A destitute young man stumbles into Rev. Henry Maxwell's church and asks a question that shatters the congregation's complacency: What would Jesus do? After the man dies unexpectedly, Maxwell persuades his wealthiest and most prominent members to vow that for one year, they will make no decision without first asking this question. The commitment begins with small challenges, giving up luxuries, helping the poor, but quickly escalates into something that threatens relationships, careers, and identities. Each character must confront how little their Christianity has actually cost them. This book matters because it forces readers to grapple with the gap between belief and action. Sheldon's radical premise remains unsettling: what if we actually tried to follow Jesus, not as metaphor but as daily practice? The novel's power lies in its willingness to follow the implications of genuine faith into uncomfortable territory, criticizing industrial capitalism, demanding personal sacrifice, and insisting that compassion requires cost. Over a century later, it still speaks to anyone who has ever felt their beliefs don't match their life.
