Everyone must accept God as their savior or they will go to hell. This is a very familiar message that is preached by Christian religious leaders in places of worship around the world. As simple as this message may seem, the way it is delivered to the people makes all the difference in either turning them into believers, or scaring them away from religion altogether. John Winthrop and Jonathan Edwards were both religious leaders that lived centuries before the present time. They shared the same goal in persuading people into Christianity, yet differed greatly in the way they chose to develop their sermons. Winthrop, a Puritan who wrote based on new religious and social ideals, composed the famous sermon “A Model of Christian Charity.” …show more content…
Winthrop outlines three detailed reasons to reform in his sermon that include glorifying God, manifesting in the work of the spirit, and providing Christian fellowship and helping others (Winthrop 1). He provides thorough questions and answers to why and how people should live wholesome Christian lives that include lending money and forgiving (Winthrop 2). He provides not only simple ways to live a charitable life of honoring God, but detailed reasons why. This is effective because it is easy to understand for people and encourages them to want to live this lifestyle. In “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God,” Edwards only talks about God’s wrath, hell, and how all people are “damned from birth” (Edwards 1). These frightening subjects do not promote a Christian lifestyle change, only a rude awakening. Edwards even specifially states that his sermon is intende to be an “awakening for unconverted persons” (Edwards 1). This is less effective than Winthrop’s sermon because it may scare people into the Christian faith, but it gives little detail of living a changed Christian life. Also, Edwards approach is so extreme, it may have an opposite effect on some listeners and scare them out of Christianity due to the harsh way he describes God and his anger. Edwards provides a frightening awakening message that proves less potent than Winthrop’s positive description of becoming a Christian
With the prevalent thought engine of Calvinism during this time, Jonathan Edwards delivers an important sermon to his congregation. He presents to his followers the “extraordinary opportunity” that they have in front of them at the present moment. He maintains a close relationship with Christianity and the Bible’s words throughout the speech to strengthen his ties with the belief system of the Puritans. This gives him the opportunity to use persuasive tactics to urge his audience towards following God to heaven. Jonathan Edwards utilizes strong Christian references, and dramatic diction to grab his listeners attention and make them realize the significance of his sermon as he sternly explains to his congregation God’s power and why people of God should be compassionate in their life.
John Winthrop, was the leader of the second Puritan group to enter the New World, called the Massachusetts Bay Colony. This group of Puritans had a much different goal than their Separatists-Puritan counterparts, their objective being to go abroad and set up a superior Church, that the Church of England could then model its self after. Therefore, Winthrop gave a sermon before they reached their new homeland that would govern how everyone should treat one another for the sake of their goal and for the successfulness of the community itself. This sermon was called “A Model of Christian Charity”, and through it was how the colony formed its structure.
On January 12th, 1587 in Edwardstone, England, John Winthrop was born. He is mostly known for being the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the most prominent character of New England’s Puritan founders. When he promised to sell his English estate and take his family to Massachusetts if his company was transferred to America, he was elected governor. Though he had traditional and somewhat upper-class outlooks, because of his cleverness and knowledge, the colony effectively steered though its early risks. In 1630, John wrote and read the nonprofessional speech that would be called, “A Modell of Christian Charity”, in which he described the plans to keep the Puritan society sturdy in faith as well as the issues they would need
From 1734 to 1750 a religious revival called the Great Awakening swept through New England. Jonathan Edwards was an influential portion of this movement. By giving sermons and informing his congregations about the repercussions of their self-satisfaction, Edwards was considered to be America’s greatest religious thinker. On July 8, 1741, Edwards delivered his famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. In this sermon, Edwards uses repetition, imagery and pathos to convince his audience that if they did not turn to God, they would have to deal with his wrath.
