Charles Sheldon
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For other people named Charles Sheldon, see Charles Sheldon (disambiguation).
Charles Monroe Sheldon
Born February 26, 1857
Wellsville, New York
Died February 24, 1946
Topeka, Kansas
Alma mater Phillips Academy, Andover
Known for Christian Socialism The Principle of "What Would Jesus Do?"
Notable work In His Steps
Charles Monroe Sheldon (February 26, 1857, Wellsville, New York – February 24, 1946, Topeka, Kansas) was an American Congregationalist minister and leader of the Social Gospel movement. His novel, In His Steps, introduced the principle of "What Would Jesus Do?" which articulated an approach to Christian theology that became popular at the turn of the 20th century and had a revival almost one hundred years later. The stretch of US-24 on the north side of Topeka, Kansas between US-75 and K-4 is named the "Charles Sheldon Trafficway" in his honour.[1][2]
Contents
1Education and ministry
2Novel and theological influence
3Newspaper "career"
4What Would Jesus Do?
5List of Works
5.1As Main Author
5.2As Illustrator
6References
7Further reading
8External links
Education and ministry[edit]
Sheldon was a graduate of Phillips Academy, Andover (class of 1879). He became an advocate of the late nineteenth century school of thought known as Christian Socialism. His theological outlook focused on the practicalities of the moral life, with much less emphasis on the doctrinal traditions of personal redemption from sin in Christ. In the winter of 1896 Sheldon developed a sermon story that he read as a weekly series from the pulpit of Central Congregational Church in Topeka, Kansas.[3] The unifying theme of these sermons was based on posing the question, "what would Jesus do?" when facing moral decisions. He viewed this question as traditional within Christianity and likely drew some inspiration from William T. Stead's If Christ came to Chicago! (1893) and other earlier sources.[4]
Novel and theological influence[edit]
The theme of the sermons was later fictionalized into the novel In His Steps. The central ethos of the novel was not about personal redemption but about moral choices related to encountering circumstances of poverty and deprivation. Sheldon's theological motif reflected his socialist outlook. Sheldon's own parish work became identified with the Social Gospel.
Walter Rauschenbusch, widely viewed as the chief architect of the Social Gospel, acknowledged the importance Sheldon placed on imitating Jesus. He saw the significance of Sheldon's work in bringing home the realization that it is hard to live a Christ-like life, given the temptations of modern society. While Rauschenbusch found this awareness valuable, he saw that it did not demand what he believed was a necessary transformation of social institutions.[5] Sheldon was in touch with the concerns of middle-class America at the end of the century. He saw his role as one of communication—to introduce his congregation and the wider public to the ideas of Lyman Abbott, Richard Ely, George Herron, and Rauschenbusch. That was his intention in writing In His Steps.[5]
Of the social issues Sheldon espoused during his lifetime, the two he was most passionate about were equality and prohibition. He believed that all persons were equal and should be treated as such. He was a pioneer among Protestant ministers in welcoming blacks into a mainstream church. He was also committed to fair treatment for Jews and Catholics, and proclaimed the equality of men and women. A strong supporter of the feminist struggle for equal rights, he urged women to enter politics. He also pushed for full equality in the workplace.[6]
Sheldon was also a vegetarian who promoted compassion towards animals just as he did towards humans.[7] He even criticized circuses for their treatment of animals.[8]
Newspaper "career"[edit]
In March 1900 he became editor for a week of the Topeka Daily Capital applying the "What Would Jesus Do?" concept. In that short time, the newspaper's circulation exploded from just under 12,000 to 387,000, overwhelming the paper's Topeka printing plant causing it to print 120,000 copies each in Chicago, Illinois and New York City.[9]
After his retirement from Central Congregational Church in 1920, Sheldon edited "Christian Herald, An Illustrated News Weekly for the Home", a religious periodical, from 1920 to 1924 and continued to write articles after his final retirement in 1924.[10]
What Would Jesus Do?[edit]
In the 1990s WWJD bracelets became a popular item among young people and publishers increased sales of the public domain book In His Steps and tied it in with marketing of "What would Jesus do?" items.
A ten part mini-series produced by KTWU featured an hour-long segment "Beyond Theology: What Would Jesus Do?" which examines how this question might be considered in context of the political, social and cultural changes that have taken place in America. The program also takes a look at the manner in which Sheldon applied the social gospel in his own life and in his community.
List of Works[edit]
As Main Author[edit]
1892: Richard Bruce, or the Life That Now Is
1893: Robert Hardy's Seven Days; a Dream and its Consequences
1893: The Twentieth Door
1894: The Crucifixion of Phillip Strong
1895: His Brother's Keeper; or Christian Stewarship
1897: In His Steps "What Would Jesus Do?"
1898: The Redemption of Freetown
1898: Malcom Kirk: A Tale Of Moral Heroism In Overcoming The World
1898: One of the Two; "Be not overcome the evil, but overcome evil with good"
1899: John King's Question Class
1899: The Miracle at Markham; How Twelve Churches Became One
1899: Lend a Hand
1899: For Christ and the Church
1900: Born to Serve: a story
1900: Edward Blake: College Student
1901: The Reformer
1903: His Mother's Prayers
1903: The Narrow Gate
1904: The Wilderness of the Upper Yukon; a hunter's explorations for wild sheep in sub-arctic mountains
1905: The Heart of the World: A Story of Christian Socialism
1906: The spirit's power: or the revival
1909: Paul Douglas-journalist
1911: The High Calling
1912: A Builder of Ships; The Story of Brander Cushing's Ambition
1914: "Jesus is Here!" Continuing the Narrative of In His Steps (What Would Jesus Do?)
