Jonathan Edwards’s sermons, “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” describes a vivid imagery of a powerful God to be feared. His way of teaching Gods word while providing graphic images of hell and a fiery death that follow if not obeyed. Manipulation got others to follow him without a question. Mostly followed and believed without a doubt, for the fear of God and eternal damnation seemed to real and had no other options, because we are all naturally sinners and belong in Hell. Being raised as Christian we were not given terrifying images of Hell. I was raised to believe God was loving and caring. It was our choice to accept his love and Holy Spirit, and to follow the Ten Commandments. In return we will be rewarded in heaven. The image of god …show more content…
In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” he talk about Hell a lot. He describes Hell as a place “gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them, and would fain lay hold on them, and swallow them up; the fire pent up in their own hearts is struggling to break out, in short they have no refuge.” The imagery of Hell as a fiery pit with no escape would put the fear of a God with the powers to do such thing make anyone want to believe, so they could be saved from such a horrific place with endless pain …show more content…
Because we are naturally sinner and it is our destiny to be sent straight to Hell, the anticipation of this makes people nervous with fear. Edwards uses fear and is able to convince people they have no choice but to believe in God for he is the only one able to change our fate. “So that thus it is, that men are held in the hands of God over the pit of Hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked.” He describes God as the one in charge and since we are already destine to Hell it’s in their best interest to obey, because our only other option is a fiery