The Moral Foundations of Life - Chambers, Oswald

The Moral Foundations of Life
A Series of Talks on the Ethical Principles
of the Christian Life
Oswald Chambers

Introduction

Source

This material is from notes of lectures at the bible training college,1 london, 191115.

Publication history

 . As articles: in the bible training course (btc) monthly journal,2 august 1933 september 1934.

 . As a book: the moral foundations of life was first published as a book in 1936.

One of chambers primary goals as a teacher was to challenge christians to think. An equally important objective was to encourage believers to act. In chambers mind, the brain and the body were not enemies but allies in the effort to live a life that glorified god. Oswalds wide reading can be seen throughout these lectures. The writers quoted range from the well-known to the now-obscure. When possible, the sources of these quotes are identified in a footnote.

Chambers breadth of knowledge combined with his depth of biblical understanding combined to produce a potent mixture of christ-centered theology and original thinking. His students didnt always agree with his conclusions, but it was virtually impossible for them to sit under chambers teaching and think only, that was nice.

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1. The Bible Training College (BTC) was a residential school near Clapham Common in southwest London. It was spon-
sored by the League of Prayer and operated from 1911 until it closed in July 1915 because of World War I. Oswald Chambers
was principal and main teacher; Biddy Chambers, his wife, was lady superintendent.
2. The Bible Training Course Monthly Journal was published from 1932 to 1952 by Mrs. Chambers, with help from David
Lambert.

Contents

Foreword ………………………………………………………………………………. 692
The Will in Discipleship ……………………………………………………….. 693
Direction of the Will …………………………………………………………….. 696
Freedom of the Will ……………………………………………………………… 699
Habit ………………………………………………………………………………….. 701
Dust and Divinity…………………………………………………………………. 704
Behaviour ……………………………………………………………………………. 707
Attention …………………………………………………………………………….. 709
Natural Growth in Supernatural Grace ……………………………………. 712
The Way of a Soul ……………………………………………………………….. 715
What to Think About …………………………………………………………… 718
Thinking Godliness ……………………………………………………………… 721
The Mind of Christ ……………………………………………………………… 724
Our Lord on How to Think…………………………………………………... 727
Education in Holy Habit ………………………………………………………. 730

Foreword

See sometimes in London the preparations being made for the sure foundations of one of the great modern buildings to be erected there. Far below the surface-level men and machines toil patiently on work which soon will be hidden, but which alone will make the towering building secure. These talks on moral foundations take us to that depth below the surface of our everyday life where the foundations are laid for enduring sainthood. They deal profoundly with such matters as habit, thinking, the will, behaviour. The subject of christian ethical obligation is of paramount importance in the thought life of to-day. The very basis of our religion, our moral and spiritual standing, is being challenged. Here will be found a valiant answer to the secular, sceptical and lawless questionings of our time. The writer was one of gods saints; and also one of those sane christian thinkers who see into the deep places of our strange, perplexing yet alluring human life. Already the chapters have proved their worth as articles in the b. T. C. Journal. Now in this compact form they will serve for hours of instruction in righteousness as they illumine these dim regions of the soul in the blazing light of holy scripture.

3. D. L. is David Lambert (1871–1961), a Methodist minister and friend of Oswald and Biddy Chambers. He assisted Mrs. Chambers with OC publications from 1917 until his death in 1961