Part of American Christian history includes preaching about hell, a common tactic in the revivalist meetings of the 1700s and 1800s to scare people straight. Today, however, many modern pastors tend to shy away from the topic, preferring to talk and teach instead about the positive aspects of a Christian life and a relationship with Christ.
Here are six influential sermons about hell from Christian history in the United States:
1. "The Eternity of Hell Torments," Jonathan Edwards
Puritan revivalist preacher Jonathan Edwards (active in the early 1700s), in his sermon "The Eternity of Hell Torments," refuted an annihilationism perspective in exchange for the view that hell is an everlasting punishment of wicked people.
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2. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," Jonathan Edwards
Edwards
also
is the author of the 1741 sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," one of the most famous American sermons about the horrors of hell. Using text from the Psalms, Deuteronomy, John, Isaiah, and Ecclesiastes, Edwards proclaimed that hell is tool to awaken unbelievers from their sinful ways.
3. "On Hell," John Wesley
Primarily based off of text from Mark, this sermon extoled hell as one of the most important Christian doctrines. It is only because of divine goodness that we have a chance to be spared from fiery torment; any earthly pain contracted in a journey for salvation is better than hell. An Anglican theologian and preacher, John Wesley founded Methodism in the mid 1700s. Although Wesley was British, his sermons and denomination have had great impact in America.
4. "The Truth About Hell," John F. MacArthur
In his sermon "The Truth About Hell," John F. MacArthur said that Christians are saved from everlasting, conscious punishment — hell is a place of torment without escape, and that is where all who don't know Jesus are doomed to spend eternity. MacArthur is a Calvinist pastor best known for his radio program. He advocates young-Earth creationism, biblical complementarianism, and cessationism.
5. "This Place Called Hell," Adrian Rogers
Using text from Revelation, Adrian Rogers called for more preaching about the reality of hell, and the extreme need for sharing the gospel message to unbelievers. Rogers is a Southern Baptist pastor and writer; he upholds conservative social views. He was president of the Southern Baptist Convention for three terms (he was first elected in 1979).
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6. "If I Don't Preach on Hell," Allen Webster
Using text from Romans, Matthew, Acts, Jeremiah, and Jonah, Allen Webster asserted that though too many pastors don't preach about hell, it is the duty of a preacher to inform his congregants of the reality of hell. Webster is a preacher at the Jacksonville Church of Christ. He also a writer and editor of the Christian publication House to House.
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