The great awakening was a religion revival that occurred in the 1730s and 1740s. It started in England and then gradually made its way over to the Americans colonies. During this time, many different preacher and religious speaker went around and gave speeches to the people. Jonathan Edwards was one ofs2xwds those speakers. He wrote “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” during this period and eloquently delivered to his fellow churchman. In his sermon, he focused on the consequences of leading a sinful life, the power of god and repenting of ones sins in order to be saved from the hell. The purpose behind this piece of writing was to depict to people the extent to which God helps them, as well as the extent to which they could be punished for not following his commands. This piece was aimed at those who lacked belief in God as well as churches. In order to be persuasive, Edwards’s uses figurative language like imagery, similes, repetition, metaphor and rhetorical questions to emphasize the severity
Jonathan Edwards’s sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God was rhetorically effective using various devices and appeals. More specifically, he used pathos and ethos to emphasize the religious message he was trying to convey. Jonathan Edwards was a revivalist preacher. He was a Calvinist and Congregationalist. His sermons were intended as a wake-up call for those who lacked religious fervor of a holy God and overemphasized their own worthiness as decent, hard-working, successful citizens. With his Puritan religious background, the colonists has no reason to doubt his word and sermons. Edward’s reputation as a preacher preceded him. Part of the reason that made him popular was his use of rhetorical appeals. A prime example would be his
The 2016 Election and terrorism are just a few of the modern trials and tribulations that backdrop today’s sermons. These events widely differ from the circumstances of earlier sermons. In the 1700s, the Great Awakening occurred. It was a time of religious revival in colonial America, and pastors and preachers worked to persuade the congregate to convert. Thus, the sermons utilized skillful rhetorical tactics. Two famous sermons to arise from this period were “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards and “A Model of Christian Charity” by John Winthrop. Compared to Edwards’s intense conviction in “Sinner in the Hands of An Angry God,” Winthrop crafts the more effective sermon through his positive diction, the inclusive repetition
He depicts God as frightening, and authoritative over human fate. Furthermore, Edwards believes this so strongly he wants sinners to change their horrible ways. Although Edwards acknowledges God is in control of fate, humans can stop themselves from going to hell through one way. If humans stop sinning God, will be less likely to have further reasons to want to send them to hell. Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God creates this view through several elements in the recorded sermon. Firstly, the text is interactive for both the readers and audience. Edwards’s persistent use of the word you especially make the text personal. Secondly, several literary devices in Edward’s text create a well-written and frightening warning to sinners. As well, it emphasizes and reminds the readers or audience that God is in charge of eternal fate. Overall, Edwards’s beliefs on providence and afterlife stay with the readers due this. The sermon provides vivid clear images for its
Edwards' speech, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", is a congitive piece of argument that basis its creates fear in its audience. During the time of the Great Awakening, many Salem Witch Trials imprisioned and killed many. He believed that he could not only convert non-believers, but also give a wake-up call to the ones who have fallen off the tracks. Ed repeatedly talks about people's doom and destruction, but then later on contradicts himself by giving a call to action. Given the setting and circumstances of his time, EdwarsEdwards' speech, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", is an example of an effective argument due to his allusions to the past and polished use of visual imagery, and the audience's susceptibility to fear. to create
In “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, Jonathan Edwards tries to oblige people to be born again. He was too radical in communicating his message to the congregation getting to cause fear and hysteria in the Connecticut church in which he preached. He only describes hell and emphasizes too much in the consequences of not been born again instead of speaking about heaven and all the good things that will happen if you accept Christ. “This is the case of every one of you that are out of Christ: That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you.” God should be represented as loving and compassionate instead of an evil being that is just playing with us for fun. Edwards is mistaken by portraying God as an evil
Benjamin Franklin and Jonathan Edwards were two very influential figures in American literature. They both were inventors in creating the way for religion in literature. Their individual ideas and beliefs inspired many people. Some of their ideas were similar but also very different. Despite Franklin’s and Edward’s differences both men had an interest in faith.
John Edwards and John Winthrop were two Puritan writers who tried to take on the new world, with only the rudimentary tools of the unfinished society from which they came. While both authors are renowned for their sermons during this time, Edwards is known for his drastic and dramatic, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”, and Winthrop for his vision of society in, “A Modell of Christian Charity”. Edwards appeals to all sinners in his sermon, where he warns them that God will be the judge of their actions, and that their consequences may be severe. While Winthrop on the other hand, carefully laid out the religious and social principles that would be the Puritan foundation of their beliefs, stemming from his understanding of the Holy Bible. In Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”and Winthrop’s, “A Modell of Christian Charity”, we see that both writers had similar beliefs that stemmed from their Puritan background, yet their interpretations of the bible differed in the way that they expressed these ideologies to the public.
The sermon title is The Adoption of the Believer, by John MacArthur Sr. Pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California. The Pastor’s frame of reference is to establish that we are sons of God, using Galatians 4:11. He speaks “Many religions teach that people are delivered from judgment, saved from divine punishment by their own works.” The objectives of his sermon are to teach that faith in the gospel of salvation, alone is the only valid way. His speech is comparative as it contains elements that our culture and many other cultures are being blindsided by this new doctrine of personal achievement or personal merit. The speaker continues his introduction, the church may have lost its mission in communicating the absolute truth found in scriptures. Mainstream Protestants believe that salvation is by faith and work. But this has some negative consequences for personal salvation and world evangelism.
“For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead (James 2:26).” Believing in the gospel and having faith in Jesus Christ is what makes someone a Christian, not doing good works, but that is not the complete essence of being a Christian. God said Christians should live to please him and work to become Christ-like through the power of the Holy Spirit. In a presentation in New York, former Anglican Bishop, N.T. Wright, introduces his book and argues the importance of Christian character building after salvation.
Since I was working with a single individual, there was not research that really had to be done or interviews. I did, however, look into Meals on Wheels and brought it to Betty’s attention. For Betty, it was so hard for her to ask her help and she has spoken to me about not wanting to take from others because she could get by. Instead, I would try and sit with her for about an hour each time I brought something over and let her take the conversation wherever it may. Most times this included God. I decided to be open with her about being agnostic and we would have long conversations about how the church has changed, how it has impacted her life, and how she had spread God’s love. Our conversations reminded me of Jerry and Larry’s which allowed for different opinion but a mutual respect (Inazu, 2016). I will say though that she has taught me a thing or two about what to cherish as I age and how God’s love can be seen or spread. The readings that I was assigned in class were something we often talked about, and I even passed her Smith’s (2016) book. So again, while I did not interview her or engage in research, I learned a lot from her in asking questions.