<> Ask the Pastor The Rev. Walter Snyder Q: What do we make of people who practice snake-handling in worship services? A: These people misunderstand and misapply Scripture, especially Mark 16:17--18, "And these signs shall accompany them . . . they shall take up serpents . . . it shall in no wise hurt them." Many Bible scholars think that these verses were a late addition and are not part of the original, inspired text. Then, too, such signs seem to have been especially for the Apostolic Age, confirming the Gospel as it spread from Palestine. Most important, while the Lord does protect us from danger, we are not to intentionally seek to put ourselves in harm's way. For this, we need not go beyond Jesus' quote from the Old Testament during Satan's temptation in the Wilderness: "Jesus said to [Satan], 'Again it is written, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God. (Matthew 4:7, from Deuteronomy 6:16)"'" Q: I'm curious about the millennium and the Second Coming. I hope the question is not too broad. A: I'll give a very brief overview, omitting further comment on the year 2000, and all manner of frauds, fear-mongers, and fakes who are working overtime to mislead gullible people. I believe that the "thousand years" is symbolic of the time from Christ's earthly ministry to the end of the world. I believe that the signs of the end times surround us, even as they did already at the time of Christ. I am convinced that we will be surprised by our Lord, who will come "like a thief in the night," like lightning flashing across the sky, and that this will be the end of the world and of time. The Last Days were announced by the overthrow of Satan on Calvary and by Christ's glorious resurrection. The sign of the temple's destruction foreshadows the destruction of this present earth. I know that many will argue, but I think that the various millennial schools of thought disagree with Scripture, especially since they offer some sort of "second chance" when the Bible consistently proclaims the finality of our end. Millennialism also shifts the focus from the centrality of Christ returning to bring his people home to what people will be doing on earth during a transitional period before the world ends. Q: I'm Southern Baptist, dating a Lutheran, and trying to compare the differences in our doctrine. We both SAY salvation is by faith in Christ alone, but I'm confused when I read on your web site such things as, "We confess that God uses even base, mundane physical means to impart forgiveness of sins. We believe that the pastor's word of forgiveness is as sure and certain as if Jesus himself were speaking. Confession is more than clearing a guilty conscience; with Absolution (forgiveness), it is God restoring us to his good graces and a right relationship. We believe that Christ's words with this water give us forgiveness of sins, new life, and salvation." Aren't you advocating human things in these three points as "assisting" God in your salvation, instead of believing that my acceptance of Christ's death on the cross is enough? A: Actually, these points (and others) lead away from humans assisting God. They are all objective, gift statements: God uses, God restores, God forgives through physical, earthly means. I have read of no one who believed without the external Word of God being proclaimed. Either God himself or one of his prophets, evangelists, apostles, pastors, parents, or another proclaims the Word. Even Paul, on the Damascus Road, was not converted by "magic," but by the words of the resurrected Christ. Christ says that baptizing is one way that people are discipled (Matthew 28). His apostles Peter ("Baptism now saves you"; 1 Peter 3) and Paul ("He saved us by the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us a new birth and a new life"; Titus 3) assure us that baptism saves and regenerates, and is not only an obligation or a human response. Romans 6:4 speaks of baptism as the death of the sinner and the creation (rising up) of the believer or saint, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." Similarly, Christ gives to his pastors the joyful duty and privilege of forgiving penitent sinners (cf. Matthew 16:19, John 20:22--23). These points do not speak of us "assisting" God. Instead, I think that speaking of "finding" or "accepting" is the language of one who desires to assist. I consider that the words, the water, the Christian pastor, or the bread and the wine are "means" by which the Holy Spirit gives and imparts forgiveness and new life. The pastor is not an "assistant" any more than a musical instrument "assists" the musician. "We are the clay, and thou art our potter; we are all the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)" God pours his grace out of us earthen vessels, as Paul spoke of the ministry in 2 Corinthians 4:6, "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us." The pastor, the "vessel," has no power or authority in and of himself. He only assists as he acts as the mouth and the hands of God, giving the gifts of salvation as God has commanded him to do. That's it for now. You can submit questions by mail to "Ask the Pastor," PO Box 1080, Jasper, Texas, 75951; E-mail xrysostom@aol.com; or just stop me on the street. Walter Snyder is the pastor of St. Paul and Faith Lutheran Churches in Jasper and Woodville, Texas and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe? A Study Guide in Christian Teachings for Adults." Copyright (c) 1999 by Walter P. Snyder Permission is granted by author to reproduce or retransmit this by any means, provided that its content is not altered, that this notice of copyright and permission is included, and that no financial gain is realized.