I accepted a challenge recently to read a classic from the Christian inspiration genre. In my youth, my aunt recommended Charles Sheldon’s book In His Steps.
Charles Sheldon’s In His Steps is more than just a novel—it is a challenge. First published in 1896, this story of a small-town church pledging to live by the question “What would Jesus do?” remains as convicting today as it was over a century ago. We have a tendency to compartmentalize our Christianity into Sunday services and personal morality but Sheldon’s book calls for a faith that transforms every aspect of life. But how does this message translate to our cultural moment?
A Call to Costly Discipleship
At the heart of In His Steps is the radical idea that following Jesus means living as He lived, making decisions based on His example, no matter the cost. It’s an invitation to a life of self-denial, service, and justice—one that aligns with Jesus’ own words:
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23, ESV)
This theme of the book resonates deeply with the biblical call to discipleship.
Sheldon’s characters—businessmen, journalists, clergy, and laborers—struggle with embodying Christ’s example in their daily decisions. Their struggles reflect our own: how do we follow Jesus in a consumerism, self-promotion, and comfort-seeking culture?
Countercultural Christianity
Living as Jesus lived is disruptive. It challenges the status quo. Sheldon’s story exposes how often we align our lives with societal norms rather than Christ’s kingdom. NT Wright puts it bluntly:
“When human beings give their heartfelt allegiance to and worship that which is not God, they progressively cease to reflect the image of God. One of the primary laws of human life is that you become like what you worship; what’s more, you reflect what you worship not only to the object itself but also outward to the world around. Those who worship money increasingly define themselves in terms of it and increasingly treat other people as creditors, debtors, partners, or customers rather than as human beings. Those who worship sex define themselves in terms of it (their preferences, their practices, their past histories) and increasingly treat other people as actual or potential sex objects. Those who worship power define themselves in terms of it and treat other people as either collaborators, competitors, or pawns. These and many other forms of idolatry combine in a thousand ways, all of them damaging to the image-bearing quality of the people concerned and of those whose lives they touch.” (NT Wright, Surprised by Hope)
This tension is where true discipleship begins. The characters in In His Steps are imperfect, but they step forward in faith, working out their spiritual transformation in their daily lives.
NT Wright again,
“Our task as image-bearing, God-loving, Christ-shaped, Spirit-filled Christians, following Christ and shaping our world, is to announce redemption to a world that has discovered its fallenness, to announce healing to a world that has discovered its brokenness, to proclaim love and trust to a world that knows only exploitation, fear and suspicion.” (The Challenge of Jesus)
We, too, are called to reflect the reality of Christ’s lordship—not just in our personal lives, but in our communities, workplaces, and culture.
Justice and the Kingdom of God
A striking aspect of Sheldon’s novel is its concern for the marginalized. The characters face hard questions about poverty, labor rights, and the responsibilities of wealth. In many ways, the book foreshadows contemporary conversations about biblical justice. Tim Keller reminds us that Christianity cannot be separated from social responsibility:
“If a person has grasped the meaning of God’s grace in his heart, he will do justice. If he doesn’t live justly, then he may say with his lips that he is grateful for God’s grace, but in his heart he is far from him. If he doesn’t care about the poor, it reveals that at best he doesn’t understand the grace he has experienced, and at worst he has not really encountered the saving mercy of God. Grace should make you just.” (Tim Keller, Generous Justice)
Following Jesus means advocating for the weak, speaking truth to power, and loving those society overlooks. Phylicia Masonheimer echoes this when she writes:
The outworking of the Christian life doesn’t happen on a stage or in a spotlight. It happens with the least of these – the ones who can’t give back, who take up the time, who are inconvenient and hard to love. And if Christianity isn’t worked out in timeless truth and visible grace toward *them*, what kind of Christianity is it, really? (Phylicia Masonheimer, Facebook quote)
Whole-Bible Connections: Following Jesus from Genesis to Revelation
Sheldon’s challenge—What would Jesus do?—is not a New Testament innovation. The call to walk in God’s ways is woven throughout Scripture. From God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17:1) to Micah’s call to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly” (Micah 6:8) to Paul’s exhortation to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10), the Bible presents discipleship as a whole-life transformation.
John Piper puts it this way:
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” (John Piper, Desiring God)
To follow Jesus is not merely to mimic His actions but to desire Him above all else—to be so deeply satisfied in Him that our lives overflow with His love and justice.
Conclusion: A Challenge for Today
The question “What would Jesus do?” is not a trendy slogan; it is an invitation to surrender, to be shaped by His example, and to seek His kingdom first. Madeleine L’Engle captures this beautifully:
“We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe but by showing them a light so lovely that they long with all their hearts to know the source of it.” (Walking on Water, 1980)
Sheldon’s novel reminds us that following Jesus is not about easy answers but faithful obedience. In an age of division, distraction, and disillusionment, the call remains: Will we walk in His steps?
If you are intrigued, read Sheldon’s book! Consider what Jesus would have you to do with the message.
