In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon
**In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon: Concept Overview**
"In His Steps" is a Christian novel by Charles Monroe Sheldon that explores the implications of true discipleship through the lives of a group of people in the fictional town of Raymond. The narrative begins with Reverend Henry Maxwell, who, after an encounter with a destitute man named Jack Manning, is prompted to challenge his congregation to consider what it truly means to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. This challenge manifests as a pledge to ask the question, "What would Jesus do?" before making decisions, leading to significant transformations in the community.
The story follows various characters, including Rachel Winslow, who sacrifices her singing career to aid the needy, and Edward Norman, who decides to alter his newspaper’s practices despite financial loss. Their collective actions, although met with challenges and setbacks, spark a movement of social reform and accountability, emphasizing themes of sacrifice, self-denial, and the importance of serving others. The characters' commitment to this pledge illustrates a broader call for Christians to engage in social action, reflect on their privileges, and strive to uplift those in need. The novel ultimately seeks to redefine Christian discipleship through personal and communal responsibility, aiming to inspire readers to contemplate their own lives in relation to the teachings of Jesus.
In His Steps by Charles Monroe Sheldon
First published: 1897
Edition(s) used:In His Steps. Ulrichsville, Ohio: Barbour, 2005
Genre(s): Novel
Subgenre(s): Evangelical fiction; guidebook; handbook for living
Core issue(s): Conscience; daily living; discipleship; Jesus Christ; service; social action
Principal characters
The Reverend Henry Maxwell , leader of the First Church of RaymondJack Manning , an unemployed printerRachel Winslow , a gifted singerVirginia Page , a wealthy heiressRollin Page , Virginia’s brotherMr. Gray , andMrs. Gray , evangelists working in the Rectangle DistrictLoreen , an alcoholic befriended by Virginia PageEdward Norman , proprietor of the local newspaperAlexander Powers , a railroad superintendentDonald Marsh , president of Lincoln CollegeJasper Chase , a novelistThe Reverend Calvin Bruce , leader of the Nazareth Avenue Church, ChicagoFelicia Sterling , Rachel Winslow’s cousin and daughter of Charles SterlingCharles R. Sterling , a prominent investorBishop Edward , a close friend of Bruce
Overview
While preparing a sermon based on 1 Peter 2:21, the Reverend Henry Maxwell is interrupted by a tramp knocking at his door, requesting assistance in finding employment. The minister apologetically turns him away. Two days later, Maxwell delivers his sermon to the First Church of Raymond, and at its conclusion, the same tramp unexpectedly appears and addresses the congregation. This man, Jack Manning, relates how he lost his job as a printer and that his wife has recently died. He boldly questions Maxwell’s sermon on Christian discipleship by asking what it means to follow in the steps of Christ. Manning’s speech concludes when he faints and collapses in the aisle. Maxwell takes the tramp to his home to convalesce, but Manning dies a week later.
This experience effects a great change in Maxwell. He realizes that Christian disciples should be willing to sacrifice and consecrate their lives. He invites members of his congregation to take a pledge for one year to ask the question, What would Jesus do? when facing every decision in their individual lives. In His Steps depicts how those who choose to accept this invitation not only influence the community of Raymond but also begin a movement that will spread throughout the entire country.
Among that initial group of nearly fifty souls in Raymond who take the pledge is Rachel Winslow, a gifted singer who chooses to forgo a promising career in order to consecrate her talent to God. In addition to singing in the First Church of Raymond, she volunteers to help Mr. and Mrs. Gray with tent revival meetings in the decayed Rectangle District, and her music touches the hearts of those affected by life in the slums and saloons; in the process, she helps bring souls to Christ.
After taking the pledge, the owner of Raymond’s daily newspaper, Edward Norman, decides not to publish on Sundays and omits certain news items (such as prizefights). Such actions lead to losses in advertising revenue; however, the wealthy heiress Virginia Page, who also has taken the pledge to do as Jesus would do, donates $500,000 to fund Norman’s visionary venture to create a Christian daily.
This small but prominent group of dedicated Christian disciples begins to engage in local politics. Led by Donald Marsh, president of Lincoln College, they organize a campaign to drive out the saloons from their community. Notwithstanding their valiant civic efforts, the saloon owners emerge victorious. Nevertheless, Maxwell and his fellow disciples vow to continue their quest to eliminate saloons in Raymond. After the tragic death of the alcoholic Loreen in the Rectangle, Virginia Page plans to use $450,000 toward building special housing in the Rectangle for impoverished women.
