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It might have been said differently: "Believe as if it is all up to God; live as if it is all up to you." Which has a certain ring of truth/reality to it. We believe, for instance that perseverance in the faith is not ultimately up to us, but to the God who started, and finishes his work in us (Phil. 1:6). But we have to live lives of perseverance, making our calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). This, despite the fact that I can't make it any more "sure" than it already is; I can only make it "sure" to ME.
On the other hand, the saying you gave could be an attempt to slam Calvinists for not being evangelistic enough. As if Arminians were the only ones doing evangelism. After all, the Arminian gets 50 "decisions" and they all "count" regardless of their perseverance. Woo hoo, I'm a great soul-winner. I don't have to keep 'em, just catch 'em. Consistent Arminians believe a person can lose his salvation. The others think the man can live like the devil, and he's got his fire insurance. But they "get out there." And much of those efforts harden the ground, like in the "burnt over district." So, in this case, we just stick to our more patient, less flamboyant evangelism, and look for long-term results.
__________________ Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI Made both Lord and Christ--Jesus, the Destroyer
Acts 2:36 - 1 Cor. 10:9-10 & 15:22-26 - Hebrews 2:9-15 - 1 John 3:8 - James 4:12
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