Christ called us to preach the Gospel to all men and nations. None of us knows the names of the elect, but we have His promise that all His flock will follow Him and that none will be lost. And how do Christ's sheep know His voice? By the preaching of the Gospel.
what is the point of such a doctrine?
The doctrine of election is clearly outlined in Scripture. When you see God, you can ask Him what His point was in electing some and reprobating others. Scripture tells us we're not to ask that question of God now because it is for God alone to know. At the same time, we are told to acknowledge God's election and be grateful for it.
The problem you're having with election is endemic to humankind. Why is anyone condemned and why is anyone acquitted when we are all sinners? We might as well ask God why He created life at all.
Life is not "fair," according to our standards. Rich men have a difficult time getting to heaven, and the meek will inherit the earth. What does that say about human initiative?
The world conspires to silence the doctrine of election because it forces men to relinquish all power over salvation and justice to God alone. To deny election is to listen to the voices of this world which tell us we can be just like God, knowing good from evil.
But the real comfort the doctrine of election provides is in knowing that God breathed your name, Mark, in the same breath He spoke Christ's resurrection from the cross from before the foundation of the world. Christ won a very personal salvation for each of His flock.
Here's a sermon by Calvin on Ephesians 1. Spend some time this weekend reading it and see if it speaks to you...
Of course not. It's all BS. A non-existent list of names is by definition unknowable.
[Link to] JOHN CALVIN'S SERMON ON EPHESIANS 1:3-4
Oh goodie, more non-biblical traditions of men.
...although God’s election is free and beats down and annihilates all the worthiness, works and virtues of men, nevertheless it does not provide us with licence to do evil and to lead a disordered life, or to run amok, but rather it serves to withdraw us from the evil in which we were plunged. For, by nature, we can do nothing else but provoke God’s wrath; wickedness will always reign in us; and we are held down under the bonds and tyranny of Satan. God, therefore, must work and change us, for all goodness comes from his election...
Calvin is a fraud. Don’t you people get it? Calvin says here that there is no licence to do evil. For by nature, we can do nothing else but provoke God’s wrath. Don’t you understand that God’s wrath is everlasting hellfire? And if you’re predestined there anyway, then what is the prevention from doing evil?
Calvin speaks to the elect. How do they know that they’re elect? How do you? If you knew that you weren’t how would your behaviour change?