A singer-songwriter, record producer and author (At the Crossroads), Peacock proclaims the "new way to be human" both positively and negatively—to be truly human is to embrace God's kingdom, bringing every area of one's life under divine rule; it also means abandoning the dictates of dead religion. Believers must "step into their role in the ongoing faith story of God's people." Scripture tells this story, but Peacock reminds us that it's also lived by Jesus' followers. Faith withers in those who reduce the story to a formula or ignore its implications: Peacock gently criticizes those who are materialistic or who oversimplify the gospel. The book begins with Peacock recalling a conversation with a college student. That's appropriate, because the next 18 chapters, full of earnestness, rambling and epiphany, resemble a late-night discussion in a dorm. Peacock's fans won't be the only ones fascinated as he tells his own story while urging the reader to become part of God's. In touching on work, relationships, creativity, theology and epistemology, New Way tries to do too much. But taken in small doses, it may refresh life-weary Christians who are asking, "Is this all there is?"
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
“
New Way to be Human is…an alarm clock for the soul, ringing loudly, welcoming the dawn of a new day.”
–from the foreword by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot
“Artists are the best theologians. They feel things that are true before theologians can jargonize them into obscurity. What Charlie Peacock has written in this book is a good example of theological truth stated in a way that only an artist can.”
–Tony Campolo, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Eastern University
“
New Way to Be Human is a ‘just in time’ book for me, speaking to many of the questions I have been wrestling with concerning how to actually live out this kingdom dream. This conversation about storied living is helping me expose and shed some of the sub-plots in my life that are incongruent with the larger story God is telling through his word and work. Charlie inspires me to wake up each day to be a student-follower of Jesus Christ and nothing else.”
–Sara Groves, recording artist and songwriter
“Charlie Peacock takes us from the prophets of Israel to the prophets of song and cinema. He leads us on a journey that passes loopy stories and scholarly citations. It answers questions that are so real, so direct, so heartfelt that you may not be sure whether you are having fun or becoming a more authentic disciple.”
–Dan Doriani, author of
The Life of a God-Made Man and
Putting the Truth to Work
“Few people have the necessary gifts to communicate wonder in both music and words, and Charlie Peacock is one of those rare artists. In both the poetry of his lyrics and the thoughtful prose of his books, he asks just the right questions so that we see more deeply. Those hungry to be fully human will gravitate to
New Way to be Human , not because Charlie is clever (though he is), but because his heart and imagination is aflame with The Story that brings both grace and hope in our fragmented world.”
–Denis D. Haack, Ransom Fellowship, editor of
Critique“This is a splendid book about real life in a good but fallen world where grace yet abounds. Peacock writes with compassion, integrity, and discernment.”
–Quentin J. Schultze, author of
Habits of the High-Tech Heart: Living Virtuously in the Information Age
“This book will make you want to live. Not a tedious breathing in and out, in and out…but how you’ve known it should be. Your ideas about relationship with the Divine will expand.”
–David Crowder of The David Crowder Band
“There is something very freeing in Charlie’s words: ‘You can still be a student-follower of Jesus and not possess all truth, once-for-all universal certainty, and the answer to every question.’ Much of my experience with American Christianity has been like an overly simplistic tract that tries too hard and says too little. This book has inspired me to reread and retell the Story with ‘the widest, clearest view.’ In sharing the clues he has found along the way, Charlie reminds me that I must humbly embrace what I know for sure, yet hold myself open to the mystery of the bigger story.”
–Christine Dente, songwriter and recording artist (Out of the Grey)
“I’ve known Charlie Peacock for twenty years as a songwriter, artist, and producer, but now he explodes on the scene as a deep-thinking theologian. Charlie has given this Wesleyan new insight on what it means to be fully sanctified. You will love
New Way to Be Human.”
–Barry Landis, president of Word Label Group
