Mountain, Alabama. Miller was establishing the belief without knowledge of Hensley, even though they were establishing the practice near the same time period.  Miller is believed to have developed his belief independently of any knowledge of Hensley's ministry.

Hensley's ministry was trinitarian whereas Miller's ministry was non-trinitarian. Those churches influenced by Miller are broadly known as the Church of  the Lord Jesus With Signs Following.  This version of the serpent handling faith is the largest of the two. The most known church of this organization is the Church of the Lord Jesus with Signs Following in Jolo, West Virginia.

Church of the Lord Jesus With Signs Following in Jolo, WV

 Each church is independent, and the denominational names are not consistent in all areas, but they are typically some variations of the name "Church of God" (Trinitarian) or "Church of the (Lord) Jesus" (Oneness.)

Followers of the faith are encouraged to lay hands on the sick, speak in tongues, provide testimony of miracles, and occasionally consume poisons, usually strychnine.  Their worship services usually include singing, praying, speaking in tongues, and preaching, and of course serpent handling.

If one should be bitten by a serpent, usually do not seek medical help but look to God for help and healing. And if they die, they are never criticized for a lack of faith; it is believed that it was simply the person's time to die. The exact numbers vary per source, but it is believed that more than 100 people have died as a result of practicing this form of religion.

Sadly, the very same movement that he was instrumental in starting was also the same movement that cost Rev. George Went Hensley his life. Rev. Hensley died following a snake bite received during a service he was conducting in Altha, Florida.  He was bitten on the wrist as he was trying to return the snake back into the can in which it was being held.  He died the next morning - July 25, 1955. His death was ruled a suicide. 

News-Press, Ft. Myers, FL, July 26, 1955

Rev. James M. Miller, the founder of the Church of the Lord Jesus with Signs Following sect of serpent handling, died in 1937 from a work-related injury - not from practicing his faith.

Though slowly dying out, the practice of serpent handling in church is still prevalent throughout the Southeastern portion of the United States despite numerous attempts by lawmakers to make the practice illegal.

In closing - this blog went in a little different direction than I thought it would. And it only skims the surface on the subjects of Rev. Hensley, Rev. Miller, and serpent handling. You could easily write a book on any of those due to the sheer amount of information out there.