When Snake Handlers Die

Pentecostal pastor Mark Wolford died this past Sunday, after being bit by a poisonous timber rattlesnake in West Virginia's Panther Wildlife Management Area. Wolford was a snake-handler who believed that God calls them to engage in such a practice to show their faith in him.

"Anybody can do it that believes it," Wolford said. "Jesus said, 'These signs shall follow them which believe.' This is a sign to show people that God has the power." 

So, since he was bitten by the snake and later died, is it is a sign that God doesn't have the power? Or is it a sign that Wolford didn't believe it? Could it be that his followers didn't believe either, as they were unable to heal Wolford?

I'd say it is none of the above.
It's a poisonous snake.
It bit Wolford.
Wolford died from the event.
Wolford may have been sincere in his belief, but like his father before him, he was literally dead wrong.

The lesson here should be to leave poisonous snakes alone. And if you do happen to survive handling them for a time (for whatever reason), do not sit down next to them on the ground where they can still bite you.

There's no need for Christians to act like complete idiots.