The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

"The Crucifixion of Philip Strong" by Charles M. Sheldon is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Philip Strong, a minister facing a moral dilemma as he considers two pastoral offers, ultimately choosing to serve a church in the manufacturing town of Milton. The narrative delves deeply into themes of social justice, personal sacrifice, and the struggle between maintaining one's convictions and the expectations of church society. At the start of the novel, Philip Strong is shown grappling with his decision between two churches, revealing his deep desire to do good and his sense of duty to address the struggles faced by working-class individuals in Milton. After accepting the call to serve in this challenging environment, Philip quickly encounters resistance from church members who are intertwined with the local saloon and gambling interests, highlighting the tension between his faith-driven mission and societal norms. The opening portion effectively sets the stage for Philip's passionate pursuit of social reform, the moral complexities of his role as a pastor, and the dire consequences that come from standing against entrenched systems of power. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Monroe Sheldon was an American Congregationalist minister and a leader of the Social Gospel movement. His 1896 novel In His Steps introduced the principle "What would Jesus do?", which articulated an approach to Christian theology that became popular at the turn of the 20th century and enjoyed 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 honor.