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jenniferstringer's review against another edition
Book club pick. Not my cup of tea, but sort of interesting from a historical perspective.
bettywoj's review against another edition
5.0
Thought Provoking
Excellent book. It’s a challenge to live more like Jesus. People took a challenge to make decisions based on What Would Jesus Do? Got me thinking - a lot. DAMAGES I willing to do this?
Excellent book. It’s a challenge to live more like Jesus. People took a challenge to make decisions based on What Would Jesus Do? Got me thinking - a lot. DAMAGES I willing to do this?
lgpiper's review against another edition
4.0
I carried a lot of baggage into this book, but perhaps I'll defer that for later on. I ended up liking it fairly well.
The book arose from a series of sermons or "stories" Rev. Charles Sheldon told to his parishioners. He was pastor of a Congregational church in Topeka, Kansas, some 120 or so years ago. The weekly stories became quite popular and his church was bulging by the time he finished up.
The hook in the stories was about a preacher who decided that before he did anything, he should ask himself what Jesus would do in a given situation. He then invited those of his congregation, who were willing, to try a test. For one year they would try not do anything without first asking themselves what Jesus would do in a given situation, and then do that thing. One church member who signed up was a newspaper editor, so he set about changing his paper to a "Christian" paper. No more ads for liquor and tobacco, and no more idle society gossip or stories about prize fights. Another member was a beautiful young woman who sang rather stunningly. Rather than go on tour with a musical group and become rich and famous, she decided to sing at a local tent meeting, to draw in fallen souls for salvation, and to give lessons to poor people who wouldn't be able to afford lessons for themselves. A local merchant realized that he should, among other things, treat his staff as partners, not servants. And so it went with others. Some people suffered financially after their decisions, but they all felt more spiritually fulfilled, and also felt a greater sense of community and belonging with their fellow church members.
The movement spread to Chicago, where some local, well-off clergy resigned their fancy positions and set up a settlement house for less-well off people, a place where people could live decently and also become better educated so as to get jobs to support themselves. A young woman with a flair for cooking gave classes to the young women so that they'd be able to get jobs as domestics in local households. And so forth.
The movement also spawned political action. It seems that folks back in olden times believed that the major block to people's living a good life was the temptation put in front of them by the "liquor interests". Just get rid of the saloons, and people would no longer fall into sin and degradation. Something like that. When it came out, the book helped spawn a movement of Christian social action. It wasn't just about closing down the saloons, but also about feeding the hungry and caring for the sick. That stuff one reads about in Matthew 25, unless one is a modern American White Evangelical, in which case Matt. 25 has been purged from the Good Book, or at least re-interpreted out of all recognition.
So, this book really does have a good point. Those of us who aspire to live as Christians probably would be well advised to ask ourselves what Jesus would do in certain situations. Would Jesus take music lessons so as better to praise Him on Sundays and also attract new members by dint of having less dreary services, or would that money be better spent stocking the food pantry? Would Jesus work on defense-department projects so long as they were related to actual defense and not to creating ever more deadly offensive weapons, (although some would argue that the best defense is a good offense), or would one be better advised to take on more mundane work so as to avoid potential conflicts with one's conscience? Would Jesus invest his 401K in stocks in companies that invested in the Southeast Asian fishing industry where most of the workers are defacto slaves, or would he just not have a 401K and hope he died before he got too old to work? Would Jesus engage in social action and thereby try to better the lives of all, or would he be more likely not to draw people outside their comfort zones? And so forth.
But then we get to the baggage. First the more fun baggage. When I read "Topeka, Kansas", the first thing I thought about was Fred Phelps, a preacher who decided that the only thing Jesus would do is "hate fags", and hate them very publicly. That's not even remotely my idea of a Christian approach to living. I also remembered that my current Congregational church used to have a Rev. Sheldon, who was rather a polarizing figure. That was well before my time, but some 50 years after Rev. Sheldon left, some of the scars are still with us.
But then I also realized that my great grandmother was a stalwart member Women's Christian Temperance Union member in Augusta, Kansas, near Wichita. On the side, she managed to have 11 children, only one or two of whom didn't make it past 90, and all of whom seemed to have been successes in their lives. I also remembered that I'd been active in a Congregational church in Manhattan, Kansas for a time, and still think well of my experience there. So I felt somewhat better about Kansas and Congregationalists.
Unfortunately, I also began thinking about the more recent WWJD movement that rose in the 1990s. For some reason, I associate that movement with the election of George W. Bush, which is never a good association. But it's not poor Mr. Bush, it's the white Evangelical folks who took up the WWJD brand who elected them, and who have pretty much given up religion for politics, very toxic politics. They are, if nothing else, decidedly not into social justice. It rather saddens me that a century after Sheldon's book, the people who ask the same question he asked, come up with completely different answers than Sheldon's flock, answers that have done and continue to do real harm to millions of people in our world. [further pungent remarks excised for civility]
The book arose from a series of sermons or "stories" Rev. Charles Sheldon told to his parishioners. He was pastor of a Congregational church in Topeka, Kansas, some 120 or so years ago. The weekly stories became quite popular and his church was bulging by the time he finished up.
The hook in the stories was about a preacher who decided that before he did anything, he should ask himself what Jesus would do in a given situation. He then invited those of his congregation, who were willing, to try a test. For one year they would try not do anything without first asking themselves what Jesus would do in a given situation, and then do that thing. One church member who signed up was a newspaper editor, so he set about changing his paper to a "Christian" paper. No more ads for liquor and tobacco, and no more idle society gossip or stories about prize fights. Another member was a beautiful young woman who sang rather stunningly. Rather than go on tour with a musical group and become rich and famous, she decided to sing at a local tent meeting, to draw in fallen souls for salvation, and to give lessons to poor people who wouldn't be able to afford lessons for themselves. A local merchant realized that he should, among other things, treat his staff as partners, not servants. And so it went with others. Some people suffered financially after their decisions, but they all felt more spiritually fulfilled, and also felt a greater sense of community and belonging with their fellow church members.
The movement spread to Chicago, where some local, well-off clergy resigned their fancy positions and set up a settlement house for less-well off people, a place where people could live decently and also become better educated so as to get jobs to support themselves. A young woman with a flair for cooking gave classes to the young women so that they'd be able to get jobs as domestics in local households. And so forth.
The movement also spawned political action. It seems that folks back in olden times believed that the major block to people's living a good life was the temptation put in front of them by the "liquor interests". Just get rid of the saloons, and people would no longer fall into sin and degradation. Something like that. When it came out, the book helped spawn a movement of Christian social action. It wasn't just about closing down the saloons, but also about feeding the hungry and caring for the sick. That stuff one reads about in Matthew 25, unless one is a modern American White Evangelical, in which case Matt. 25 has been purged from the Good Book, or at least re-interpreted out of all recognition.
So, this book really does have a good point. Those of us who aspire to live as Christians probably would be well advised to ask ourselves what Jesus would do in certain situations. Would Jesus take music lessons so as better to praise Him on Sundays and also attract new members by dint of having less dreary services, or would that money be better spent stocking the food pantry? Would Jesus work on defense-department projects so long as they were related to actual defense and not to creating ever more deadly offensive weapons, (although some would argue that the best defense is a good offense), or would one be better advised to take on more mundane work so as to avoid potential conflicts with one's conscience? Would Jesus invest his 401K in stocks in companies that invested in the Southeast Asian fishing industry where most of the workers are defacto slaves, or would he just not have a 401K and hope he died before he got too old to work? Would Jesus engage in social action and thereby try to better the lives of all, or would he be more likely not to draw people outside their comfort zones? And so forth.
But then we get to the baggage. First the more fun baggage. When I read "Topeka, Kansas", the first thing I thought about was Fred Phelps, a preacher who decided that the only thing Jesus would do is "hate fags", and hate them very publicly. That's not even remotely my idea of a Christian approach to living. I also remembered that my current Congregational church used to have a Rev. Sheldon, who was rather a polarizing figure. That was well before my time, but some 50 years after Rev. Sheldon left, some of the scars are still with us.
But then I also realized that my great grandmother was a stalwart member Women's Christian Temperance Union member in Augusta, Kansas, near Wichita. On the side, she managed to have 11 children, only one or two of whom didn't make it past 90, and all of whom seemed to have been successes in their lives. I also remembered that I'd been active in a Congregational church in Manhattan, Kansas for a time, and still think well of my experience there. So I felt somewhat better about Kansas and Congregationalists.
Unfortunately, I also began thinking about the more recent WWJD movement that rose in the 1990s. For some reason, I associate that movement with the election of George W. Bush, which is never a good association. But it's not poor Mr. Bush, it's the white Evangelical folks who took up the WWJD brand who elected them, and who have pretty much given up religion for politics, very toxic politics. They are, if nothing else, decidedly not into social justice. It rather saddens me that a century after Sheldon's book, the people who ask the same question he asked, come up with completely different answers than Sheldon's flock, answers that have done and continue to do real harm to millions of people in our world. [further pungent remarks excised for civility]
librarytech4's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed listening to this book. The concept of doing what Jesus would do should be simple in theory but can be so complex in practice. Doing what Jesus would do doesn’t always mean doing what is best for your in this earthly world and this book does a great job of showing and explaining that.
inspiretruth's review against another edition
4.0
There has never been a book I've loathed more than In His Steps. When I was about ten years old, my class was assigned to read it for English, and it was undoubtedly one of my top three worst school assignments. I can't remember how many times I threw this book across the room, but I can tell you that it still has the dents to prove it. My parents also tried reading the novel but failed and took their complaints to my teacher.
Unfortunately, that wasn't my last encounter with this book. At fifteen, I was yet again faced with the doom of having In His Steps included in my English class. After adamantly refusing even to pick it up, I was thankfully given the option to read another classic instead. I never thought it was possible to have trauma from a book that wasn't a horror story, but for years In His Steps has been the definition of a nightmare to me.
It seems that this book has a way of coming back into my life every five years. I've had endless chances to throw it in the trash, but something has made me hold onto it. Now, at twenty-one years old, I can finally say that I have successfully finished In His Steps, word for word! The achievement feels fantastic, and I must say that I was quite surprised by the storyline.
The narrative begins with a homeless man knocking on Reverend Henry Maxwell's door to inquire after a job. As pastor at First Church in the town of Raymond, Maxwell was in the middle of writing a sermon when the knock comes. After turning the homeless man away and returning to his preparations, the reverend doesn't give the man a second thought; that is, until that Sunday when the same man stands up after Maxwell's teaching and delivers a speech that moves the entire room and challenges Maxwell's view on Christian discipleship.
The following Sunday, after a week of study and prayer, Maxwell stands at the pulpit and invites the members of First Church to join him in a year-long journey of asking "What Would Jesus Do?” before making a single decision. Astonishingly, many members join Reverend Maxwell in the pledge, having no idea what kind of wake-up call they are about to receive. For the first time, those who take the pledge had to reflect on their lives and decide whether or not they are following in Jesus' footsteps. But will they be able to complete the year, or will the sacrifices be too great?
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but... In His Steps was actually quite inspiring. As I read each page, I also found myself looking at my life, wondering if I lived in a Christ/Yeshua-like way. Over the last couple of months, God has been teaching me how to live by His Spirit, so reading this book couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
Written over a hundred years ago, In His Steps is still relevant in many ways, though it comes across as quite Baptist and old-fashioned in its approach to certain topics. It highlights the hibernation of the church and the importance of answering the call to action. Too often, people become Christians to get their 'ticket' into heaven without making any changes to their lives, but they're missing what the coming to faith is really about! We aren't called to live through the motions but to lay our lives at the Father's feet, living solely for Him rather than ourselves. Many of us get stuck in the mindset that it’s enough to go to church every Sunday, pay tithes, and say, “God bless you,” but being a follower of Jesus is so much more than that!
I hope that when people read this book, they will wake up by the voice of the Spirit and be inspired to live their lives in Yeshua's footsteps, rather than following what the world expects. I understand that some of us are called to work 9 to 5 jobs, go to college, have a steady paycheck, etc., but many others are called to live by faith, having no clue what tomorrow will bring. With that in mind, we shouldn't feel discouraged if we are not the people who are called to sell everything and go around the world preaching the Gospel; instead, we need to ask God what we can do to help those working for the Kingdom and how we can bring change into our community. More than ever, it's time to stand up for our faith and proclaim the Father's will against those trying to destroy it!
Not everyone will enjoy this book. I believe that it's one of those novels that, like Marmite, people will either hate or like. It took years, but I'm not ashamed to say that I did enjoy reading In His Steps. I knew there was a reason I kept this book all these years; it just goes to show that God can use the things we hate the most to speak into our lives! I'm not sure if I'll ever reread this book, but I will recommend it to those who are striving to live after God. I pray that young children are no longer forced to read this book because it's a work that deserves to be respected and not thrown across a room. (Sorry, Charles Sheldon)
[yasr_multiset setid=0] Ages: 16+
There has never been a book I've loathed more than In His Steps. When I was about ten years old, my class was assigned to read it for English, and it was undoubtedly one of my top three worst school assignments. I can't remember how many times I threw this book across the room, but I can tell you that it still has the dents to prove it. My parents also tried reading the novel but failed and took their complaints to my teacher.
Unfortunately, that wasn't my last encounter with this book. At fifteen, I was yet again faced with the doom of having In His Steps included in my English class. After adamantly refusing even to pick it up, I was thankfully given the option to read another classic instead. I never thought it was possible to have trauma from a book that wasn't a horror story, but for years In His Steps has been the definition of a nightmare to me.
It seems that this book has a way of coming back into my life every five years. I've had endless chances to throw it in the trash, but something has made me hold onto it. Now, at twenty-one years old, I can finally say that I have successfully finished In His Steps, word for word! The achievement feels fantastic, and I must say that I was quite surprised by the storyline.
The narrative begins with a homeless man knocking on Reverend Henry Maxwell's door to inquire after a job. As pastor at First Church in the town of Raymond, Maxwell was in the middle of writing a sermon when the knock comes. After turning the homeless man away and returning to his preparations, the reverend doesn't give the man a second thought; that is, until that Sunday when the same man stands up after Maxwell's teaching and delivers a speech that moves the entire room and challenges Maxwell's view on Christian discipleship.
The following Sunday, after a week of study and prayer, Maxwell stands at the pulpit and invites the members of First Church to join him in a year-long journey of asking "What Would Jesus Do?” before making a single decision. Astonishingly, many members join Reverend Maxwell in the pledge, having no idea what kind of wake-up call they are about to receive. For the first time, those who take the pledge had to reflect on their lives and decide whether or not they are following in Jesus' footsteps. But will they be able to complete the year, or will the sacrifices be too great?
I can't believe I'm about to write this, but... In His Steps was actually quite inspiring. As I read each page, I also found myself looking at my life, wondering if I lived in a Christ/Yeshua-like way. Over the last couple of months, God has been teaching me how to live by His Spirit, so reading this book couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
Written over a hundred years ago, In His Steps is still relevant in many ways, though it comes across as quite Baptist and old-fashioned in its approach to certain topics. It highlights the hibernation of the church and the importance of answering the call to action. Too often, people become Christians to get their 'ticket' into heaven without making any changes to their lives, but they're missing what the coming to faith is really about! We aren't called to live through the motions but to lay our lives at the Father's feet, living solely for Him rather than ourselves. Many of us get stuck in the mindset that it’s enough to go to church every Sunday, pay tithes, and say, “God bless you,” but being a follower of Jesus is so much more than that!
I hope that when people read this book, they will wake up by the voice of the Spirit and be inspired to live their lives in Yeshua's footsteps, rather than following what the world expects. I understand that some of us are called to work 9 to 5 jobs, go to college, have a steady paycheck, etc., but many others are called to live by faith, having no clue what tomorrow will bring. With that in mind, we shouldn't feel discouraged if we are not the people who are called to sell everything and go around the world preaching the Gospel; instead, we need to ask God what we can do to help those working for the Kingdom and how we can bring change into our community. More than ever, it's time to stand up for our faith and proclaim the Father's will against those trying to destroy it!
Not everyone will enjoy this book. I believe that it's one of those novels that, like Marmite, people will either hate or like. It took years, but I'm not ashamed to say that I did enjoy reading In His Steps. I knew there was a reason I kept this book all these years; it just goes to show that God can use the things we hate the most to speak into our lives! I'm not sure if I'll ever reread this book, but I will recommend it to those who are striving to live after God. I pray that young children are no longer forced to read this book because it's a work that deserves to be respected and not thrown across a room. (Sorry, Charles Sheldon)
Positive content: 4.5⭐️
Language: 0⭐️
Sexual content: 0.5⭐️
Violence: 2⭐️
Age: 16+
rachelmcg2004's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most captivating and thought-provoking books I have read so far, this book captures the very essence of the human spirit in a way most would call backwards...and yet, in a way that promises to fulfill the most essential parts of us: our souls.
themorganrae's review against another edition
1.0
I didn’t like anything in this book. The writing was especially bad. I understand what it was trying to do, but I don’t think it did it well. Writing this is just bringing up all the emotions I felt while being forced to read it for school. Ugh.
jleov2's review against another edition
5.0
In his steps
An amazing book I'll read over and over again! If you are looking for an encouraging book read this book!
An amazing book I'll read over and over again! If you are looking for an encouraging book read this book!