Why Pray, Arminian?

And good questions for the Calvinist too.

What does prayer DO for the sinner in your system?

 

Because God commands you to? I would say that's why everybody prays, Cal or non Cal alike.

I've always believed that prayer changes us, not God.

 

God hears the prayers of the righteous, notice He did not say Calvinist, or Arminian lol:BangHead::godisgood:

 

Our prayers do not change God, no matter what belief system you observe. God commands us to pray according to His will, not ours.
When we pray according to His will our prayers are always answered. Jesus said "I will do it".
Prayer is how we learn to bend our will to His, not how to change His will to ours.

Arguing the differences between the Calvinist prayer and the Arminian prayer is futile and foolish. God has made it clear in His word how and why we are to pray. Your belief system has nothing to do with it.

 

You're funny Luke. You know good and well according to Calvinist theology that praying for Bob is useless. Bob was either chosen for salvation at the foundation of the world or he was not. Nothing you pray for will change God's mind on it.

 

Seems like wherever the word "righteous" is in the bible, you have replaced it in your mind with Calvinist lol :BangHead::laugh::love2::godisgood:

 

Prayer is a mysterious thing. God is sovereign and His plans will be carried out regardless of what I think, say or do. Yet He tells us to pray.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Now will my prayer for my enemies and those that persecute me change them? Or will it change me?

It's impossible to hate and love at the same time. It's impossible to hate my enemy and pray for their good at the same time. Don't believe me? Try it.

 

Amy, here is where I would have to point out to you thats not how a Reformed believer understands prayer or prays. We state God is Sovereign yes but that gives God the ability to change his mind. Did not Abraham argue with God over how many of the righteous would live or die in Sodom? (see Genesis 18).... my own favorate Scripture passage comes from this 'Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?'

 

Being sovereign also gives God the ability to create beings with a free will to chose or reject Him.

Yes Abraham argued with God, but God already knew how many were there that had not completely rejected Him. Abraham didn't convince God of anything. Although he was extremely brave or extremely stupid to argue with God. :laugh:

 

I think every Calvinist on this board indicated already that you can reject him but as you say, If your given the Grace, Why would you want too? Then by rejecting God you would be extremely stupid

 

Yes, and that's why the Bible calls them fools.

 

According to the Cals on this board, all you can do is reject Him. That's not a choice.