"I have my own private opinion that there is no such thing as preaching Christ and Him crucified, unless we preach what nowadays is called Calvinism. It is a nickname to call it Calvinism; Calvinism is the gospel, and nothing else. I do not believe we can preach the gospel, if we do not preach justification by faith, without works; nor unless we preach the sovereignty of God in His dispensation of grace; nor unless we exalt the electing, unchangeable, eternal, immutable, conquering love of Jehovah; nor do I think we can preach the gospel, unless we base it upon the special and particular redemption of His elect and chosen people which Christ wrought out upon the cross; nor can I comprehend a gospel which lets saints fall away after they are called, and suffers the children of God to be burned in the fires of damnation after having once believed in Jesus. Such a gospel I abhor."-c.h.spurgeon
http://www.spurgeon.org/calvinis.htm
"I learned that Spurgeon was not really a Calvinist. (It seems particularly galling for Arminians to come to grips with this one.)"
Horsefeathers. (I'd use a stronger epithet, but the Religion Mod doesn't like scatological objections).
As a Calvinist, I certainly believe that it is accurate, but it is either mistaken or duplicitious to conflate Calvinism with the fundamentals of Christianity.
Spurgeon said that we can't preach the gospel without preaching particular redemption, unconditional election, et al? News to Paul, who preached Christ crucified. News to thousands of evangelists for whom Calvinism might influence what they do, but needs never be explicitly mentioned to accurately convey the Gospel - that God saves sinners by Christ's death and resurrection.
It's a silly argument - but one too many Calvinists make - to say "Calvinism is the gospel." I think this argument results from insecurity. The only explanation I can find for overstating one's case to that extent is that you're not fully convinced by Calvinism, so you feel you must be more strident to cover your concerns up.
Spurgeon had faults and was not perfect. Mostly because, NO ONE IS PERFECT, EXCEPT GOD. So, if A PERSON chooses to believe onself to be perfect, then, you guessed it, they are gonna find fault in everybody's belief, except theirs...