I would actually bust a gut if American protestantism actually lead to a re-decentralized interpretation of all the dumb shit catholics have spent the past 2 millenia fighting to centralize.
LETS GO CATHARISM! LETS GO MANICHAEISM! LETS GO OPHITES SECTARIANISM!
Seriously though, in many of the predominant cultures of ancient times, the snake was a symbol of knowledge and transformation. The inclusion of this specific animal in scripture means something. Its not a salamander or a rat or a bird. Its an animal whose ancient symbolic meaning is transforming yourself through the acquisition of knowledge.