Ted,

If God selected only certain sinners for salvation, why did he allow the others (who after all were chosen before the foundation of the world) to be brought into the world (to be born) at all? Why bring a soul into being, let them live a life, already being condemed to etenal hell? Is this a portrait of a loving God?

This is a loaded question for both Calvinists and Arminianists and anyone who believes that God exists outside of time. Because most believers believe that God knows all things (omniscience) without regard to time, the question you ask is a hard one to field.

The answer from any perspective is that it's God's will that this happen. Like you, I feel that this answer is fine and dandy, but surely, there is more to it. However, one should try to avoid moving to the extreme that God wouldn't send anybody to hell becuase He's supposed to be loving.

Grace and Truth. God has two sides - Grace and Truth - Spirit and Law - Mercy and Justice.

Without both sides, He would be less God.

sunonun