Not a Calvinist myself, but I think they'd say (if they reply) that God doesn't necessarily choose people to burn, but rather chooses people to save. The ones he doesn't choose to save, He leaves to their own reward (so to speak.)

For them, it would be as if the entirety of humanity decided to jump into the middle of the ocean with no life preserver, certain to drown if no help arrives. It is their own fault for jumping in, and they have no one to blame but themselves. God, however is the life preserver (actually more like a net that plucks them out of the water) arriving to save some, but not all, from the calamity they brought upon themselves. Those not chosen cannot blame God because it is their own fault and He is not obligated to save/choose them. The ones who are saved see the glory and power of a God who could have left them, but instead graciously chose to save them all by Himself.

Now, you may think "choosing to burn" versus "choosing not to save" is a distinction without a difference and mere semantics, and I completely get that....I'm just giving you the way it has been explained to me before.

Last edited by Newman; Wed May 25, 2011 2:31 PM.