1912: In His Steps; a Dramatic Adaptation of the Story (with Frank H. Lane)
1912: The Wilderness of the North Pacific Coast Islands: A Hunter's Experiences while Searching for Wapiti, Bears, and Caribou on the Larger Coast Islands of British Columbia and Alaska
1916: Howard Chase, Red Hill, Kansas
1916: Of One Blood
1917: Modern Pagans
1919: All The World
1920: Heart Stories
1921: In His Steps To-day. What would Jesus do in solving the problems of present political, economic and social life?
1921: The richest man in Kansas
1924: The everyday Bible (as editor)
1924: The Mere Man and His Problems
1925: Charles M. Sheldon: His Life Story
1925: Two Old Friends
1926: The Life of Jesus
1927: Casework Evangelism: Studies in the Art of Christian Personal Work (only Introduction)
1928: The 13th Resolution
1929: Life's Treasure Book, Past, Present, and Future
1930: The Wilderness of Denali
1941: The Golden Book of Bible Stories: Favorite Stories from the Old and New Testaments Retold for Children
As Illustrator[edit]
1886: True to the Old Flag: A Tale of the American War of Independence (by G. A. Henty)
1899: Won by the Sword: A Tale of the Thirty Years' War (by G.A. Henty)
1900: Under the Rebel's Reign: A Story of Egyptian Revolt (by Charles Neufeld)
1901: The Goddess of Excelsior (by Bret Harte)
1902: To Herat and Cabul, A Story of the First Afghan War (by G.A. Henty)
1905: The Queen of Shindy Flat (by Bessie Marchant)
1905: The Pilgrim's Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come (by John Bunyan)
1907: The Yap Reporter and His Crisis (by Edward Price Bell)
1907: Riall in The Race Riots. Another Adventure of The Yap Reporter (by Edward Price Bell)
1907: The Yap Reporter on The Plains (by Edward Price Bell)
1907: Bige Hoak (by Edward Price Bell)
1907: On the Trail of the Arabs: A Story of Heroic Deeds in Africa (by Herbert Strang)
1911: The Invisible Island - A Story of the Far North of Queensland (by Alexander MacDonald)
1912: Chaloner of the Bengal Cavalry: A Tale of the Indian Mutiny (by Percival Lancaster)
1912: Under the Chinese Dragon: A Tale of Mongolia (by F.S. Brereton)
1914: In the Irish Brigade: A Tale of War in Flanders and Spain (by G.A. Henty)
1914: Edgar the Ready: A Tale of the Third Edward's Reign (by W. P. Shervill)
1915: A sturdy young Canadian (by Frederick Sadleir Brereton)
1930: Pioneers In Tropical America (by Harry Johnston)
References[edit]
^ "Statute | Kansas State Legislature". www.kslegislature.org. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
^ Service, Religion News; Press, Associated (2001-12-22). "Road Named for 'What Would Jesus Do?' Author". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
^ Sheldon, Charles M. (1897), In His Steps: "What would Jesus do?", Chicago: Advance Publishing, p. 3
^ Ferré, John P. (1988), "Charles Sheldon's moral formula", A social gospel for millions, Bowling Green State University: Popular Press, pp. 15–17
^ Jump up to:a b Burnidge, Cara L. (Spring 2009). Charles M. Sheldon and the Heart of the Social Gospel Movement (M.A.). Florida State University. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
^ Brooking, N. (2004-02-01). 1. Charles Monroe Sheldon (1857 - 1946). From "Charles M. Sheldon and the Social Gospel." Georgetown College. Retrieved on: 2010-08-07.
^ Sheldon, “The Confessions of a Vegetarian,” Independent 60 (June 21, 1906): 1458
^ Sheldon, “The Show That Would have Stunned New York,” unpublished sermon, Sheldon’s manuscript file, Kansas Historical Society.
^ The Capital-Journal's roots run deep - Topeka Capital Journal - June 1, 2003
^ Charles Monroe Sheldon/Central Congregational Church Collection
Further reading[edit]
James Smylie, "Sheldon's In His Steps: Conscience and Discipleship," Theology Today, Volume 32, number 1 (July 1975) pp. 32–45.
External links[edit]
Wikisource has original works written by or about:Charles Sheldon
Biography portal
Christianity portalProfile on Sheldon from the Congregational Church, Topeka, Kansas [1]
Works by Charles Sheldon at Project Gutenberg
Works by Charles Sheldon at Faded Page (Canada)
Works by or about Charles Sheldon at Internet Archive
Works by Charles Sheldon at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
Kansas State Historical Society archived documents on Charles Sheldon [2]
"Charles Sheldon". Find a Grave. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
Inventory of the Charles Monroe Sheldon Papers, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library
PBS Documentary "Beyond Theology: What Would Jesus Do? http://ktwu.washburn.edu/productions/WWJD-BT/
