Inconsistent Arminians

I was at a prayer meeting this morning, and heard a prayer which went something like this: "Lord, thank you for answering our prayers, and that xxx has now accepted you into her life."

It brought to mind this FAQ I had read just a couple of days ago.

The question in the FAQ was: Are Arminians saved?

The response was:

We do not exactly hold the view that Arminians are lost. Much bad theology turns out merely to be inconsistent theology and it is possible to be saved in spite of bad theology, but only if you are inconsistent, and you don't really believe what you think or say you believe. I find, in my many encounters with Arminians, that this is usually the case. Thankfully I think a good number Arminians are inconsistent, and they don't really believe what they say. For example, they pray for God to bring friends and neighbors to salvation - why? God has no power (or right) to do that, according to Arminianism. But some Arminians (I would argue, the ones that are saved) know in their heart that salvation IS all the work of God and IS all by grace. So they pray for God to save sinners! Their true theology comes out in their prayers, even if they don't want to admit it. I feel that, over time and with patience, these people would become reformed in theology if they had good teaching and instruction.

This is so true. If, as so many people believe, human free will is sacred and untouchable even by God, then we really have no business praying to God for the salvation of anyone else's soul, since He can't do anything about it anyway. Our efforts should be fully poured instead into persuading that person through any means whatsoever (including and especially seeker-friendly methods - being sensitive, making connections, building rapport) to convince that person to accept Christ, using persuasive words of man's wisdom. Anything would be permissible, because the end would justify the means.

But if, as the Bible teaches, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1), and need a new heart and a new spirit implanted into us (Ezek 36:26-27), need to be born again (John 3:3,5) by hearing the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16), if all of this is by grace and not of works (Eph 2:8,9), if it is impossible for man but possible for God (Matt 19:26), if no man comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him (John 6:44), then we would be right to pray for the salvation of those whom we love, because salvation is a mighty work of God, and there is no other way in which it can be accomplished.