I was looking forward to reading this book, but it was not what I expected. This book took metaphors too far. It drew conclusions that aren't in Scripture.

This is the first review that I have decided to openly post that is negative.

The theology espoused in this book is dangerous – which is the only reason why I feel the need to call it out for what it can do in the community of faith. I am not writing this review to call for hatred, harm, or hurt. I am writing this review to try and prevent the harm that this book has the potential to cause in the lives of believers of all ages.


Reading Level: Easy to Moderate
The general reading level is low, but there is a significant number of terms used in this book that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

Faith Engagement Level: Moderate to Digest
I will admit that I have had some difficulty in determining this category – this book was engaging in illustrative/applicable content, but it was not always from a faith perspective. Often the text used supporting arguments from cultures, and history rather than from Scripture or faith tradition – which became problematic as the theology of this book was openly rooted in folk lore rather than passages of Scripture.


Reader Age Recommended: Adults only.
I also cannot stress enough that if you are an individual who has experienced sexual trauma – Do Not Read. The content of this book is disturbing in the approach to sexual intimacy, identity, and in the use of sex as imagery for salvation. While it has been touted as a masterpiece of evangelical sexual ethics, this book showed an incredibly discriminatory view of Christian sexual ethics.

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TYPICALLY, MY REVIEWS COME FROM A POSITIVE ANGLE, AND FOCUS ON TWO KEY QUESTIONS:

WHY SHOULD I READ THIS BOOK?

WHAT DID THIS BOOK CHALLENGE ME TO DO?


This review will not be focusing on these questions – as there is no way that I can answer them with a sense of integrity. Do not read this book. For those of you who are reading this review that do not know me personally, I will be writing this review as a woman who has studied and taught theology for more than a decade, as an author, as an Ordained Pastor, and as a co-director of a professional development program for laity/clergy. I also find myself writing this review as a woman deeply impacted by the negative teachings associated with *unchecked* purity culture which resonate deeply with this work.

Please consider this a final warning to those who have experienced sexual trauma, to pass on reading this review. I will be using quotes from the text, and referencing some aspects which are difficult to engage. This review will also include references to content from the book that can be considered NSFW (Not Safe for the Workplace).


A Review of Beautiful Union

I don't like to discredit other pastors and other ministers of the gospel, and so I will make it very clear that I have not read other works from Joshua Ryan Butler, aside from those which he quoted within this text. This review is not making any claims about him as an individual or pastor.

This being said, when it comes to a theology as dangerous as the one that is espoused in this book, it is critical that people have a clear view of what it is really saying, and why it does not align with the heart of the gospel. The book Beautiful Union is dangerous, not only in the way that it misrepresents scripture, but in the way that it sets up individuals for failure within their marriages, their relationships, their family life, and ultimately in their own presentation of the gospel message to others. This book teaches a pattern of living and an understanding of personal identity that disinherits people from their ability to be the message of redemption to others.

In an effort to “restore” sex as an “icon” (xiii), this book instead pushes the metaphor of sexual intimacy beyond appropriate limits and reduces the role of the indwelling Holy Spirit to the image of semen entering the womb and birthing new life. I can see that he is trying to embrace the spiritual aspects of sexual intimacy in this metaphor, but in the attempt to see sex as “more than the raw, physical act” (xiii), the pendulum swings too far in the opposite direction. Sexual intimacy is ultimately elevated beyond his intended icon – with language used throughout the book that instead speaks of it as an idol.

"Similar to how semen is both seed and liquid, God plants the seed of his Word within and pours the river of his Spirit upon the parched and barren soil of our lives. Christ impregnates the church with the seed of his Word and the presence of his Spirit, which conceives us within her as children of God, who grow to emerge newborn into the kingdom" (66).

It has been several weeks since I was given the opportunity to read this book through a program that invites reviewers to give honest opinions of works before they release. In the weeks since reading this work, I've taken a lot of time to think and pray over the content of this book, and the extensive notes I took while reading.
It has been two weeks since I completed my reading, and I am still sick about the content. I need to make it clear that my disappointment with this book has little to do with the fact that it openly addresses sexual content – but rather the manner in which it addresses these matters. You can talk about sexual intimacy openly as an image for spiritual life without diverging into the realm of vulgarity.

I highly value the beauty of how the marriage image is used within the context of Scripture. I value the way Scripture speaks about the marriage bed with dignity, and care. Even if the fullness of the image of marriage is intended to be an image for salvation, this book moves beyond the sacredness of the union that God has given us.
This book presents sex as the key to understanding secrets of the Trinity, the work of Salvation and even the Temple architecture in Israel. This is an image that makes an idol out of the act that was given to us by God to be celebrated, but not to be worshiped. Sex becomes the key to understanding, and in doing so brings us to a dangerous place: can you intimately experience God if you haven’t intimately experienced sex? While the author tries to address this question with affirmation, his overall content would say no.

