In His Steps is a Christian novel written by a pastor named Charles Sheldon. He wrote it, one chapter a week, and preached it to his congregation. The message was simple and clear. The message was Biblically grounded. The message was pertinent. What he was trying to say is this – in life, no matter what we do and when we do it, whatever our motives and intentions are, we must always do only as Christ would, to live only as He lived, to obey the Word of God and His example in every part of life, in every sense of the word “obey”.
In all its simplicity, the message said clearly, “What would Jesus do?”, and “Will you do it?”
Raymond is a fictional city in the United States, where this tale begins. It represents the sinful state of man, of the gap between rich and poor, and of the lukewarm and money-loaded state of the church today.
Maxwell was the pastor of Raymond’s first church, the First Church of Raymond. He saw the city as his parish. He held some parts of it in fear and dislike, like the Rectangle, a section of Raymond filled with sin, drunkenness, and vice. His congregation was mainly made up of rich, wealthy, comfortable, and sophisticated people that pretty much conformed to society’s expectations. He was himself a “sensational” pastor, a good preacher, a good orator, etc., that is, until he was confronted with the fact that a Christian must do as Christ Himself did.
And who should confront him but Jack Manning, a shabby stranger not native to Raymond. He was poor and jobless. He also had a heart problem. He could not reconcile the fact that the uncaring church, which was no different from the world, could claim to live in Christ and yet neglect the poor, suffering, and needy, and think only of they themselves. He sought to try and find the answer to his question. In his sickness he confronted the church in Raymond, humbly seeking for an answer. He soon died.
Maxwell was confronted. And he listened to God. He asked his church to make a pledge: that at least for one year they would only do as Jesus would do. One of those who took the pledge was Edward Norman, editor of the Daily News, the city’s most important and prosperous daily paper. He was a member of the First Church. He saw the people of the town as his customers, as a way to make money. He wanted to please people and sell newspapers, that is, until he was confronted with the fact that a Christian must do as Christ Himself did, and that a Christian cannot do as Christ would not do. He started to obey God’s Word in regard to printing unwholesome news, publishing liquor and other questionable advertisements, and looking at politics from God’s perspective. Though he lost money, he stuck fast to Biblical principles and God soon used him to spread wholesome and truthful messages in the newspaper, even though many in the public did not like it.
Many others took the pledge that day in Raymond’s First Church, among them an heiress, a writer, a businessman, a professor, and even an opera-singer-to-be. They soon became real Disciples of Christ, making a difference in the spiritual atmosphere of the town, even in the Rectangle. They soon became a witness and soon influenced others, not just in Raymond, but in many other cities. The movement spread and continued to spread. Along the way, they learnt more of the cost of discipleship, more of the grace and love of God. Many had to sacrifice. Many had to leave what was precious and important to them. And those who did follow Christ to the end, ultimately, for them, glory is laid up.
The plot of this story and its characters may seem a little stereotypical. By now the phrase, “What would Jesus do,” has almost become trite. Christians can hang the “WWJD” sign as bumper stickers, key chain ornaments, or pretty framed pictures, and even play the “What Would Jesus Do Board Game (it does exist, though I am not judging anybody. I think its wholesome), and yet still not know, truly and experientially, what, indeed, is Christian discipleship, what indeed is following Christ, and doing as He is doing, has done, and will continue to do.
However the message is clear and pertinent, though many through in the church seem to have repeated it in different ways throughout church history. The commands of Christ are still as relevant today as it was a thousand years ago. God has not changed, then why have His people changed?
This story has its weaknesses, but you must understand it was not written by a novelist or an author trying to make the “bestseller list” and earn royalty. Sheldon earned almost nothing. He was simply a pastor preaching a message. Yes, some of the characters are underdeveloped. Yes, some of them seem to be stereotyped. Yes, the plot may be a little bit predictable. Yes, I may not agree with every single character’s interpretation of Christ’s commands. Humanly it is imperfect and may not be a completely accurate view of the workings of God, who works in sundry and diverse ways in sundry and diverse times in sundry and diverse persons - but the message is clear and the message is here. What are we going to do about it? What would Jesus do today?
The normal Christian life (I couldn't find the book cover so I put the audio one. I read the book)Dead to sin, alive to God. That is the message of this book. Very very good and helped me understand justification and sanctifition. Puts them both very clearly. To know Christ's work is most important for any Disciple of Christ. Warning: None
