Beautiful Union: How God's Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort Of) Explains Everything

By Joshua Ryan Butler

Book Overview

A powerful call for Christians to understand sex as a window into God's story of redemption, and a validating guide to living with authentic love in a changing culture--from the influential pastor and author of The Skeletons in God's Closet.

Beautiful isn't likely the first word that comes to mind when we think about sex.

Our reactions are as varied as our experiences and backgrounds. Perhaps the word brings up past baggage. Perhaps it holds yearning for a dream that has never come true. Maybe we would rather not talk about it. Maybe it's all we want to talk about. Around us, our culture is divided by this topic. On one side, "progressive" voices seek to dismantle historic Christian teachings to fit current norms. On the other side, "conservative" voices can reinforce messages of shame, judgement, and repression.

Beautiful Union offers a third way, one that is both true and beautiful. It gives us a provocative, positive look into the deepest Christian understanding of sex . . . and what sex reveals about God, our world, and even ourselves. Through biblical teaching and livable, joyful answers to our tough questions about sexuality, author and pastor Joshua Ryan Butler shows how sex illuminates the structure of creation, the nature of salvation, the abundance of God's kingdom, and God's heartbeat for the world.

Discover afresh the beautiful invitation of our sexuality . . . as God intended it to be.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593445031
• ISBN13: 9780593445037
• Release Date: April 2023
• Publisher: Multnomah Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful Union is beautifully written!

This is a review for Beautiful Union by Joshua Ryan Butler.  I am reviewing this for NetGalley.  I chose this book because I have been married 35 years, have a great and godly marriage, am interested in understanding intimacy/the marriage bed, and God's plan for this beautiful act found in His word, and all that entails  so I could understand even more for my marriage, and then possibly counsel other marriages.  I was not ready for what I found while I read this book, and I am literally in awe y'all! This book is about is really about the beautiful union that God created and wants with each of us, and Joshua Butler has been given a glimpse into the divine and miraculous relationship between our Creator and ourselves. I literally thought this was going to draw me closer to my husband and really deepen our marriage, and then help me to counsel others, but all that Joshua explains, comes first with our God thru a relationship with Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit!  This book used Gods word to show me who God is, how He sees me, what He wants with me, and then how that flows out into my relationship with my husband and then others! It helped me realize the counterfeit and lies that our culture has taught us, but is not what God has designed at all!!! I never really understood how God truly feels about me, and throughout this book in conjunction with the Bible, the Lord whispered into my heart of how He wants a beautiful union with me, and how and why all else is a counterfeit! I learned through His relationship with Israel, what adultery actually means,, and how it is so damaging, and I learned how seeking the brief joys of the world cannot compare with the joy of being in constant intimacy with my King.  This book explained so much to me in a way that I could understand, and will continue to study in addition to the Bible so I can allow the Lord to continue to reveal Himself, and His plan to continue in the intimacy that began many years ago!  Now I can take what I have learned, and continue to grow my relationship with the Lord, and out of that beautiful union will continue to flow to my marriage and the rest of my relationships. So I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, and say that I believe it is both well and beautifully written, and it has changed my life, and the way I see God, and my union with Him!  But I don't want to keep it all to myself, but want to share it, so I highly recommend you read this book, and let your Creator teach you about the beautiful union He wants to have with you!