Charles M. Sheldon

This classic presents people seeking to change their community by pledging themselves to experiment for a whole year with the question, 'What would Jesus do?'

In His Steps

Fred Rivett

A good book that provokes thought about the daily decisions we make and the way we use the life we're given. I'm not really a novel man so didn't enjoy it that much, but you can see why it's a popular book. If you're into novels then I recommend it, it's not too long and worth a read.

Celeste Richardson

In Sheldon’s 1897 classic, a minister challenges any willing members of his congregation to not make a single decision over the course of an entire year without first asking “What would Jesus do?” in the same situation. It’s a challenge that not only rocked and radically changed their own city of Raymond, but one that reached out and impacted other, larger cities in the nation, as well. Watching the faith of these characters bloom over the course of the novel, not just in spite of the testing they were experiencing due to their oath but because of it, was incredibly powerful. 

A handful of characters stand out here, but most especially: Henry Maxwell, the aforementioned minister; Rachel Winslow, a soloist with an incredible voice who now much decide how she will use it; Virginia Page, a young heiress prayerfully deciding how best to use her wealth for Jesus; and Edward Norman, the editor and publisher of a local newspaper. These four were my favorite perspectives to follow, especially those of Rachel and Norman. I did think that Sheldon didn’t show us enough of their inner struggles over their decisions, however. Every single person who took “the pledge” as they called it, save one, stuck to it without wavering, which is lovely but not incredibly realistic. I found every such character beatific to a fault. They reminded me of stained-glass windows: beautifully refracting the light that shown through them but flat in and of themselves.

I first read this book when I was 17, and heading to my first out of state church camp. While I struggled some with the writing and the language, it effected me profoundly. I had been wearing a W.W.J.D. bracelet everyday for years without fully understanding the story that inspired the saying. I reread it almost half of my lifetime later as I attended an out of state church camp for the first time as an adult chaperone for my church’s youth group, and it hasn’t lost its power. It was a solemn but inspiring reminder that every life can have an impact, if we will only try to walk in His steps as best we can. This is something that I know I’ve failed at, time and again. But thankfully, we never run out of chances to try again. So that’s what I’m doing for the countless time; trying again to live my life more thoughtfully and intentionally, while asking myself often what Jesus would do in any given situation. 

While this book did positively impact my life, I would feel dishonest if I didn’t discuss what I see as the drawbacks of the book. Firstly, it’s not actually very well written. I’ve read plenty of classics from the same era that have held up far better, because the author captured something of true conversation in their writing. Everything about this book feels stilted and unrealistic, even for the time in which it was set and written. If ever there was a book that was stiff, it’s this one. And for a book so short, it feels like it lasts forever. It’s very dense.

Also, from a theological perspective, Sheldon was very much a proponent of the Social Gospel movement, and it felt as if, based off of my exposure to him through this book alone, he was basically proclaiming that you couldn’t be a true Christian without being involved in social reform. This was more than likely not his intent, it’s just the vibe I get from the book. And while I absolutely agree that faith without works is dead, and that we have to put feet on our faith instead of keeping holed up within the buildings where we worship, something about the social reform arm of this feels a bit invasive or something. Anyway, that’s just a subjective issue on my part. But the writing is the main drawback here, thought the message is powerful enough to overcome it.

All of that being said, this is a book that has mattered to me for close to half of my life now. It’s a book I think about often, and I’m glad I decided to return to it. It’s a wonderful reminder that the church is not meant to gather on Sunday mornings and then forget their faith for the rest of the week. We as Christ followers are supposed to go and do and share. Our faith is to be active, and the core of us, and willing to help others in any way we can. Because that’s what Jesus would do.

In His Steps

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