[Forest Keeper]

Would that mean that God chooses to damn people from before they were born?

It does mean that God chooses from the beginning to pass over some people, yes. It's not so much that He actively damns anyone, it is that He leaves some people to the fate which they deserve. This is the essence of double predestination. See Dr. Eckleburg's excellent link in post #30, which holds that Martin Luther held this very view.

That people who are among the "elect" can do what they please as they are the chosen?

Well of course not. We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness:

Romans 6:1-2 "1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"

That the people who are among "the elect" can then become say Muslimes and they are still among the "elect"?

Such activity would naturally be considered very sinful. It would lead me to wonder to myself if the original salvation was genuine. Obviously, only God can know. However, I can see a member of the elect, especially in the infancy of sanctification, falling into a cult through coercion. We know that spiritual warfare is absolutely waged against the elect by satan, and unfortunate things can happen. Salvation, however, is not lost.

That there is no need to spread God's word as, if there are the "elect", they will come to Christ without the members of The Church helping out?

There is an absolute need to spread God's word, not because it accomplishes salvation, but because it is in obedience to God. Our witnessing converts no one and saves no one. That is completely God's purview. Even though we stumble, the truly regenerated heart seeks to obey God, and for his purposes, he wishes us to evangelize.

[kosta50]

There is an absolute need to spread God's word, not because it accomplishes salvation, but because it is in obedience to God

And love? Is there any love in it at all? Do we not go to church because we long for God? Is this not all about loving God more than anything, and our neighbor as ourselves? All you Protestants talk about is obedience. Love is giving, not taking orders. Open up your hearts and leave that OT harshness out. The obedience of Pharisees is what led them astray to begin with. Jesus interprted the Law with love (remember the man saved on the Sabbath?). Get over this "I was only following z orders" idea of God-man relationship. If you can't find love in anything that has to do with God, you are not on target.

[jo kus]

It would lead me to wonder to myself if the original salvation was genuine

That very concept refutes the whole idea of "absolute assurance" of salvation.

Regards

[Cronos]

It does mean that God chooses from the beginning to pass over some people, yes. It's not so much that He actively damns anyone, it is that He leaves some people to the fate which they deserve

I'm sorry Forest, I don't think I could agree with the idea that God decides to "leave some people to the fate they deserve" -- that seems to signify the same thing that some people are damned from before they are born. It clashes with my idea of a loving God.

[Cronos]

We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to righteousness:

Again, I disagree -- if God wanted pure slaves, He would have done so. God WANTS us to decide, He revels in our unpredictableness. Otherwise, it's like a wicked god who plays with his creations. That's not the Christian God, that's a pagan deity.

[Cronos]

Our witnessing converts no one and saves no one.

I am sorry Forest, what you state is diametrically opposite from what I, and all other Catholics and Orthodox believe.