Sheila's Posts

The problem I have with reading Oswald Chambers is that he is too weak on doctrine to avoid being occasionally confusing. He was strong on exhortation upon specific areas of the bible, but because he insufficiently makes comparisons of scripture with scripture, he can at times distort the big picture.

As God says in 1 Corinthians 2:13, the Holy Ghost teaches us when we compare spiritual things with spiritual. The less we do as those noble Bereans, in that “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11), the more likely we can become “conditioned” into accepting false doctrine.

Oswald Chambers’ writings are rarely critiqued with spiritual discernment. His ministering style is almost hypnotic in effect. I didn’t notice some ever so subtle inconsistencies of his preaching until reading The Complete Works of Oswald Chambers. The more that I read that’s in that book, the more apparent the need becomes to sort out what’s true versus what’s a distortion.

Truth demands consistency. That’s why it is always safe to study the bible, provided that the King James Version is used as the ruling guide over our modern English translations.

There is nothing wrong with having help to understand God’s word, but no matter who the person is that’s ministering His word, it is always crucial to remember that no human being is capable of flawless preaching. With spiritual maturity comes an increased awareness whenever something isn’t quite fitting appropriately with all of what’s said in the bible.

Chambers came to Christianity in his teen years under the ministry of Charles Spurgeon. Chambers is best known for his devotional My Utmost for His Highest. What’s less known about Chambers (and is probably the reason he is as popular as he is) is that his theology is based on John Wesley (an Arminian). Charles Spurgeon’s preaching, however, was Calvinistic. That would explain why Spurgeon’s devotional God’s Treasury: The Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith is less confusing and more consistent.

Calvinism and Arminianism are basically opposite. Only one of the two is true doctrine. Either God is glorified or self is. Either we are saved by sovereign grace or we are saved by something we do. Either we wait for God or God waits for us. Either God gave every human being that ever lived, lives, and is yet to be born, to Christ or He gave only a remnant to Christ. Either our salvation is secure or we can lose it.

I won’t get into mentioning the bible verses that apply to the two opposing doctrines. They can be found in the bible, on the internet and in many books. It’s not my intent to create division or to argue. I only want to bring awareness to the importance of always exercising caution when reading devotionals and theology books.

After having accumulated and read many books by great theologians, I can’t say they’re not beneficial. But, at the same time, there is a risk involved.

Here are a few others who advise caution when reading Oswald Chambers:

• Von Ein Kunde
• Tom Riggle
• Miles J. Stanford
• The Far Left and the Far Right

You should be . . . if you live for God’s will being done because of Him sending His son to get you, you should expect the world to hate you. If it was not so, God would not have it written in His word.

John 17:9-14,

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

John 15:18-27,

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

So if the world doesn’t appreciate the truth God gives and hates those who boldly speak it, then what’s a Christian to do?
Well, for starters s/he doesn’t act natural — s/he lives with a new nature that the world cannot understand so it persecutes the Godly with a vengeance.

Luke 6:26-36,

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Anything else for a Jacob to know?

Romans 12:17-21,

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 9:11-22,

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.

So, what’s the bottom line?

Don’t expect mercy from those who haven’t experienced the ultimate forgiveness, but rather be merciful to everyone. Let God be God. Only He knows who are His. Even though no one else is Almighty God, the world is full of people who will try to act like God. God is the only one worthy to be served and glorified. Don’t seek to be popular (a man-pleaser). Enjoy being able to give to others what God gives to you! If you’re ultimately calling attention to any human being¹ instead of Jesus, then you can’t be magnifying the LORD.

¹Hopefully people realize that each of us have our own name that’s for the purpose of others to respectfully use when they want our attention. To call attention to a person by using his or her name (especially without that person’s approval) for the sake of degrading him or her is gossip. It’s usually done out of the motive of pride. You can’t look good in the eyes of God by trying to make others look bad in the eyes of the world.