The High Calling - Charles Sheldon

The High Calling by Charles Monroe Sheldon is a novel that follows the intertwined lives of townspeople confronted with moral crossroads, asking whether their daily choices truly reflect their Christian faith. The story centers on a group of men and women whose professional and personal lives are tested when they begin to take seriously the question, "What would Jesus do?" Businessmen face the temptation of easy profit at the cost of fairness, a young lawyer struggles between career advancement and justice, a pastor questions whether his ministry serves comfort or genuine service, and families must reconcile personal desires with the demands of community responsibility.
The novel builds its drama around these moral tests, showing how each character's decision shapes not only their own lives but also the health of the community. The "high calling" of the title is not limited to church or ministry; it extends to every vocation and circumstance - running a business, practicing law, raising children, or leading in politics - all of which become opportunities for either compromise or faithfulness. Through successes and failures, Sheldon presents a picture of a society wrestling with the tension between material ambition and spiritual duty.
The narrative is less about dramatic external events than about the slow, persistent struggle of conscience. Readers witness how a single act of integrity can ripple outward, inspiring others, while one compromise can erode trust and weaken the moral fabric of the town. In this way, the novel reads both as a story and as a practical guide, illustrating the cost and the reward of living consistently with one's beliefs.
Charles Monroe Sheldon (1857-1946), an American pastor and writer, used fiction as a way to popularize the ideals of the Social Gospel movement. His works, including the famous In His Steps, emphasize applied Christianity - urging believers to live their faith in the marketplace, the courtroom, and the home. Through The High Calling, Sheldon reinforced his conviction that every life, regardless of profession, carries the responsibility of reflecting Christ in action.

Charles Monroe Sheldon was an American Congregationalist minister, writer, and social reformer, best remembered for his influential novel In His Steps (1896). The book, which popularized the phrase "What Would Jesus Do?", became one of the best-selling works of religious fiction of all time and positioned Sheldon as a central figure in the Social Gospel movement in the United States.
As a preacher and writer, Sheldon combined faith with social activism. His sermons frequently addressed issues such as poverty, racial equality, workers' rights, and temperance. His novel In His Steps told the story of a congregation that vowed to ask before every action: "What would Jesus do?" The narrative sought to encourage Christians to apply their faith practically in daily life, not only in personal piety but also in social responsibility.
Sheldon's work exemplified the ideals of the Social Gospel movement, which sought to address social injustices through the lens of Christian teachings. His writings inspired generations of readers to consider their moral responsibilities in public and private life, bridging the gap between religious devotion and social action.
Although some critics argued that his fiction was more didactic than literary, Sheldon's impact was undeniable. In His Steps became one of the most influential religious texts of its time, and the phrase "What Would Jesus Do?" continues to resonate in Christian culture more than a century later.