[StacyMac]

Spurgeon was sincere, but, sincerely wrong. It is hard to convince a calvinist otherwise, But, love requires freedom to choose and freedom to be chosen. Freedom requires risk and God put Himself at risk when He created angels & man. They had the freedom to look into God's eyes so to speak and say "I reject you" God doen't make men say it or predestine them to say it. It's there own choice. There is no more self serving belief or prideful doctrine than election. God predetermined all mankind for relationship with Himself, even at the risk of knowing many would reject it. He does not want anyone to perish, but they will by choice.

[Mahone]

There is no more self serving belief or prideful doctrine than election.

Yes there is, the one that says I can choose God. The one that makes man his own saviour, that flatters man into believing that he can reject the sovereign God of the universe. Now THAT is pride. There is no more humbling doctrine than election.