New Way to Be Human: A Provocative Look at What it Means to Follow Jesus

by Charlie Peacock-Ashworth, Charlie Peacock-Ashworth

Are you living the life you’re meant to live?

Like Neo in The Matrix, many of us know that something is wrong. We’re haunted by the idea that there must be more to life than the status quo we see in us and around us. We wonder: Is this all there is–to work, education, marriage, sex, family, friendship, and church?

Artful and inspiring, New Way to Be Human is a book for people who know something is wrong, are tired of faking it or forgetting it, and are eager to stumble after Jesus with passion and authenticity. Charlie Peacock–one of the most innovative musical creators of our time–gives us a fresh invitation to the amazing privilege, rich relationship, and meaningful work that a life of following Jesus is meant to be.

Genres: Christianity, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2004

Reviews

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I love the idea of giving all of yourself to God, to just sell yourself out for something. That’s not a new concept to me, but it’s one that I need to hear over and over again. Peacock writes that idea well. His writing is crisp and clear, if sometimes a bit redundant.
But the biggest things I took from this book was his idea of an Art House where people can come to gather and learn about what it means to be an artist.

[Hank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource for a discipleship class. Very thoughtful presentation on what it means to be not just a Christian, but truly human after the original pattern God created and Jesus revealed.

[Ben Ullman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapter and into were incredible, like breathtaking thoughts about God written in ways I have never heard of before. However the rest is a bit too old fashioned and just nothing new.

[Jeff Garrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Peacock is a Christian musician who has written a primer on the Christian faith. What I like about Peacock’s approach is how he lays out “God story†as found in scripture and then encourages us to incorporate our own stories into God’s. He reminds us that like it or not, we all create a story! Peacock criticizes Christians for claiming too much knowledge about God. Instead, we take what we know and use it to frame how we share God’s story and to see how God is active in our lives. Then, out of gratitude, we act. Peacock also talks about how God’s story should help us in our own relationships with others. He’s honest about sin, admitting that there is always something wrong with God’s people on this earth (but that we should get too cozy with the idea). We have to be honest about our short-comings and failures if we want God to help us improve.

My favorite chapter in the book is on imagination and creativity. As an artist, it’s a topic close to Peacock’s heart and he writes about how as creatures, created in God’s image, we’re given the ability to imagine. But, we have to be careful, for though our imaginations can be used for godly work, it can also be misused for sinful desires.

[Ned Bustard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give it 10 stars

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great look at what it really means to follow Jesus.