Virginia’s brother, Rollin Page, also has inherited enormous wealth, but he enjoys spending much of his carefree existence in men’s social clubs. After a conversion experience at a tent meeting in the Rectangle that includes Winslow’s angelic singing, Rollin forsakes his social-club life and begins a personal ministry directed toward reaching other affluent yet wayward young gentlemen.
When railroad superintendent Alexander Powers learns that his company has violated commerce laws, he faces an ethical dilemma. After considering his pledge to do as Jesus would, Powers resigns from his position and submits evidence of the railroad’s violations to government officials. Most characters in the story, like Powers, show the sacrifice that comes with claiming discipleship, but Jasper Chase is an exception. Although Chase took the pledge and ponders the question, he opts not to sacrifice his desire for fame and recognition. Instead, Chase produces novels that will simply entertain his readers and sell books. Consequently, Chase exemplifies a man who chooses to deny his Lord.
After visiting Raymond and being impressed with the dedication of this band of Christian disciples, the Reverend Calvin Bruce returns to the Nazareth Avenue Church in Chicago and presents a similar invitation to his congregation. Felicia Sterling, the nineteen-year-old cousin of Winslow, takes the pledge with nearly one hundred other souls. Later that same Sunday evening, her father, Charles R. Sterling, commits suicide; certain investments had led to his financial ruin. Shocked by the sudden news of his suicide, Felicia’s invalid mother, Mrs. Camilla Sterling, also dies that night. Having lost their parents and lacking financial support, Felicia and her sister, Rose, leave Chicago and move to Raymond to live with the Winslows. Still committed to her pledge, Felicia finds joy in learning to work and soon consecrates her cooking talents to feeding the needy in the Rectangle.
In their efforts to imitate Jesus, Bruce and his friend Bishop Edward both resign their salaried clerical positions and jointly establish the Settlement House in the most impoverished, decayed area of Chicago. There both men work together training people for employment and feeding the hungry. Eventually, Felicia returns to Chicago and opens a bakery in the same neighborhood.
Maxwell visits Chicago and the Settlement House, where he delivers a sermon on how the world could be revolutionized by people who patterned their conduct after that of Jesus. According to Maxwell, society’s primary ailment is selfishness. After his sermon, many freely promise to imitate Jesus. Later that evening, as he kneels in prayer, Maxwell experiences a waking vision of the potential global impact of Christian disciples who are willing to consecrate their lives and endure suffering as a result of following in the steps of Jesus.
Christian Themes
Although not the first to pose such a question, Charles Monroe Sheldon certainly deserves credit for popularizing the query, What would Jesus do? Each individual in Sheldon’s story who accepts the pledge is allowed freedom to act according to his or her conscience and as directed by the Holy Spirit. In their quest for divine guidance, the characters frequently pray.
In His Steps emphasizes a need to redefine Christian discipleship. Maxwell’s congregation comprises those in Raymond who are affluent and comfortable. His invitation to follow Jesus challenges them to consider living less selfishly. Living by the pledge serves as an essential test of discipleship. Ultimately, sacrifice, self-denial, and suffering are essential to following in steps of Jesus.
Furthermore, these new Christian disciples face accountability regarding their positions, wealth, and talents. When consecrating all that they have to the service of God, they seek to utilize their resources by sharing them with their neighbors and to bless those in need. Hence, the characters consider themselves connected with the early Disciples of the ancient Christian church who consecrated their lives to living like Christ, including having all things in common (Acts 2:44). This keen sense of accountability leads Maxwell and others to social action and reform efforts in their communities. In addition to their motivation to act as Jesus would, these new Christian disciples perceive a divine nature and the worth of the immortal soul in every human being regardless of external appearance, behavior, position, or class status.
Sources for Further Study
Callahan, James. “Looking for a Jesus to Follow.” Christian Scholar’s Review 30, no. 3 (2001): 265-288. Considers imitation spirituality by comparing Sheldon’s In His Steps with Thomas à Kempis’s Imitatio Christi (c. 1427; The Imitation of Christ, c. 1460-1530).
Mariz, George. “Towards a Socio-Historical Understanding of the Clerical-Utopian Novel.” Journal of the Society for Utopian Studies 14, no. 1 (2003): 51-73. Mariz claims that, like other clerical-utopian novels, In His Steps belongs in this genre because it includes a moral vision and promotes social reform.
Miller, Timothy. Following in His Steps: A Biography of Charles M. Sheldon. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1987. Provides detailed contextual information on the writing of In His Steps and its printing history.