On an early Sunday morning, a small congregation gathered with guitars, raised hands, and a wooden box of copperhead snakes at the front of the sanctuary. As the pastor preached, he lifted a snake into the air. “They will pick up serpents,” he declared.

Minutes later, chaos followed. There’s a bite, followed by more panic and then a rushed drive to the hospital. But the source of the problem isn’t the copperhead. The real problem is proof~texting. 

Snake-wielding churches are an extreme example, but it’s not a fictional one. And it reveals something sobering. When Scripture is removed from its context and forced to prove an idea it was never meant to support, the results are not merely theological errors. The result can be spiritually and physically destructive.

Proof-texting is the habit of taking (or hijacking) a verse or phrase from the Bible and using it to support a belief, behavior, or doctrine without regard for its literary, historical, or theological context. Proof-texting often feels convincing because it uses the Bible’s own words. But it distorts the original authors’ intentions.

One of the most cited examples of proof-texting comes from Luke 10:19: “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you.” A small number of churches have interpreted this verse literally, concluding that handling venomous snakes is a demonstration of authentic faith. But this interpretation ignores nearly everything about the passage.

In context, Jesus is speaking to the seventy-two disciples after they return from a missionary journey. They rejoice that “even the demons submit to us in your name.” Jesus responds by explaining that authority is not about being invincible, but about the victory Jesus has given them over spiritual opposition.

Snakes and scorpions function as symbolic language representing danger, evil, and demonic forces. Jesus is definitely not issuing a command to seek physical harm. He is offering reassurance that they will overcome spiritual resistance and fulfill their godly mission. The disciples can trust God in hostile and dangerous environments because He has given them authority in Christ. 

However, proof-texting distorts the text’s original intent, leading some churches to engage in reckless behavior with snakes. Ironically, Jesus himself rejects this kind of logic when tempted in the wilderness. When Satan quotes Scripture to encourage a dramatic act of self-endangerment, Jesus responds, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Scripture interpreted Scripture.

Proof-texting sometimes arises from good intentions. It’s natural for people to want clarity and application. But reading Scripture requires patience, humility, and a willingness to be corrected by the text itself. When Scripture is read in context, it will challenge and stretch us, and when interpreted correctly, the text always leads to life.