from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God in the perspective of a puritan child

I really dread going to church. My parents usually have to force me to go. The pastor talks about burning and fire and hell. This is not what most people should think of when they hear the word God, is it? When I was younger, before I even understood what church was for, it seemed to be a happier place. It was where people would go to talk to God. Some would ask him for help and others would confess their sins. But now, it is very depressing. I usually tend to see many of the people crying. They all appear scared and shaky. It is hard to understand some things the pastor says, but I too, am scared. From what I'm getting at, no matter what you do, most people will go to hell.

"The pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to recieve them!" My mama starts crying after hearing the pastor pound this and other similar thoughts into all of our brains. And I don't blame her for crying! How can anyone not shed a tear or two after hearing something like this? When he says these things I can't help but picture his words in my mind. I see a very dark pit with fire burning at the bottom. One by one, people are being called to come forward and face the fire. Against their will, they must take a leap to end their life. They vanish and no one ever sees them again, for their body is in God's hands now.

"His wrath toward you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worth of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire." The pastor's words woke me from the nightmare.Once again, the weeping starts. The men in the audience try to seem tough. On the outside they may be able to put up a good act, but we all know how they feel on the inside. They feel like there is nothing that will help them. They feel scared and shaky. They feel the same way we all do. Helpless, worthless, and doomed...