Calvinists: Do You Pray For Your Loved Ones?

[seer]

Do you pray for the salvation of your loved ones? If so - why?

[GoBahnsen]

Do you pray for the salvation of your loved ones? If so - why?Absolutely. Why? Why not?

Or why pray for anything for that matter? Because God commands us to, but more than that, invites us to. We can play mind games and time games...we don't know all the ways of God, but He tells us, we have not because we ask not.

Do I then determine the fate of loved ones through prayer? I thought so as an Arminian. Now I realize that when I pray, I have been moved along by God to do His will. He has His people praying, for it is God who is at work in them, both to do and to will according to His good pleasure.


How about you seer, do you pray for loved ones? If yes, do you think little seer is getting big God to do what big God wasn't planning to already?

[seer]

Absolutely. Why? Why not?

Or why pray for anything for that matter? Because God commands us to, but more than that, invites us to. We can play mind games and time games...we don't know all the ways of God, but He tells us, we have not because we ask not.

But if your loved one is not elect then it won't matter.

Do I then determine the fate of loved ones through prayer? I thought so as an Arminian. Now I realize that when I pray, I have been moved along by God to do His will. He has His people praying, for it is God who is at work in them, both to do and to will according to His good pleasure.

That is the problem GB. I'am sure that a number of your loved ones are not elect (as are mine). God would not be moving you to pray for their salvation. That would not be His will.

How about you seer, do you pray for loved ones? If yes, do you think little seer is getting big God to do what big God wasn't planning to already?

How about you seer, do you pray for loved ones? If yes, do you think little seer is getting big God to do what big God wasn't planning to already?

I believe that God heard my prayers a billion years before the worlds were created - and took those prayers into consideration. If I did not believe that I would not pray...

[seer]

No other takers?

[Cheetah]

A hyper-Calvie doesn't pray for others or do missionary work etc - Zipperhead's a hyper-Calvie. :hehe:

[Mark_S]

That is the problem GB. I'am sure that a number of your loved ones are not elect (as are mine). God would not be moving you to pray for their salvation. That would not be His will.


I believe that God heard my prayers a billion years before the worlds were created - and took those prayers into consideration. If I did not believe that I would not pray...

How very Calvinistic of you :smile: You stated that God took those prayers into consideration. And what did He do with them? He opened that persons heart to receiving the gospel! He is the one who is overcoming the breech of sin. If you believe it is up to man to sieze the Gospel message, then the ball is in our court. There would be little God "could do". Hey, God as presented us with His son and his gifts, but we need to accept them. But thats not how we pray is it? We pray for God to open their hearts, and we pray that God draws the unbelievers toward him. We pray that God take our pleas into consideration.

God has given us the tools to reach the unbeliever with prayer and preaching the gospel. He's promised us the reward. And quite simply I would ask you the following question: If you believe that if man has to take that final step into the body of Christ by his own free will. Then why do you pray to God for his salvation?

[Assistant Junior Deputy Janitor Analogman]

Hi Mark.

And quite simply I would ask you the following question: If you believe that if man has to take that final step into the body of Christ by his own free will. Then why do you pray to God for his salvation?

I don't per se. What I do do is pray that God continues to convict them of sin. That He would make their life miserable if they already understand the dire predicament they are in, but yet refuse to repent. That the influence of the Holy Spirit is strong upon them. If they do not understand their plight, that He would "turn up the heat" so to speak.

Regards,
A-man