In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?

by Charles Monroe Sheldon, Dan Larsen, Kevin Owen

The premier line of Classic literature from the greatest Christian authors. The finest in quality and value.

As you enter the fictional world of Rev. Maxwell and stroll the streets of Raymond, you will also be journeying into your soul to ask the poignant yet simple question, "are these the steps of Jesus?"

Genres: Christian, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Classics, Religion, Christianity, Faith

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1897

About the author

Charles Monroe Sheldon was an American minister in the Congregational churches and leader of the Social Gospel movement.

His novel, In His Steps, introduced the principle of "What Would Jesus Do?" which articulated an approach to Christian theology that became popular at the turn of the 20th Century and had a revival almost one hundred years later.

Reviews

[Stephen Escalera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rarely have I come across a book that I am so torn over as to how to rate it. Usually a book will be obviously good or bad, making the ultimate conclusion in rating it a fairly easy process. While a good book may have some detractors, overall the good outweighs the bad, with the reverse also being true of bad books. However, I'm having a hard time making such a distinction in reviewing Charles Sheldon's classic, In His Steps. There are many good things about the book, but there are also many not-so-good things.

The book centers primarily on a few members of the affluent First Church of Raymond in the late 19th century who have been faced with the question of how Jesus would act if He were in their place. (In His Steps can be credited with the origin of the popularized question of "What would Jesus do?" or WWJD). A call is made for volunteers to ask the question, "What would Jesus do?" before making any decisions for one whole year. Among those who volunteer are the pastor, the local newspaper owner/editor, a gifted singer, a wealthy young woman, a writer, and an employee of the local railroad. The book follows their efforts during the course of the year as they attempt to live out their pledge of asking, "What would Jesus do?" This leads them to make decisions that aren't the most popular or even understood by some family members and the general public. It also leads them to undertake a greater involvement in their city, both in evangelical outreaches and for the good of society in general.

For a book that was written over 100 years ago, it cuts to the heart of our current culture in the majority of the Western world of materialism and even more so among Christians. Perhaps the hardest hitting teaching comes towards the end of the book when the pastor asks a congregation, "How much is the Christianity of the age suffering for Him? Is it denying itself at the cost of ease, comfort, luxury, elegance of living? What does the age need more than personal sacrifice?....The Christianity that attempts to suffer by proxy is not the Christianity of Christ." Here is found perhaps the main and best thrust of the entire book. The call to Christianity is a call to suffer for Christ. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it." (Mark 8:34-35) The decision to follow Jesus, to do what He would do, is not played out in the characters' lives as something that turns out rosy. One man loses his job and as a result, his wife becomes bitter toward him. The newspaper owner/editor watches his subscribers and advertisers leave in droves because of his decision not to allow certain kinds of content. Yet another turns down what some may consider the "opportunity of a lifetime" to serve in a more humble ministry. This is no health, wealth and prosperity gospel. Wearing a bracelet that says "WWJD?" simply won't cut it. All through the book, the element of personal suffering and sacrifice is continually presented as the ultimate test of following Christ.

In His Steps gives an example of Christianity in action - how Christianity looks in the nitty-gritty, everyday stuff of life. The characters realize that Christianity is not simply an abstract idea, full of wise sayings and doctrines designed only to stimulate the intellect. Christianity is lived out Monday through Sunday. It's not only making decisions based on what Jesus might do, but telling people the reasoning behind the decision. It's getting involved in the community, reaching out to those in need, using the resources that we've been blessed with to help change a life. This is Christianity in action.

This brings me to the issues that have given me pause and not just a little concern. First, a few minor points. The writing style is very poor. Superlatives abound in the descriptions of the effects of various decisions. "For the first time ever..." or "he had never..." or "Nothing had ever..." or "Such a thing had never..." - these overused phrases become old and trite in their use. Additionally, the plot becomes rather predictable. However, that being said, this book is perhaps rarely read for its fictional and linguistic prowess.

While the characters in the narrative are seeking to follow Christ's example, much of the decisions are based very much on personal interpretation with little to no Biblical basis for their reasoning. In one sense, the subjective nature of the question at hand makes the decision one that should be and can only be decided by the person ultimately responsible. In this, the author rightly puts great emphasis on prayer and the personal nature of the pledge. However, this lends somewhat of a relativistic mindset if the decision is not based on what Scripture says. For example, the newspaper editor decides that printing a Sunday edition is not what Jesus would do since Jesus would not publish something that caused a reader to read anything else but the Bible on Sunday. While to be commended for making such a difficult decision and following his conscious, this makes me wonder what in Scripture teaches such a notion that reading anything else but the Bible on Sunday is contrary to Christ's teachings.

