Prayer Reconsidered

[Protestant]

After having studied the arguments of Skandelon lo these several weeks, I have come to realize I need to reconsider to whom it is I should pray.

According to his well-intentioned teaching, the message of the Gospel is the sufficient means of grace by which God enables men to respond as their will freely dictates.

“The gospel is the means through which God's power enables response.”

“The Gospel is sufficient to accomplish the purpose for which it was sent….to enable all who hear to come.”

“Sufficient, enabling grace is given to all men so that they are able to believe only if they will to believe.”

If this teaching is true then God has done/is doing all He is going to do to enable men to respond positively to His Son.

Therefore, prayers to God asking that He change men’s hearts, men’s wills, men’s dispositions, while giving them eyes to see and ears to hear are pointless.

My prayers should instead be directed to the unregenerate themselves.

For it is THEY who hold the ultimate power to change their hearts, wills and dispositions, while at the same time curing their spiritual blindness and deafness.

Furthermore, all such prayers must needs be in the names of Arminus, Socinius, and Pelagius. Amen.

 

[InTheLight]

.
If this teaching is true then God has done/is doing all He is going to do to enable men to respond positively to His Son.

Except for this:

“Sufficient, enabling grace is given to all men so that they are able to believe only if they will to believe.

Therefore, prayers to God asking that He change men’s hearts, men’s wills, men’s dispositions, while giving them eyes to see and ears to hear are pointless.

My prayers should instead be directed to the unregenerate themselves.

For it is THEY who hold the ultimate power to change their hearts, wills and dispositions, while at the same time curing their spiritual blindness and deafness.

Furthermore, all such prayers must needs be in the names of Arminus, Socinius, and Pelagius. Amen.

More straw for the strawman. You must get it by the truckload.

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

No I think really the correct thing to do is to not pray at all since God's will is going to be done no matter what and human beings really don't have free will anyway.

/sarcams :tonofbricks: :BangHead:

 

[salzer mtn]

I once confronted a free will about this very topic and he said that he prayed that God would convict lost people by his Holy Spirit. I have heard free will people pray that God would save the lost but what they really mean is God would convict, man would believe and then God would save.

 

[Jacob_Elliott]

No I think really the correct thing to do is to not pray at all since God's will is going to be done no matter what and human beings really don't have free will anyway.

/sarcams :tonofbricks: :BangHead:

That's actually not an option since we are commanded to pray, but I think Protestant hit the nail on the head! We should pray for people to save themselves, this is what scripture teaches!

 

[Protestant]

More straw for the strawman. You must get it by the truckload.

I fear your avatar holds more significance than you knowingly cared to share with the board members.........'a man wandering aimlessly in a desert wilderness devoid of life.'

 

[Protestant]

No I think really the correct thing to do is to not pray at all since God's will is going to be done no matter what and human beings really don't have free will anyway.

Your reply is that used by unregenerate Fatalists.

Please continue your studies, continually asking, seeking, and knocking in all sincerity and humility.

Your determination and perseverance will pay off!

 

[Protestant]

I once confronted a free will about this very topic and he said that he prayed that God would convict lost people by his Holy Spirit. I have heard free will people pray that God would save the lost but what they really mean is God would convict, man would believe and then God would save.

So true. Thanks for your valuable input!

 

[Protestant]

That's actually not an option since we are commanded to pray, but I think Protestant hit the nail on the head! We should pray for people to save themselves, this is what scripture teaches!

Incredibly, I have not seen one Arminian board member admit that man deserves the glory for his salvation, according to their theological system.

For, they say, it is what man does that ultimately causes his soul to be saved.

We, on the other hand, say that Scripture teaches that it is what God does that causes man's soul to be saved.

The former praises the power of man, while the latter praises the grace of God.

 

[InTheLight]

For, they say, it is what man does that ultimately causes his soul to be saved.

That strawman won't hunt.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Incredibly, I have not seen one Arminian board member admit that man deserves the glory for his salvation, according to their theological system.

For, they say, it is what man does that ultimately causes his soul to be saved.

We, on the other hand, say that Scripture teaches that it is what God does that causes man's soul to be saved.
E
The former praises the power of man, while the latter praises the grace of God.

Well yea...that's always been the point of contention.

 

[Jacob_Elliott]

Incredibly, I have not seen one Arminian board member admit that man deserves the glory for his salvation, according to their theological system.

For, they say, it is what man does that ultimately causes his soul to be saved.

We, on the other hand, say that Scripture teaches that it is what God does that causes man's soul to be saved.

The former praises the power of man, while the latter praises the grace of God.

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: