Augusta is across the river.
There are some fine Baptist Churches over there. But then there is the congregation that is pretending to be Episcopalian I am afraid.
I like some animals, mostly dogs. My wife likes horses.
But they are still animals. I see no place in Scripture where animals are blessed but I am willing to be corrected.
Why would God the Son need to ride a horse when he returns to cast Satan and all the lost into the Lake of Fire?
Surely you don't take all the following literally:
Revelation 19:11-16 11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Do you really think that Jesus Christ has a sharp sword sticking out of His mouth?
It focuses on the redemption of the creation, of which humans and animals are both a part. Just what do you suppose this redemption of the whole creation involves? Whatever the destination and final state of redeemed humanity is, the same is true for the redeemed creation.
would anyone have a problem if some of our believers in West VA, brought their church animal in for a blessing? would it be necessary to take them out of their locked box.
Be careful Salty, some of thm W. Va. folks can be kantankerous, same as usens from Southwest Virginia.
Seriously I doubt that even those who believed in handling snakes would stoop to "blessing the animals".
That appears to be an elitist program, probably started with blessing the hounds in merrie old amongst the C. of E. before they killed the unblessed fox! Now there is discrimination for you!