The biggest issue I have with the book is why the Christians go about seeking to follow Christ's steps or do what Jesus would do. Set during the heyday of the Temperance Movement, much emphasis is placed on the poorer citizens of the city and the effect that alcohol played in many of the problems that class of society faced. Further, while there seems to be much emphasis on evangelization, the improvement of life in general for the class is seen as the ultimate end of this evangelization. Oddly enough, this message of "accept Christ and everything well get better" goes against the message for the upper class citizens that Christians must suffer. The gospel that is proclaimed in In His Steps is not a gospel that comes by means of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Instead, it is a gospel that points to Christ as the ultimate example of how to live and reform society, but not the source of the strength to bring about that reform. And Christ's example in this case is to help the poor. Where a conflict arises is in dealing with the question, If helping the poor in bettering their society is what the gospel offers, how does this affect how the poor themselves live? This question is asked point blank of several of the pastors by a man out of work for many days and not one of them can provide an answer. One pastor ponders the question in his heart as "a question that brings up the entire social problem in all its perplexing entanglement of human wrongs and its present condition contrary to every desire of God for a human being's welfare. Is there any condition more awful than for a man in good health, able and eager to work, with no means of honest livelihood unless he does work, actually unable to get anything to do, and driven to one of three things: begging or charity at the hands of friends or strangers, suicide or starvation?"

Nowhere in the book is a person's sinful condition addressed, but only the social condition. When reform comes, it should not, it cannot come through the betterment of a person's economic wellbeing. I'm not denying that we have a responsibility to minister to others, especially those in need. I think even my own tendency is to try to ignore others' condition, like the condition of the man on the corner holding the sign. But in helping those in need, we should not do it simply for the sake of our own suffering nor in trying to help them make a better life for themselves. We should be pointing them to Christ, not as the example of who we are following, but as the source of the strength to do what we do, the source of the righteousness to overcome sin. Without Christ, without repentance, we can improve society to the last person but will not change the root of the problem and will find them just as bad as before. As John Owen so aptly puts it in The Mortification of Sin: "Poor soul! It is not thy sore finger but thy hectic fever that thou art to apply thyself to the consideration of. Thou settest thyself against a particular sin, and dost not consider that thou art nothing but sin."

In His Steps is certainly a step in the right direction of encouraging believers to challenge the way we live and think and interact with the world around us. But the reader should always keep in mind that the gospel of Christ is not an example simply to be followed in order to better society, but rather the gospel is solely and completely about Christ Himself and the righteousness we have in Him. In following Him, a person's social standing may not improve in the slightest, but his eternal standing in the sight of God will. And that's what matters.

[Paul Bryant · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the original What Would Jesus Do? novel. It has a curious history. In 1896 this preacher Charles Sheldon thought up the famous challenge and had the lightbulb idea of incorporating it into his sermon in the form of an ongoing story – come back next week for part two, everybody! See what happens when our characters try to live their lives asking WWJD all the time! The idea was a huge hit, his church was packed, and at the end of it he wrote it up as a novel and serialised it in a religious magazine and tried to get it published. The publishers turned him down flat. So the magazine decided to publish it as a novel themselves, and they sent off the manuscript to be copyrighted but they didn’t send the whole manuscript and the copyright office said their application was invalid.
So the magazine version sold out immediately – 100,000 copies, apparently, and of course other respectable publishers spotted this phenomenon and also saw that it was out of copyright and pirated it and sold millions, and poor Charles Sheldon didn’t get a dime. How sad. But it was God’s will, you know!

I read all this in the preface, which also tells me In His Steps has been

carefully edited and updated for modern readers.

Hmmm…. What could that mean? I don’t think they did a great job because quite soon we have Rev Sheldon introducing a young female character like this :

A statuesque blonde of attractive proportions, Virginia had an appealing face. The spectacles she wore simply emphasised her gifted intellect.

Well anyhow, the story is located in the town of Raymond and focuses on the big cheeses in the church who take the WWJD pledge, such as the editor of one of the main local papers. He immediately decides to stop publishing accounts of prize fighting and he cancels all adverts for alcohol and tobacco, much to his manager’s consternation, who loudly proclaims they will go bust within the month.

Transposing the moral teachings of first century rural Judea onto late 19th century middle America throws up some bizarre questions, which Rev Sheldon acknowledges :

It is a different age. There are many perplexing questions in our civilisation that are not mentioned in the teachings of Jesus. How am I going to tell what he would do?

Apparently if you feel that’s what Jesus would do, then that’s enough. So we get some ludicrous stuff like :

The three agreed that, whatever Jesus might do in detail as editor of a daily paper, He would be guided by the same general principles that directed His conduct as the Saviour of the world….Jesus would not issue a Sunday edition.




The big idea is actually most interesting – what would happen if Christians actually took the teachings of Jesus seriously? The characters are convinced they are at the beginning of a social revolution. And yes, you can see that could very well be. But the novel fritters the big idea away, and its band of well-meaning wealthy types spend their time and money improving the lives of the poor by singing beautifully to them and closing down saloons. There are cringe-makingly pat scenes such as the one where it is discovered that a member of the church is the owner of some slum tenements – he immediately weeps and promises to fix all the plumbing. (In fact there is a whole ocean of religious weeping here, the pages are wringing with it. )

But I will give the Rev Sheldon credit for one scene, in which a bunch of working men let the do-gooders know what the real solutions are, as opposed to the weeping, singing and nourishing soup. One guy frankly says that revolutionary socialism is the only way forward, none of this mystical nonsense.

And indeed there is a lot of Christian self-criticism in here :

The bishop was appalled to discover how few of his wealthy friends would really suffer any genuine inconvenience for the sake of humanity.

Well, as a novel this is hopeless, the reverend was no writer, his characters are thin puppets, and he has no idea of a plot, but we can’t complain about that, it’s all about the Big Idea; and I don’t think he worked it out well enough or went as far as he could with it.

File under : curiosities.

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was given to me by a friend, and I think I told her I would read it. Otherwise, it probably would not have taken long for me to put it down. I found it badly written, and I disagree with its central message, namely that the Christian church would be revolutionized if it's members each made an honest pledge to do as Jesus would do. (I may be way off here, but I bet the WWJD movement started with this book.) The problem with this idea is that there is a real danger of subjectivism in doing what Jesus would do in any given situation. What ends up happening is people do what they THINK Jesus would do. If I remember correctly, at least one character says, "I don't think Jesus would do that." For instance, one of the things some of Sheldon's characters concentrate on is the "liquor interests." Besides the fact that alcohol per se is not sinful, the author is concentrating on the symptom, not the disease, which primarily lies within the alcoholic, not the industry. To be fair, the characters do get other things right, like ministering to the poor and outcasts.

The church doesn't need a call to make pledges. If we are Christians, we are already pledged to follow in the steps of Jesus. We need the truth of the gospel to be preached and taught in churches. Then Christians can ask themselves, "Based on what the Bible teaches, what would Jesus have me do?"

[Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you've ever seen anyone wearing a WWJD? (standing for "What would Jesus do?") bracelet, this is the novella that first popularized that question in some Christian circles. First published in 1896, it still challenges readers to a more serious application of Jesus' principles in their daily lives. The idea of asking ourselves that question, when we make decisions about behavior, continues to strike even professed Christian readers as novel and revolutionary. (That this should be the case, of course, is itself a sad commentary on the state of the modern church, and on our general pigheadedness and egoism as a species.)

That points up the issue of the historical context of the novel, coming after a process of some two centuries of gradually increasing loss of interest on the part of many Christians in practical, Monday-through-Saturday applications of biblical principles to daily life, withdrawal from social interest or concern, and reduction of concrete Christian ethics to observation of a few man-made asceticisms and avoidance of a short list of obvious major sins. The book also comes from, or was readily associated with, the late 19th-century "Social Gospel" movement, which was complex and not monolithic, but which basically sought to buck the afore-mentioned trend. Professed Christians who were quite content with that trend found Sheldon's novella threatening; those who saw the whole Social Gospel movement as an embodiment of liberal apostasy instantly dismissed the book as Satan-inspired propaganda from the enemy. Those perceptions still shape some fundamentalist criticism of the book, such as that of Raymond St. John in American Literature For Christian Schools, which I personally find (based on actual reading of the book) to be unfair and unconvincing.

From a theological standpoint, a crucial consideration here is that the book is consciously written for Christian readers. It assumes the Christian gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ's redemption, and gratitude for this as the basis of obedience to God's wishes, and presupposes that the readers likewise assume it; so the focus isn't on convincing unbelievers of these points. Rather, the focus is on convincing professed believers to actually act in accord with their professed beliefs. That accounts for what some critics and reviewers regard (incorrectly, IMO) as a denial by implication of the need for initial Christian conversion, or a promotion of legalistic salvation by works. (This also, of course, tends to limit the book's appeal; a lot of fiction by Christians can engage both believers and nonbelievers, but it's hard to see many of the latter being much interested by the central question here, or feeling that they can relate.) If I would pose a theological criticism, it would be that the practical applications of Christian faith in the novel tend to be too tame, not radical enough. But in the context of 1896 evangelical Protestantism, they at least lay a basis to start with. Some might quibble about Sheldon's total-abstinence stand on alcohol (this was in the era that led up to the imposition of Prohibition); but where you're dealing, as some of his characters are here, in ministry to people who are basically alcoholics, total abstinence IS the only practical approach to advocate.

From a literary standpoint, this is very much a message-driven novel of ideas, and Sheldon succeeds somewhat better at articulating ideas than at creating involving fiction. While his characterizations aren't quite cardboard, I wouldn't call them sharp; dialogue is often devoted to delivering a message, and the book as a whole can have a tract-like quality. I think the author can be placed in the Realist tradition, but he's not one of its first-rank practitioners. That said, I found the message strong and vital enough to make the book worth a read. (Those with lower expectations for fictional quality might give it more stars.)

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What Would Jesus Do?"

Yes, this book is where that phrase comes from. This book is a classic, and the Kindle version is available for free.

4.5 stars

8/10/19: I read In His Steps as a teen. My father was an investor in a bargain bookstore, and I enjoyed purchasing books there. I delighted in the section of Christian fiction, which jived really well with my Grace Livingston Hill fixation. I found several pretty glossy hardcover GLH books. With that same glossy appearance was the book In His Steps, so I no doubt thought it was another Christian romance. It wasn't, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book regardless.

So here I am enjoying it again because my husband bought an Audible copy. Near the beginning, the congregation of a local church is asked what it means to follow the steps of Jesus. The pastor poses a challenge to anyone in his church willing to take it on: don't take any action until first considering what Jesus would do... and then do it. No matter what.

This is quite a challenge. What if God wants you to do more than (or differently than) you want to? The answer, of course, is to do it anyway. He's God, after all. But to commit to ALWAYS obeying Him takes guts.

8/11/19: If a person has a to-do or not-to-do decision to make, determining what Jesus would do is a challenge if both possible decisions are not sins. In that type of situation, one must consider Christ's character as revealed in the stories recounted in the gospels.

8/13/19: The story lines are entertaining enough to get me to keep reading, but is obviously a a moral tale. But I'm okay with that! I avoid nonfiction because I don't want to relax with "nothing but the facts." So if I can be encouraged and/or educated while reading a fiction story, all the better. In fact, my favorite books are Christian historical romances, which enrich me with a bit of history and a bit of Biblical food for thought.

Modern readers might not relate very well to some of choices the characters make based on their perception of what Jesus would do in their shoes. However, this was published in the late 1800s, so if the reader can keep this in mind, it will serve him well. Again, this didn't bother me, because in general, I'm pretty conservative.

8/16/19: I'm at chapter 27 out of 31 chapters. A couple of chapters ago, I thought the book was going to end, but instead it seemed to reboot in a new location with new people. Unless I missed something, (which is possible due to my deafness) I don't think the author transitioned very well. It's a minor complaint, though.

8/18/19: I finished this yesterday, and am really glad I re-read this classic. I'd like to try another by this author, perhaps Born to Serve.

------------------------------------------------
“The greatest question in all of human life is summed up when we ask, 'What would Jesus do?' if, as we ask it, we also try to answer it from a growth in knowledge of Jesus himself. We must know Jesus before we can imitate Him.”

[Cathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1896, In His Steps was probably the catalyst for the 1990s WWJD movement. The book is so much better as the 1990s WWJD was overly merchandised and marketed. The characters in the book sacrificed so much and were truly obedient to the Spirit. They were focused on how WWJD would serve others and not themselves. Let me tell you though, it was like it was written for today! It could be applied to our life in 2021. The book spoke to me personally about my level of sacrifice and obedience. I can see myself in several characters, but I hope I resemble Felicia as she was a shining star to me. I picked this to read because my Grandma said it was her favorite book. It is one I will definitely be rereading.

[Book2Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a young adult and reread about some years ago. It still rings true. Your actions every day show your commitment to live as Jesus lived, as closely as possible. Morally, with empathy, with forgiveness, with Love. Then, when you make the effort, you are a Christian. If you don't want to call yourself by that name, it is a good moral and ethical code to live by.

[Ana Lelis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the idea and concept. I want to try to implement that more in my life. But I didn't like the story much. The beginning was so compelling, but, after a while, it became very dull. I had to drag myself out to finish it. I love the idea but hated the execution.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite verse for several months now has been 1 John 2:6: "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." Charles Sheldon shows in In His Steps what serious attempts to constantly "walk as Jesus did" might look like in real life. It was inspiring to read about what happened in the lives of the characters who agreed to do nothing for a whole year without first asking what Jesus would do in their situation, or how he would do it. I think it would be neat to write a book modeled after In His Steps but to change the setting to the present day, as some of the issues the characters faced in the 1890s are a bit hard to relate to. Nonetheless, Sheldon presented a lot of the timeless struggles of Christian living: How do you spend not just your money (which is relatively easy to give away), but also your time and your talent? How does your faith affect the way you do your tasks at work? How does it affect your relationships? I was especially provoked to thought by Sheldon's ideas on getting involved in politics...though I would do so--am doing so--to fight for peace, freedom, and the Constitution (yay Ron Paul!) instead of for getting rid of saloons, as Sheldon's characters did. : )

[Dan Glover · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a "classic" of Christian social gospel, Finneyesque, religion. From the pretty young woman in the dimly lit tent meetings whose beautiful haunting singing makes hardened alcoholics break down weeping and come forward for an altar call to the crusading church folk whose efforts get local saloons shut down, this is the original WWJD - What Would Jesus Do? But that is the wrong question to ask. The questions disciples of Christ ought to ask are What Did Jesus Do? (in his life, death, resurrection and ascension and ongoing reign) and then What Would Jesus Have Me Do? It is not a legitimate question for a 32 year old house wife and mother of 3 or a 81 year old retired business man or a 7 year old to ask them selves that, if Jesus were in their shoes at this particular moment and faced with their particular circumstance, what he would do. He never was and never will be in their shoes and they never are and never will be in his. He is God's own Son, the Messiah set apart for the mission of the redemption of the world from before the foundation of the earth, the second person of the Trinity, the one who bore the sins of all his people in his body on the cross and then rose again so that the power of sin, death and hell could be broken and the curse ultimately undone as he works through the Church, his Bride, to make all things new. He is, in a word, rather unique. So the proper question to ask is what the Lord of the universe would have us do as his followers, his disciples, his ambassadors and preachers. We are to be imitators of Christ, yes, but that is not truly what the characters in this book are doing. They are turning an immoral town into a moralistic town largely through "seeker" manipulation techniques invented by Charles Finney and other worksy evangelists rather than preaching the gospel and letting the Holy Spirit use the Word of God to convict and regenerate sinners and turn them into disciples. The gospel of Sheldon was too much of the "don't drink, don't chew and don't go with the girls who do".

[Princesskelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must confess that all of my life I have heard the phrase “What Would Jesus Do,” but was rather clueless about where it came from or what it meant. I’ve seen those words while stuck in traffic on quite possibly thousands of bumper stickers over my lifetime, but honestly never understood what the heck “WWJD?” actually meant. It never occurred to me that it stemmed from an amazingly popular book written in the 1800’s, or that it ignited a revolution in the way that people viewed Christianity and society. Waves of embarrassment for my own ignorance washed over me when this book appeared on the syllabus for a graduate school course I am taking this semester as I thought to myself, “Wow, there’s a whole book about this?” Decades of self-inflicted naiveté were about to come to an end.

“In His Steps” was written in 1897 by Charles Sheldon, and quickly catapulted to the top of Bestseller Lists while simultaneously launching a cultural and religious phenomenon. The book examines what the world would be like if everyone paused to ask the question “What Would Jesus Do” before they went about their daily lives, with the goal of following the steps that Jesus might take if he were faced with the same issues and dilemmas. “In His Steps” is a story about the tiny American town of Raymond, where members of the posh First Church undertook a revolutionary pledge that transformed their understanding of Christianity, discipleship, and humanity. Under the leadership of their pastor, Henry Maxwell, the lives of some of the most prominent members of town are turned upside down in their quest to be better Disciples of Christ.

Sheldon craft fully weaves the stories of several compelling characters that grapple with their understanding of what it means to imitate Jesus. First, we meet the creator of the movement, Henry Maxwell, the pastor at First Church. At the beginning of the book, Maxwell emerges as a tightly wound snob who is only interested in his own agenda. After committing to ask the question “What Would Jesus Do,” and following the course of action, Maxwell undergoes what his friends and colleagues call “a crisis of character” that takes him on a spiritual journey to the poorest part of town where he tackles the ills of society: poverty, crime, and drunkenness. On his way, he counsels and guides his congregation as they embark on their own spiritual journey and struggle with the meaning of such a commitment.

With each character, Sheldon unveils a glimpse into how the movers and shakers of society would conduct their business or industry as Jesus might: the media, the artist, the heiress, the playboy, the merchant, the big businessman, the academic, and the wealthy clergy. Sheldon covers almost every facet of industry with intricate characters that are easy to understand. We meet Edward Norman, the wealthy editor of “the News” who tries to run his newspaper as he believes Jesus would. Norman takes some heat for getting rid of the smut and sensationalism in the media, while the reader worries for his suffering and cheers for his success at revolutionizing the media. Sheldon introduces two artists, Rachel Winslow the singer, and Jasper Chase the author. Each artist takes on their own understanding of what Jesus would do with an amazing talent; would he use the gift for monetary gain, or use it for the benefit of mankind? Sheldon shows us the elite of society in Virginia and Rollin Page. Virginia, the heiress, grapples with what Jesus would do with a million dollars, while Rollin, the playboy, questions how Jesus would spend his time if he never had to work.

As each character sets off on their own unique journey, the reader gets a sense of the personal and spiritual transformation that each character experiences. While these characters face minimal suffering as a result of their commitment to take the pledge, Sheldon unfolds an uglier side of the movement through other characters. Alexander Powers, the wealthy and powerful “Superintendent,” thinks his journey begins with the question of how Jesus would treat his employees, but quickly faces an even bigger question: what would Jesus do if he had evidence that illegal activity was going on in his own business? Sheldon shows the reader the amount of suffering Powers faces when he loses his job, his family, and his status in society in his effort to walk with Jesus. It is this kind of suffering that the characters in the book reveal to be the pinnacle of Christian discipleship.

It is truly Sheldon’s ability to create such wonderfully complex yet seemingly generic characters that make this book so fun to read. Sheldon masterfully weaves each character’s individual storyline back into the main plot of the story, reminding the reader that are own lives are often entangled with the people we see every day but never truly know well enough to form a bond or common identity with. Sheldon is a dynamic storyteller who doesn’t fail to spice the story up with romance, suspense, drama, crime, or emotion; traits you wouldn’t expect in a religious book written in the 1800’s. Sheldon entices the reader to keep turning the page with well-placed cliffhangers and vivid foreshadowing as to what might happen next.

Ironically, Sheldon’s biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. He takes such care in crafting such amazing characters in the first eight chapters of the book, only to completely abandon them for the last three. For the last few chapters of the book, Sheldon moves his story to the big city of Chicago where a new cast of characters emerge with the resolve to take the pledge. While these characters are certainly lovely and reveal compelling stories, they seem very rushed and lack the same attention to detail that the earlier characters have. It’s almost like Sheldon “got stuck” and didn’t know how to wrap up the book without completely changing things up and taking on “the big city” or “insider” perspective.

I really enjoyed “In His Steps,” and am so glad that I finally understand what all those bumper stickers mean! I am truly stunned at the worldwide audience that has embraced this book written over a century ago. It’s rare to find anything that people are still talking about a century later; much less one that still inspires people to put a sticker on their car or buy a t-shirt bearing the words. While this book does not provide the answers for living a better life, it does make you stop and think about how the world would look if everyone took a minute to live more morally and ethically. If you’re looking for the answers to deep Christian questions, you will not find them in this book. However, what you will find is a great little book with some really fun characters traveling on a spiritual transformation that causes them to open their eyes to society, which compels them to burst out of their bubbles and do something better for the world instead of themselves.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book.

Is it dated? Yes.

Would it fail a writing class today? Probably.

However, it is a story that doesn't make any pretense. It sets out to be a simple story to get Christians to think. It begs the reader to examine their own life and ask if they are living with "What Would Jesus Do" in mind.

It is an imperfect book, that asks the reader to ask with our Perfect Saviour might be asking of them.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Colleen Fauchelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was ok, I did find it took me a long time to read, it wasn't a hard read it just seemed a long read.
The lesson and challenge at the forefront of the story was the thing that got me and will keep me thinking about for the rest of my life and that is : What Would Jesus Do? to ask that question in every part of your life, for everything I have belongs to God and really I should be sharing that with those around me. There is a cost in following Jesus and that is I need to die to self daily.
This book should make us uncomfortable and challenge our thinking and change our daily choices.

[Joshua M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just reread this classic for the third time, and just as always it shook up my view of christianity. It is a novel about a pastor that challenges his church not to do anything without first asking "What would Jesus do?" As each of the doctors, buisnessman, authors, newspapaer editors, etc... do this very thing, it begins to shake up not only their lives but the enviroment of the town in which they live. Ultimately, the movement begins to spread to other cities and states. I wonder what would happen to this country if all of us that claim to be christians, would start acting as Jesus would act?

[Angela R. Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars for how much I enjoyed it as a novel, 4 stars for the great lessons.

Overall, it was thought-provoking, moving (not in the ways it *should have been* moving, always? I probably should have *felt* more often than I did... but I didn't really connect with anyone, ever), and a great read for any Christian. Christians in America could really use the lessons and themes in this novel.

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 2 out of 5]

"In His Steps" is an immensely important book in terms of Christian literature in North America. The novel, published in 1896, has sold 30 million copies and its repetitive exhortation, "What would Jesus do?" continues to be a popular phrase today.

The novel concerns Henry Maxwell, a small town pastor who, affected by a vagabond's death, challenges his church to commit before every action to think "What would Jesus do?" as a way to further their own discipleship. Charles Sheldon spends the first 2/3 of the novel detailing how this challenge plays out in the town of Raymond among its citizens before shifting focus to Chicago where Dr. Bruce and the Bishop adopt Maxwell's challenge and work among the poor. The idea of helping the poor and drunkards and working towards social reform is repeated throughout "In His Steps." The novel's positives are that it demonstrates how the call to live as a disciple will be costly (for instance, a newspaper executive sees his readership fall drastically and a talented singer gives up her chance at stardom to serve the poor) and much of its exhortation and criticism of "nominal Christianity" is as true today as it was in 1896.

"In His Steps" reminds me somewhat of "The Shack" in that it is incredibly sentimental and full of fluff. Here is a sample sentence:

"A deep wave of spiritual baptism broke over the meeting near its close that was indescribable in its tender, joyful, sympathetic results."

This novel taught me all the bad traits to avoid in writing a story dealing with religion. Sheldon keeps TELLING the reader things outright (except the nitty-gritty of sin - much is made of saloons but there is no real mention of prostitution), especially when supernatural things happen. There is no subtlety, he just hits you over the head ("When they finally adjourned after a silent prayer that marked with growing power the Divine Presence, they went away discussing earnestly their difficulties and seeking light from one another.").

As well, there is little qualification or discourse made about how to really KNOW what God is calling believers to. There is some consultation among the characters which IS good, but Sheldon seems to have written out of a sense of clear-cut right and wrong. For example, alcohol is entirely abhorred and the Christians in Raymond petition the public to vote for closing the saloons down because of drunkenness but alcohol is not in and of itself evil. In fact, alcohol may have been more hygienic to consume in the 1890s in some places than water because it killed off bacteria that still lingered in water. Could Rachel Winslow, the talented singer, have been obedient to Jesus if she had performed in renowned operas? Could she not have influenced more people (think of celebrity culture these days)?

Additionally, character development is awful. We are introduced to too many characters (even the transition from Raymond to Chicago is annoying) and their subplots are episodic (once their personal conflict is resolved, we don't really hear from them again until the very end when Maxwell has a Revelation-style vision of the future).

[C · Rating 1 out of 5]

it's about a pastor who challenges his congregation to take a pledge to ask "what would Jesus do?" before every decision they make, then follow through regardless of the consequences.

to me, the book was a little too preachy and unrealistic. i felt the choices the characters were making, for the most part, were extreme. there was also a lot of talk amongst the characters about suffering, and bearing the burden of the cross. almost like the author was telling us that unless we are suffering we are not being as christian as we should be, or aren't dedicated enough to emulating Christ.

i don't think Jesus has asked us to choose as if we were Him living in His circumstances. i do however know He has asked us to learn His gospel and the principles He taught, then make our choices applying those principles, striving to be like Him, and working towards aligning our will with our Heavenly Father's.

i also don't think suffering and following Jesus go hand in hand. i think we should be willing to sacrifice. sometimes sacrifice is necessary, and sometimes it's harder than others. but i think there is more joy, than suffering, in following the Savior and serving one another.

there were a couple things i did like about the book. through the course of the story you hear about four different church congregations who are affected by this proposition. at least three of them were of different religions, yet they worked together for a common goal. i think it's important for us to remember that we can interact and work together with others who may not believe everything we believe, and still accomplish a lot of great things.

one of the main characters was a girl who sang, very well. her story intertwined with almost every other character, even if it was just that someone heard her sing. during book club we discussed how powerful music is. it crosses boundaries, such as language barriers, economic classes, or cultural differences, and can influence us all.

overall, i didn't love the book. but i thought many times while reading that it would make for great discussion. and when we got together, it did just that. another great book club!

[Aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and thought provoking read, though I'm not sure I agree with its definition of Christian discipleship.

As a Latter-day Saint, I believe the family is central to the plan God has for us on earth. I believe we are expected to follow Christ, while raising our families as best we can. This means our day-to-day lives are filled with nurturing our children and providing for their physical and spiritual needs, rather than devoted to humanitarian aid. (Though, I'd argue that caring for children could certainly be characterized as "clothing the naked and feeding the hungry.") There really aren't any good examples of families, as a whole, following Christ in this book and I found that frustrating.

Another thread in the book is the necessity to "suffer" for Christ. I'm not certain that the suffering should be the focus. Sacrifice is certainly a part of discipleship, but so is happiness and joy. Adam fell that men might be and men are that they might have joy. (2 Nephi 2:25)

[Kelsey Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be very impactful if you read it with the same question burning in your mind that propels its plot: What would Jesus do in my situation?

Of course, many things have changed since In His Steps was written, but many other things haven't. Social ills and expectations are slightly different, but just like the characters realized, following Jesus as a true disciple never changes. We must ask this question of ourselves, listen to the Holy Spirit's guidance and study the Bible for an answer to each situation, and live out His leading as best we can. The humility and sincerity expressed in this book kept it from feeling "preachy" or dry to me. The heart of the author shines through.

It isn't a literary masterpiece---the characters are flat and the writing is mediocre---but its message is one to take to heart for every believer who wants to be a disciple of Christ.

[Deanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many years ago as a complacent Christian and self-centered college kid. The concept behind this story rocked my very identity and largely shaped who I tried to become as an adult. I listened to it again this Christmas for nostalgia's sake. And while I now find it quaint and rather bland as a novel, the message is still just as poignant to me.

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderfully well written book. It changed my walk with the Lord, it made me question if I was doing enough, if I was actually walking in His steps like He would want me to. I also love the fact that it is partially a true story. The characters are also very well developed. Overall, it was an excellent book.

[Arianna S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

¡Retador!
De lo más importante que pude aprender y recordar, esta es una: si queremos andar como El anduvo, debemos conocer ese andar, conocerle a Él.

Seguir a Jesús no es tan simple como parece, pero no hay mayor privilegio ni bendición.

[R.J. Gilbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to say I was disappointed with this book for several reasons, not the least of which is because this book is one of the foundations on which “modern American” Christianity is based. I will admit that there are several conversations between characters that still hit the mark as far as a person’s personal, spiritual walk, but all in all I felt more ostracized than inspired by the progression of the plot.

I often talk of Christians putting on the “wrong armor”, and it seems this book exhibits a great example of the first three pieces. First: supposedly several hundred members of these churches made the WWJD pledge, but the book only focusses on the endeavors of a few wealthy and influential individuals. This is clearly the “Belt of Bigger Purpose”, which focusses on the exploits of the champions and kings while filtering out the idea that God might have something to say to the rest of us. Not all of us can be wealthy newspaper owners or successful singers, so where in this novel is there inspiration and encouragement for the rest of us? Am I supposed to just assume that my role in Christianity is to be like the poor, reformed alcoholic whose only struggle for the rest of his life is to pray for deliverance from the saloon? Is it only my pastor and his few, wealthy friends who are the players in the game—and my only role is to show up on Sunday and tithe? Or do I need to somehow wrestle my way into a position of power so I can then do what Jesus would do with my ill-gotten wealth and influence?

Second, the smoothness in which the characters succeed at their endeavors sickens me. This story was written more than a hundred years ago, but I can still smell the televangelism promising easy success if we just “pray hard enough”. I can tell you from personal experience, there is no millionaire heiress ready to step in and fund my efforts to write what Jesus would want me to write. This is the “Breastplate of Breakable promises”, and like the Stormtroopers from Return of the Jedi, those who wear this armor are no match for teddy-bears throwing rocks and sticks—which is to say, this book is great for those who want to feel “inspired”, but those promises of a happy ending are worthless to those who are really in the thick of battle.

Third, this book makes it far too easy to put on the “Helmet of Self-Righteousness”. According to the author, the only real evils in the world are money and liquor. In fact, it seems, alcohol in all of its forms is purely evil. Money is only good if it is used to combat alcohol. Is this the origin of the eye-hole-lacking bucket-of-a-helmet that modern Christians don so they can see nothing beyond their own, finite cause and their own, limited definitions of justice and righteousness? Where is the deeper understanding of human nature? If I were to ask myself “What would Jesus do?”, would I really think Jesus would identify good and evil based on modern social, economic, and political issues? Wouldn’t Jesus look deeper, understand us to our very souls, and address the real issues instead of the saloon on the corner and the evils of industrialization?

I’m not down on this book because it is behind the times. Human nature is still human nature, whether displayed by those who ride in carriages and communicate by telegraph or those who live in modern times with all of our technology. But I can trace many of the corruptions I find within “modern” Christianity to the ideas put forward by this book, and for that I cannot help but wonder whether the author now regrets having written it merely to “fill his pews.”

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

An evangelical Protestant classic whose time has come and gone and which ought to be relegated to the dusty shelves of theological history, I read this out of curiosity. I had received a copy as a confirmation gift when I was eleven-years-old (circa 1964). Originally published in 1896 (per Wikipedia), it was surely outdated even at that time. My only memory of that original reading was a general sense of "meh."

After reading it as an adult, my impression is much stronger -- and worse. I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to EXCEPT students of American religious history. In that sense, it is an excellent portrait of the religious fervor that ultimately led to Prohibition. There are multiple references to "demon rum" and plot lines that highlight the moral collapse brought about by saloons in working class neighborhoods and the responsibility of the educated classes to oppose them. (Yes, I know how patronizing that sounds, but believe me when I say I have softened the classist rhetoric for the modern reader.)

As might be expected in a book published in the 19th century, complex issues such as alcoholism (the modern term for those who succumb to the seduction of "demon rum") are framed exclusively in moral terms and spiritual power alone (well, and the timely intervention of good Christians) is required to defeat them. (And I say this with no disrespect to the spiritual power necessary to defeat addiction -- I am aware that the first step in 12 step programs refers to a higher power.) However, the general tone and tenor of this book is so old-fashioned that it became meaningful for me only when viewed in historical perspective.

If you are looking for a book to inspire you as a Christian and/or a person interested in positive social change, there are SURELY better books out there! Though I was amazed to see that sales of this book are still brisk on Amazon and many, many Goodreads reviewers are far kinder than I am regarding the current readability and value of this book. So, in the words of one of my favorite YouTube personalities, "It's just a thought."

[Elliott · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book's message is far more important than the work itself. It is the latter then that I am critiquing, not the former. As a piece of fiction, it is disillusioning to read. 'What Would Jesus do?" is the central question that all the characters have tasked themselves to asking and to make a comparison to their own actions-inspired by their pastor's words, and the words of a wandering tramp. Why this is disillusioning is that none of the characters really ever act as Jesus would act. Obviously none can turn water into wine, or feed a thousand, but all the deeds are mere half examples-great stretches to those individuals perhaps, but they do not significantly impair their own economic status. No one forsakes a life of plenty to devote themselves completely to healing the sick, or alleviating the misery of the poor-as Jesus would do, and did for that matter. They involve themselves politically to destroy a saloon, and open a break room to give lectures to workers on how to better spend their free-time and money. Considering that Jesus was ambivalent to traditional and local politics, and did not engage in any capital investing, or factory labor it's hard to create a workable analogy from this novel. The dialogue itself is rather clunky and reads as a melodrama more than anything. A novel that urges its readers to do as Christ without making any real sacrifice.

[Jesseca Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the younger version of "In His Steps" when I was younger, but I had never read the adult version. Well, this year it was required for my English literature course, so of course I read it.
Wow.
I was not expecting to enjoy it half as much as I did. The story really brought the question "what would Jesus do" to life. It made me stop and think. What would I do differently, if, before I did anything, I asked "What would Jesus do?".
It was kinda hard to connect with the characters, primarily because they all seemed to have a lot of money they could pour into their work, but it was a book that made me stop and think none the less and definitely one I would recommend!

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again a famous read that many love. This is a pretty good book, I found it a little heavy on the legalism. I read many Christian books where in discussing Grace the writer seems to be afraid that the reader might take the proclaimation of complete grace (That we find in the Bible) for license so the "moderate" it. That happens a little here. Still, read, enjoy...understand the works we do don't earn us a place with Christ. They flow from that relationship.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I stumbled across this title while looking through my library's audiobook collection. Immediately it brought to mind the 1970s book cover my mom had on her shelf which, naturally, made me nostalgic. I decided to give it a listen and within moments it felt like a comfort read as you know I am fond of pointed tales of extreme 19th century morality and doctrine. I felt like Anne of Green Gables reading the stories from my Sunday school serial.

[Charity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished listening to this as a book on tape. Excellent story, curious narrative style, sometimes a bit formulaic and meandering in its thought threads, but the message is a good one intended to challenge readers to take up the mantle of responsibility for interacting with others in godly compassion. Worth reading.