The Anti-Manichaeist

Charles Sheldon was the author of In His Steps the turn of the 20th century novel about a congregation that after meditating on 1 Peter 2:21 and the death of tramp in their sanctuary has a remnant who commit themselves to asking “What Would Jesus Do?” for all their important decisions and following through no matter what the result may be [for themselves]. 

It was an immensely popular novel at its time but leaves a lot of important questions unanswered, like can we literally follow Christ’s steps in our own quite different context and how much of it is us or our community?  I know Joe Carson, president of the Affiliation of Christian Engineers has blown the whistle on gov’t corruption several times at great personal professional expense but I also know that he would emphasize that the environment has to be changed so that engineers can be whistle-blowers with less risk to their careers and that is something that one individual can never change on their own. 

So I wonder what Sheldon would say about this Paraguayan man who is on a hunger fast and has volunteered to be publicly crucified to call for a jailed former general to be freed.  It blows my mind and my presuppositions.  I wasn’t able to find any other english language articles on the subject, but it sounds like these are peaceful protests, though, I suppose that can change…

dlw