At the Crossroads: An Insider's Look at the Past, Present, and Future of Contemporary Christian Music

by Charlie Peacock

Book by Peacock, Charlie

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Christianity, Christian, Theology, Cultural, Art

219 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be/could be/ought to be mandatory reading for anyone attempting to live out an authentic Christian life and attempting to infuse that faith in some way within their vocation/profession/job. Peacock offers an outstanding framework (that is, frankly, self evident), but he does so in a way that handles and evaluates the nuances of the outliving of this framework. If you know me the next sentence will matter: This book and the philosophies therein made me less cynical about the Worship Entertainment Industrial Complex in which we find ourselves. (I mean… I am still cynical, but the cynicism is more rightly directed because of this book).

[Hannah Grace Staton (on hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the Crossroads is more scholarly than I had anticipated. The author's formal tone can sound a bit overboard at times, and he often used more words than were necessary to make his point. His outline was murky, and his flow of thought was hard to follow sometimes.

But he made some interesting points along the way. This book got into in-depth musings on how Christians should interact with culture, leaving me with plenty to chew on. Charlie Peacock's thoughts on an all-encompassing kingdom perspective especially intrigued me.

So even though it could have been written more simply and clearly, At the Crossroads taught me several things about much more than just the state of CCM in the late 1990s (when the book was written). It's a worthwhile read for any Christian wanting to think deeply about how to wisely interact with and impact culture.

[Rudy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though this book was originally written in 1999, its themes still ring true, if not more, in 2023 as I write this review. While he can be a bit wordy and borderline repetitive (for the sake of driving home his message), in this book Charlie Peacock presents a comprehensive look at the inner workings of the CCM industry as a whole. I certainly can't recommend this book to everyone based on the simple fact that most readers won't be interested in a deep dive of CCM, the lessons and ideas presented within are broad and applicable to far more than just musical creation and promotion. At the Crossroads is as much a critical look at faith in action as it is a look at a musical industry.

[Timothy Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a fine insiders view of the CCM industry. I love the way Peacock both spoke candidly about the industry's shortcomings while still affirming its strengths. He issues a powerful challenge to think outside current paradigms to more fully reach people for Jesus and to build up the church. I especially like his emphasis on the ownership God has of all truth, even if it's broader than truth we usually hear on a Christian radio station.

Read it to get that view. Read it to have your philosophy challenged. Read it to have your faith resituated.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simply fantastic foundation for a theology of artistry, especially as it pertains to music. This book is a true hidden gem if you are a creative who wants to think seriously about how your art-making fits into God’s world.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning with a biblical theology of the place of music in God’s creation and kingdom, this book moves through the history of the CCM movement, tracing out the theological and philosophical influences which shaped it into what it is today. Its story offers a fascinating example of the terrible danger of a good idea which isn’t grounded in the whole counsel of God; the emphasis on the Spirit’s guidance (starting from a distrust of institutional religion) turned into an emphasis on personal experiences as opposed to biblical facts, and the emphasis on evangelism (fueled by premillenial eschatology and the belief that the Rapture was imminent) turned into an emphasis on ONLY the bare minimum message to ensure quick salvation experiences for as many people as possible as opposed to a salvation grounded in the entirety of the Word of God and pointing not to a hope for immediate heaven but to a life of biblical faithfulness (of which the verbal proclamation of the simplest form of the gospel message is, though vital, but a small part). From these seemingly innocuous roots, the CCM movement has become a tree whose musical fruit may be good as a proportionate part of a balanced biblical diet but, if eaten exclusively, will poison the soul.

Peacock points out many dangers either starting from or fostered by this movement and its foundational lack of principles. Some of these are general, such as the “ghetto” mentality, in which Christians bring from the world into the church everything they consider good (from contemporary musical styles to bookstores and coffee shops), thus becoming more and more of a small, narrowly-focused clique rather than a powerful voice speaking into the world and transforming it. Another general problem is increased spiritual laziness and immaturity, as Christians use the CCM industry’s guidelines (having the name of Jesus or an evangelistic message in the lyrics) as a “shortcut” to help them avoid the hard critical thinking necessary to determine what music is truly biblical and praiseworthy. Some of the dangers are specifically music-related, such as the question of the weakening of the church through the trite and shallow theology stemming from such a limited range of lyrical options within the guidelines of the movement, and the question of the damage done to the Christian witness when those who claim to believe and serve Christ act as if adding a few Jesus-words to their lyrics can compensate for artistically bad musical contributions.

But ultimately this is not a book of whiny complaint or bitter recrimination. Peacock writes with a pastor’s heart as well as a musician’s insight, offering a call to humility and to hope, to repentance in areas of failure and to restoration of the bigger vision offered by Christ. We stand, as he says, at the crossroads, and the next step is the one that counts.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlie Peacock may be the most insightful man in the modern Christian music industry. I have now read this book twice, ten years separating the readings. Upon my re-completion of the book I am now more convinced than a decade ago that Peacock has written the seminal tome on what it really means to take music created by Believers to everyone everywhere. His ideas are huge and true ideas. Ideas of God's musical people involved with everyone everywhere; ideas of coming to terms with a comprehensive kingdom perspective of "all the earth;" ideas of taking music to the world, "without asking permission of any gatekeeper save God." This is a book about an industry that is at a crossroads of decision. Honestly, this is more accurately a book about an industry that WAS at a crossroads ten years ago and that took a wrong turn at the moment of truth. Rather than deride the continuum of poor choices made by "Christian" industry insiders, Peacock prescribes a cure for what ails. It's amazing what a kingdom perspective can remedy.

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really an outstanding and thought-provoking book. Peacock is obviously an authority on the subject matter and has great insights into the industry that is CCM. However, I think the subtitle is a bit deceiving because the book is about so much more than music. Peacock challenges traditional ways of thinking and negative stereotypes not just in music, but the Christian life as a whole. I would highly recommend this and encourage every Christian to read through it, whether they are a big fan of CCM or not. Not only will you get great background info on the origins of the contemporary Christian music movement, you will also be challenged in your walk and your faith.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely enlightened me on the "inside scoop" of the Christian Contemporary Music Industry. After a personal inside experience with it in Nashville in 2002, my perspective has really been affected to, I feel, a more realistic viewpoint. Not always as charming or genuine as one might think, and definitely something to appreciate cautiously at times.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me not being a musician but just a consumer, I found the book interesting but windy.