Who was Oswald Chambers?

Answer

Oswald Chambers (1874–1917) was a Scottish evangelical Bible teacher and military chaplain. Some might describe Chambers as an evangelical mystic. He is best known for the books of his teachings that were compiled and published by his wife after his passing. His most famous work is the devotional masterpiece My Utmost for His Highest.

Oswald Chambers was born in 1874 in Aberdeen, Scotland, the son of a Baptist pastor. At the age of 15, his family relocated to London. While there, he and his father attended a sermon by Charles Spurgeon. Oswald was deeply moved by the message, and on their way home, under a street lamp, he dedicated his heart and life to Christ.

Oswald matured in his faith and engaged in ministry to the underprivileged. Despite being a talented artist, he believed that God was calling him to a life of art. He pursued studies at the Royal College of Art in London and later at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. Despite enjoying his academic pursuits, he felt unsettled. Some friends suggested he consider entering the ministry, but he was hesitant unless God clearly directed him otherwise. When his income from freelance illustrations dwindled, and financial difficulties arose, he spent an entire night in prayer, seeking divine guidance. The next morning, he felt a calling to ministry, and coincidentally, he received a brochure for the Dunoon Theological Training College in the mail. Chambers made the unconventional decision to leave a prestigious university to join a small Bible college with thirty students and one faculty member, believing it was God’s will. His friends had mixed reactions.

At Dunoon, the students resided and studied in the principal’s home, Rev. Duncan MacGregor, who served as both a mentor and instructor. MacGregor invited guest speakers to provide additional teachings.and teachers to the school, and Chambers was especially touched by the teaching of F. B. Meyer who spoke about the necessity of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Oswald felt that was missing in his life. This initiated a four-year period of spiritual dryness and searching that he described as “hell on earth.” He was overwhelmed by his own sinfulness and acknowledged that it was only the grace of God and the support of friends that helped him through this time. Finally, at a service at Dunoon Baptist Church, he confessed before the whole church that he needed to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

This appears to have been a deliberate act of surrendering himself to God, and from that point Oswald began to have a deeper experience of the power and presence of God, which was noticeable to others. He also appears to have embraced a form of entire sanctification. He believed it was essential for one to be completely devoted to God, body, soul, and spirit, and that this level of commitment followed conversion and was essential for the believer to be fully utilized by God. There is no indication that Chambers ever viewed himself as having achieved a state of “sinless perfection.” He explains it as follows:

“The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He ‘became for [me] . . . sanctification. . . .’ Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being displayed in my life.

“The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in allowing the perfect qualities of Jesus to manifest themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is ‘Christ in you . . .’ «to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: », (Colossians 1:27). It is His own

Wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification—imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?

“Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy—it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness—‘. . . kept by the power of God . . .’ «who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. », (1 Peter 1:5).” (“Sanctification 2” from Utmost.org, accessed 2/14/19)

After spending nine years at Dunoon, Chambers left to preach and teach. He traveled to the United States and spent several months teaching at God’s Bible College in Cincinnati. From there, he traveled to Japan where he visited the Tokyo Bible School. Then he became a traveling teacher and ambassador for the Pentecostal League of Prayer.

In 1908, while on a ship headed for the United States, Chambers met Gertrude Hobbs, and two years later they were married. He referred to her as “Beloved Disciple” or B.D., which became the nickname Biddy, by which she was known ever after. The couple spent a four-month honeymoon in the United States teaching at “holiness camps.”

Chambers read and studied the Bible and other literature on a wide variety of subjects. He rarely spoke using

Notes, preferring to rely on the Holy Spirit. Biddy, who had been trained as a court stenographer, began recording his messages using shorthand.

Chambers had dreamed for years of starting a Bible college, and in 1911 he founded the Bible Training College in London. He leased a 19-room house in London, which would house him and Biddy as well as twenty-five students. Classes were held in the lecture rooms, and all ate together in the dining room where the students would question Chambers and further digest what he had been teaching them. In the evenings, Chambers gave lectures that were attended by non-students, and he preached in local churches. Although busy, he began each morning with time in the Bible and prayer.

In 1913, Chambers’ daughter, Kathleen, was born. In 1914, England entered World War I, and Chambers felt called to minister to the troops. In 1915, he traveled to Egypt as a YMCA chaplain for the troops stationed there. After a few months, his wife and daughter joined him in Cairo. There he taught the Bible and encouraged the troops, with hundreds of servicemen packing the sessions. Biddy assisted by recording her husband’s messages in shorthand and entertaining in their home. Each Sunday, she served tea to 700 troops.

In October 1917, Chambers began to experience a decline in health but did not seek medical attention because he did not want to take resources away from injured troops. Finally, he was convinced to seek medical help and had to undergo emergency surgery for a ruptured appendix. He died on November 15, 1917, at the age of 43 from complications of the surgery. He was buried at the British Cemetery in Old Cairo with full military honors. His tombstone notes that he was the Superintendent of the YMCA, but at its foot, it summarizes his life: “A believer in Jesus Christ.”

The first Christmas after her husband’s death, Biddy printed one of his sermons and sent it to some soldiers. The response was overwhelming. Soon after, she began doing this on a monthly basis.Until the demand became significant, the YMCA took over the task of mailing out 10,000 copies of a sermon each month. Biddy then started compiling and publishing books based on the shorthand transcriptions of Oswald’s messages, once again receiving a great response. Biddy remained in Egypt ministering until the war ended and the camp was closed.

Upon her return to England, Biddy dedicated her life’s work to sharing her husband’s words with the world. Throughout all her publishing endeavors, she never focused on herself and sustained herself by managing a boarding house. By the time of her passing in 1966, thirty books had been published. In 1927, she published a book of devotional readings, one for each day of the year. That book, My Utmost for His Highest, has remained in print continuously since then. It has sold over 10 million copies and has been translated into forty-five languages.

During his life, Oswald Chambers committed himself to Christ and selflessly ministered to others. Following his passing, thanks to the dedicated efforts of his widow, Chambers’ ministry continues to impact people today.