February 26 marks the birthday of Charles M Sheldon, author of the book In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? Charles Sheldon was born on February 26 in 1857. His book In His Steps was published in 1896 and at one time had sold more copies than in other book besides the Bible. In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do? was a pivotal book in the Social Gospel Movement. It was written in basic English which could be understood by anyone (as opposed to the deep theological language of other books on the Social Gospel).
As we celebrate Sheldon's birthday, it's a good time to reflect on the man and his message. Below are excerpts from some past newspaper articles.
Sheldon's legacy is alive and well
In a time when the dominant perceptions of religious people run the gamut from crazed fanaticism to anti-intellectual adherence to an outdated superstition, Sheldon week at The Topeka Capital-Journal has shown that Topeka is full of thoughtful, caring, dedicated people of faith.
It has illustrated that even Christians have a wide variety of approaches to the use of Scripture and tradition, especially concerning how they understand the relationship of the four gospels, which contain the reports of the life and teachings of Jesus, to the letters written by other followers of him in the early Christian era (commonly called the New Testament) and the previous collection of Jewish writings (the Old, or Hebrew, Testament)...............
.......He made the Christian faith easy for ordinary people to understand and embrace without watering it down. He got the point across that because Christianity is a living faith -- that new truth and light are always emanating from the spirit of God -- it must be lived by its adherents. To claim to be a disciple of Christ means finding practical applications of key principles to the pressing social problems of the day. It means waking up each morning and asking, How can I best be of service today in the way Jesus was in his lifetime? How can I show the world who God is through my actions and choices today?
Sheldon taught that moral power could affect moral problems in society. He made morality easy to grasp by distilling it to its most profound and essential core. As Jesus did, he boiled the bottom line down to two ancient and religiously inclusive commandments: Love God; then love your neighbor.
Don't focus on your differences in beliefs, he might counsel us today. Instead, find ways to work together to make the world a better place for all.
As the Rev. Andrew McHenry reminded us Monday night, Sheldon disdained "theological olympics." He praised those who thoroughly examined their consciences, even when he disagreed with them, and as Andrew's great-grandmother, who was also my seventh-grade Sunday school teacher, told him about Sheldon's belief, "If you keep those two commandments, you won't have time to think of theology."
To that end, Sheldon's passion was to do his part to ensure that all people, created equal by the creator God, were given the equal respect and opportunity they deserved. He was way ahead of his time as he confronted the unjust and dehumanizing practices of racism, sexism and classism. He worked tirelessly to eradicate trends and influences that wore down the human spirit and fractured family life.
.......As we conclude the celebration of Sheldon week, we have before us the same opportunity "Saint Charles of Topeka" did a century ago. We can stop getting tangled up in theological talk about who is sinful and who isn't and rededicate our vast store of talents and resources to the ongoing work of confronting and eradicating all the "isms" and evils that block full and abundant living for all of God's people.
In his last appeal to his congregation, published posthumously, he encouraged them to "keep on working to be free from hatred, prejudice, greed and selfishness. "
(The Rev. Kathryn Timpany is a sixth-generation Topekan and since 1989 has served Central Congregational Church, the same church Charles Sheldon was minister at when he edited The Topeka Daily Capital for a week in 1900 and wrote his famous book "In His Steps." )
Sheldon's message was simple
That, in a nutshell, was the message of the Rev. Charles M. Sheldon, ........
"He was a classic social gospel preacher," said the Rev. Kathryn Timpany, 49, Central Congregational's current minister. "He was popular when the movement was at its peak."
His largest claim to fame came in the publication of "In His Steps," an inspirational novel which has sold an estimated 30 million copies since it was first published in 1896.
Experts say the book is based loosely on Sheldon and his experiences in Topeka, where he championed a social gospel message that encouraged his flock to take care of the needy and disadvantaged.
Sheldon's broad-based appeal is evidenced by the diverse audience that has read "In His Steps." The book and its message of "What Would Jesus Do?" was embraced by both liberal and conservative denominations.
"His appeal was widespread and it was across the spectrum," Timpany noted. "You find very few religious leaders who appeal to the left and the right."
..........Sheldon's great-grandson, Dr. Garrett Sheldon, a political philosophy professor at the University of Virginia and a Southern Baptist minister, wrote a contemporary retelling of "In His Steps" with the 1993 volume titled "What Would Jesus Do?"
Garrett Sheldon said his great-grandfather took Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and applied it to life in 1890s America.
While serving in the Topeka Central Congregational Church, Sheldon would often give what he had to strangers he met who were in need. His wife would make sure the Rev. Sheldon had no more than $5 whenever he left home, because he would give away whatever he had.
Years later, when he would visit his son Merriam, who had become a successful stockbroker in Milwaukee, Sheldon would exchange greetings with family members before venturing to the back of the house to check on the well-being of the servants. "If he ever saw anyone in need, he'd give them what he had," Garrett Sheldon said. "He never thought about money.
Minister inspired by Sheldon's social gospel message
But it wasn't until 1989, when she accepted a call to be assistant minister at the historic Central Congregational United Church of Christ, 1248 S.W. Buchanan, which Sheldon had started a century before, that she gained a true appreciation for the man called "St. Charles of Topeka."
........Timpany finds the "WWJD?" phenomenon sprinkled with more than a little irony.
"The organization Sheldon came out of was what today would be called the liberal church," she said. "yet it's the conservative church that kept the slogan alive."
Furthermore, Timpany believes that in order to answer "WWJD?," people must first have a knowledge of what Jesus actually did.
"How would you know what Jesus would do?" she said. "First, you need to know what Jesus actually did."
That answer, she said, is to be found through an unbiased reading of the four New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Some surprises may be in store, as some commonly held assumptions may need to be re-evaluated.
"Go and see what is really there," Timpany said. "Read it for yourself and see."
........Timpany, referring to one of Sheldon's sermons, said the famous pastor subscribed only to one creed: "Love God and love your neighbor." Ascent to doctrine, Sheldon said, is always easier than "loving your neighbor."
"He wasn't fond of denominations, because they're divisive," Timpany said. "He said 'Don't sit around and argue about what you believe. Go love your neighbor. Love God.'
