American Culture and God Essay

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Jonathan Edwards Exemplifies American Culture in "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God"

In his 18th century sermon, "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God," the puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards make it clear that mere humans enjoy a brief corporeal existence only by virtue of a loving God who benevolently tolerates them. For instance, Edwards states, "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God." In this context, American culture in the late 18th century can be regarded as being the result of the cumulative effects of Puritanism on the consciousness of the people who were trying to carve out a meaningful existence in the wilderness. One of the more interesting points made by Edwards, though, is just how fleeting this divine allowance is and how it can be revoked at any time if God so wills it. In this regard, Edwards adds that, "By the mere pleasure of God, I mean his sovereign pleasure, his arbitrary will, restrained by no obligation, hindered by no manner of difficulty, any more than if nothing else but God's mere will had in the least degree, or in any respect whatsoever, any hand in the preservation of wicked men one moment."

Inherent in this observation is the potential for punishment to be carried out if and when God deems it necessary, but the fact that Americans continue to persevere two centuries later suggests that the Almighty has a soft spot in his heart for people who heroically struggle to overcome the numerous adversities and challenges that are routinely thrust into their lives. More to the point, Edwards also makes it clear that it is only by the grace of God that wicked humans are allowed to live in this world at all. In support of these assertions, Edwards elaborates several key points concerning the Israelites as follows:

1. That they were always exposed to Destruction, as one that stands or walks in slippery Places is always exposed to fall.

2. It implies that they were always exposed to sudden unexpected Destruction.

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3. Another Thing implied is that they are liable to fall of themselves, without being thrown down by the Hand of another.

4. That the Reason why they are not fallen already, and don't fall now, is only that God's appointed Time is not come. For it is said, that when that due Time, or appointed Time comes, their Foot shall slide.

This divinely mandated slippery slope represents the foundation of Edwards' argument that humans are by their very nature incapable of understanding and appreciating the gifts that God has bestowed on humanity and will inevitably pay the price for this weakness. It is interesting to note, though, that since God imbued humanity with all of these frailties, it seems God it setting humans up to fail from the outset. Free will, of course, is one thing but God gave humans free will for a reason.

Without evil, there can be no corresponding oppositional good and it is reasonable to suggest that God fully understood the implications of granting people the ability to make their own mistakes and stray from the righteous path despite knowing better. Notwithstanding the enormity involved in the eternal condemnation to Hell, Edwards also makes it clear that God can invoke this punishment at any time but elects not to do so -- yet. For instance, Edwards write that, "He is not only able to cast wicked Men into Hell, but he can most easily do it." Moreover, this unenviable condition is applicable to all humankind as clearly stated in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Certainly, even the most ardently devote Christians will face temptations that will test their faith at some points during their lives and….....

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