The book In His Steps by Sheldon remains one of the most well-known examples of religious fiction that presents and solves social dilemmas with the help of Christian thought. The novel follows the lives of many characters and narrates how they change because of the simple phrase, “What Would Jesus Do.” These people interpret the question differently, but one uniting aspect of their lives is the place where they live – Raymond. The characters’ backgrounds and interests make them view the city of Raymond in their own way. For example, the novel presents such characters as Reverend Henry Maxwell, a pastor, Edward Norman, a newspaper editor, and Jack Manning, a jobless man whose speech inspires the events of the book. The question “What Would Jesus Do?” sends them on the journey of self-discovery and reformation and uncovers the sins of Raymond.
The first character that shows the underbelly of Raymond is a man described by the narrator as a stranger. Later, after his passing, the characters learn that the man’s name is Jack Manning. At the novel’s start, a “dusty, worn, shabby-looking young man” comes into the church to speak about his life in Raymond (Sheldon). After losing his job, he is exposed to the cruelty and indifference that Raymond’s citizens had for the homeless and jobless. To the stranger, Raymond is filled with Christians who go to church and pray but do not truly follow in Jesus’ steps and attempt to answer the question, “What Would Jesus Do.” As a result, the town is divided into two communities. One has people that have “good clothes and nice houses to live in, and money to spend for luxuries,” while thousands of others “die in tenements, and walk the streets for jobs” (Sheldon). In Manning’s eyes, Raymond’s hypocrisy prevents its people from flourishing.
This speech forces other citizens of Raymond to take a closer look at their town. Rev. Maxwell interprets the central question by writing down some ideas about making changes to the parish. However, outside of the church, he views the saloon as a place that leads the residents of Raymond to sin. “A festering sore,” this place is regarded as unfit for a town of Christians (Sheldon). Failing to close the saloon by preaching and inspiring people to vote, Maxwell strengthens his belief that “saloonism” became a ruling power in the town (Sheldon). Nevertheless, this loss does not weaken his resolve to fight against the saloon. This positive reinforcement shows that the reverent believes that Raymond can be reformed but focuses only on one factor that may worsen people’s lives.
Another interesting perspective of Raymond is offered by Norman, an editor of the local newspaper. Convinced that a Christian paper could inspire people to follow Jesus’ steps, he decides to change the newspaper and follow Christian principles rather than “the recognized methods of society” (Sheldon). In contrast to Maxwell, who focuses on preaching against “saloonism” as the main source of sin, Norman believes in the power of print media as a source of positive influence on the local community. From the start, his ideas are rooted in change through enlightenment rather than restriction. In the course of the novel, however, he is disappointed as his paper loses popularity. Similar to Maxwell, he does not lose hope in his town and continues to pursue his goal.
The characters and the town of Raymond change throughout the story. The stranger, Manning, exposes the town’s flaws and asks a question that makes others consider the problems within their community. His perception of the city is negative but not futile, and his speech inspires others to seek reformation. Maxwell and Norman focus on different approaches to changing Raymond, but they encounter disappointment and find new strength to carry on in similar ways. Their ideas about how to improve the town come from their professional backgrounds. Nonetheless, they both think that Raymond’s future can be changed for the better, and hope becomes the novel’s central theme.
Work Cited
Sheldon, Charles M. In His Steps. Project Gutenberg, 2009.