Why Do Arminians Pray for the Salvation of the Lost?

[thatbrian]

Yes, you did. When you stated "whatever that is," you implied a denial of arminians believing in grace preceeding salvation.

What I meant was that prevenient was an idea with no biblical foundation. I understand what Arminians believe in regard to the term.

The same thing that calvinists pray for: the salvation of a soul.

Maybe you could be more specific. What are you asking God to do that He has not already done?

 

[Revmitchell]

What allows a sinner to accept Jesus, its his own free will decision per non calvinism, correct?

I just told you, it is the gospel

 

[HankD]

Hank, I was being cheeky.

So am I

HankD

 

[Mr. Davis]

Being misled by Calvin does not make you evil - we are capable of evil on our own (although Adam helped).

HankD

Do you believe that someone can be misled by Arminius?

 

[HankD]

I am a calvinist who did not get theology from Calvin, but from the scriptures, and where calvin agreed with that, he was good, but in some areas he was dead wrong!

OK everyone by now you should know 2 things

1) I love to play "devil's advocate"
2) I have, as Dr Tom says "a warped sense of humor".

Sorry! or as Popeye says "I yams what I yams"

HankD

 

[HankD]

Do you believe that someone can be misled by Arminius?

Yes and No.

HankD

 

[JonC]

The Arminian position is that God looked down the corridors of time to see who would believe in Him, and then He elected those who would. In their view, God presents an "offer" to all men and some choose to believe. He then, through "prevenient grace" temporarily suspends the damage done by the Fall so that a man is free to "respond".

So, my question is, why do Arminians pray for the salvation of uncle Billy or cousin Daisy? What exactly are they asking God to do?

I don't understand the question. Calvinists would have the same reasons for praying for the lost as would Arminians as both believe God knows the outcome (even if for different reasons).

Are you asking why some petition God while believing that God already knows the outcome?

 

[padredurand]

You ask God to do more for uncle Billy than He already has? If so, what more are you asking for?

Would you ask God to "violate" uncle Billy's will in order to save him? Are you asking God to make uncle Billy a robot? In other words, if uncle Billy has, by his "free will" reject the gospel, why pray for him?

I don't know if Uncle Billy is of the elect. He may be saved at the last possible moment but the Lord will keep His promise. Violate Billy's will? Hyperbole much?

 

[JonC]

Hyperbole much?

No......just a little...

 

[Reynolds]

The Arminian position is that God looked down the corridors of time to see who would believe in Him, and then He elected those who would. In their view, God presents an "offer" to all men and some choose to believe. He then, through "prevenient grace" temporarily suspends the damage done by the Fall so that a man is free to "respond".

So, my question is, why do Arminians pray for the salvation of uncle Billy or cousin Daisy? What exactly are they asking God to do?

Classical Arminians don't believe that. Why don't SOME(A) Calvinists actually learn the position they argue against? It would be refreshing.

 

[Reynolds]

Yes, but it's a question of who is acting consistently with his theology.

Not Calvinists. Why would a true believer of Calvin's positions on Sovereignty pray about anything.

 

[Reformed]

Classical Arminians don't believe that.

Actually, you are right. That is why I wrote in another post earlier today that synergistic evangelicalism is a mixture of Arminianism and semi-Pelagianism. The errors are so intricately woven together that it is almost impossible to separate them.

 

[Reformed]

Why would a true believer of Calvin's positions on Sovereignty pray about anything.

Because prayer is not about so much about God as it is about us. The Almighty, self-sufficient God of creation does not need our prayers. As our Father, He desires them. At its basic level prayer is the creature talking to the Creator. When we pray we are asking for God's will to be done, not our own (Mat. 6:10).

 

[rsr]

It seems to me that “God, please save my friend” without qualifications normally means “God, break my friend’s will and force him to repent.” Perhaps not everyone who prays that prayer means that, but that’s what the words alone imply. That’s not consistent with Arminian belief. In my opinion, only a Calvinist (or maybe also a Lutheran) can pray that way consistently.

... And my opinion in this case is–it depends on what you mean because God always knows what you mean and you’re praying to God. And if you mean to ask God to violate someone’s free will and force them to be saved, then I don’t think that’s proper. If you mean to ask God to bring circumstances into a person’s life that will probably convince them of their need of salvation, then it’s proper.

Read more at More about prayer for unsaved loved ones and friends

 

[rsr]

The reason that Arminians and Calvinists pray for salvation of others is that they are willing to consider that they are not God, despite their variant understanding of the Scriptures, and are not willing that any should perish and are willing to pour out their souls with results that only God knows.

If you have never prayed for something that you don't think is theologically suspect, IMO, you have not poured out your soul to God in abject submission to both his love and his sovereignty.

 

[InTheLight]

Classical Arminians don't believe that. Why don't SOME(A) Calvinists actually learn the position they argue against? It would be refreshing.

Building strawmen is much more satisfying. After all, you can win every argument when a strawman is involved.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL

 

[Iconoclast]

I pray for the lost.....cuz their lost.

That is not the question at all...The question clearly was what was the content of your prayer....type out what you ask in prayer??? you know the question but run from answering straight up, infact not one has done so, because you know it will prove the point of the OP.

 

[Iconoclast]

I pray for the lost - specifically and generically.

For example, I pray and have prayed for a long time for some former math students who are Islamic.

Kaleemulah and Safiullah who are 19 year old twin boys
Amna, a junior and her cousin, little Amna, a 10th grader.
Rabia, another cousin who is in college.

As a non-C and non-A, this is what I pray for. I imagine the C's and A's here pray along the same lines if truth be told.

I pray:

• for God to draw them to him.
• for God to have mercy on them and their families.
• for God to surround them and send them Christians [like he did with Philip and the eunuch]
• for God to deliver them from evil and from the bondage and strongholds of Islam
• for them to be saved and to be powerful witnesses to their Islamic community
• for their blind eyes to be opened

I suspect we all have the same purpose in our prayers.

Now....this is getting at what the OP was getting at...

 

[Iconoclast]

Yes, you did. When you stated "whatever that is," you implied a denial of arminians believing in grace preceeding salvation.


The same thing that calvinists pray for: the salvation of a soul.

Same issue...what exactly do you pray...just for random souls??? He is asking when you pray for close friends, and family in particular...what do you ask God? Do you ask God to do something that your theology does not say can happen??

 

[Iconoclast]

I don't know if Uncle Billy is of the elect. He may be saved at the last possible moment but the Lord will keep His promise. Violate Billy's will? Hyperbole much?

Again....no one asked if anyone knows if he is elect...the question is...do you ask God to do ANYTHING.....or if salvation is up to the sinner...do you pray to the sinner? or do you ask to be patient while uncle billy makes his decision?
The op is asking, if salvation is up to the sinner, if God has done all he can do...why ask anything in prayer then?