When sex is venerated and elevated in language like this book uses, there are a few key dangerous thoughts that emerge:
1. Sex as an icon can easily become an idol. If sex becomes an idol, we are doing little more than erecting our own Asherah Poles. His approach to sex and how it relates to Scripture reduces the Christian faith to little more than a sex cult.
a. “You were made to be a bridal temple for God’s indwelling presence, united with him in covenantal union as his body. “Come to me and drink,” Jesus invites all who are thirsty, with the provocative promise: “Out of his belly will flow rivers of living water.” Guess where Jesus is standing when he says this? In the temple. Also vital is when he says it: the climax of a national festival where the people cried out in front of the sanctuary for God to bring the river of life rushing forth from the temple again.” 202
b. “What gave the temple this life-giving power? Beautiful Union. It was the “hot spot” of God’s presence, where heaven and earth intersected and God dwelt in intimacy and power with his bride. The Most Holy Place was like the bedroom, where this union was most powerfully consummated. God presence penetrated the temple, from this center brough life and abundance into the land. … The temple was associated with the female body.” (200)

2. Men are active participants in the salvation story as presented in this book, while women only represent passive participants. Stretching the metaphor this far can reinforce detrimental theologies that bring harm and subjugation to women.
a. "This should be shocking! It’s not only the giving of your vows at the altar but what happens in the honeymoon suite after that speaks to the life you were made for with God. A husband and wife’s life of faithful love is designed to point to greater things, but so is their sexual union! We’ll get to marriage soon enough in this book, but let’s start with this gospel bombshell: Sex is an icon of salvation. How? I’d suggest the language of generosity and hospitality can help us out." Pg 3
b. "You give the best you’ve got to give, lavishly pouring out your time, energy, or money. At a deeper level, generosity is a giving of not just your resources but your very self. And what deeper form of self-giving is there than sexual union where, particularly for the husband, he pours out his very presence not only upon but within his wife?"Pg 4
c. "The groom enters into the bride with his presence, while the bride receives the presence of the groom within herself". pg 12

3. Engaging in sexual union unlock our ability to understand truth more than those who do not have sex. This is Gnosticism – and is a dangerous form of heresy.
a. "Do you treat sex as holy? Do you see it as something sacred? You should, because this beautiful union unlocks the true purpose of the world: to be filled with the life-giving presence of God." pg 168
b. “Sex is a vehicle for life.” 190

I am not saying that Joshua Ryan Butler is guilty of heresy, as he does try to place fences on his own teachings to guide readers. However, this book teaches so little from the actual Scriptures, that readers may begin to fill in the gaps with their own personal experiences of sexual intimacy. The author begins his work by explaining that he “used to look to sex for salvation” (3), and talks about the dangers of how the world looks to the physical act of sex for salvation. While this introduction gave me a brief moment of hope, it quickly became apparent that his solution was to tack on the spiritual importance of sex rather than renegotiate the way in which we approach intimacy.

Beautiful Union talks about the beauty and the glory of how God created us to experience the union of sex. Yet, the pattern in which this book venerates sex moves beyond the role it was intended to have and in doing so takes away from the beauty that it shows. The author goes so far as to reduce sexual intimacy as a factory for humanity (191), and in an effort to create space for individuals struggling with infertility he virtue signals their struggle and comforts them with teachings that their barrenness is a holy symbol of what our own human condition is without God.

Joshua talks about the beauty and the glory that comes from knowing God intimately, but also uses language and illustrations that cheapen his own message. In doing so, he has drafted a tool that will be used to further isolate, alienate, and teach women that they are lesser than in God's redemptive story. Not once in this text is a woman brought into the message of salvation without the image of the partner, infusing it into her. Not once. Women are described as agents of hospitality – receptacles, but not participants – for the Gospel to be instilled into them.

However, throughout this book, we are taught that man's two feet, able hands, and fruitful loins are all representations of the gospel message. In this presentation, man alone is an image bearer of the divine. Women simply carry the message for a time.

As a closing point of note on this book, there has also been significant push back from some scholars quoted – citing that their work has been misquoted or misrepresented.

Beautiful union IS NOT a book that I would recommend for you to read. I write this review only for the sake that, you know, that it is not a healthy image of the gospel message or a marriage bed. I write this book review, as a caution that when you hear this being used and preached as authority on matters of sex and salvation, it is time to consider the soil in which your faith is growing. Ultimately, this is a book that we need to be aware of, if only for the sake of mitigating the damage that it can do if we leave it unchecked.

I'm praying for each of you that have already been exposed to this. As someone who has experienced some trauma in my own life, I don't want you to walk through this alone. Find a support system if you're exposed to this kind of teaching. Do not try to carry the weight on your own.

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!

I apologize but I cannot write a review of this book. After only a few chapters I could no longer get through the over-pornified nature of the content. After a pornography addiction at 8 years old that took me more than 20 years to break free from, this kind of content was reminding me of that past and though Christian wording is used, I couldn't get past the overt sexual tones coming from this book. Again, my apologies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this for review. I could not get past the first chapter- the author comparing husbands having sex to the gospel and Christ's salvation. I find this type of comparison- the husband is in (physically in sex) in wife as Jesus is in the church- abhorrent. This was on page 22.

Overall, a good contribution to the discussion of marriage. What most people will struggle with ranges from the first chapter to the first section—the choice of language and approach can certainly be questioned and challenged. Yet after that, Butler provides an orthodox view of marriage and sexuality.

Be prepared for Joshua Ryan Butler's Beautiful Union: How God's Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort of) Explains Everything to be a longer explanation of "It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve."

People who read this book already have their firm beliefs about homosexuality. While the book touches on other aspects of sex (infertility, adoption, Song of Songs), much of its explanations revolve around how God created sex as "diversity-in-union". Male and female. Complementary.

If you already agree with this, then you'll enjoy this book. If you're on the fence, then I can see how this book might sway you to the Christian side - or not. And if you, like me, don't believe that homosexuality is a sin, then your mind will not be changed, but it's good to hear the reasonings of the "other side" to be informed.

I took notes after each chapter and even highlighted a few passages of interest in my free e-ARC. There were a few things that I found interesting regarding divorce (God hates divorce but not divorced people, and divorce is permissible even though it images a shaky foundation and unreliable relationship with God), adultery (we cheat on God all the time and yet he continues to pursue us), adoption (Jesus was adopted by Joseph and God chooses us, so it's like we are adopted), and abortion ("Women and children facing difficult circumstances should have a flood of support from their church and community." - I don't think picketing abortion clinics or passing laws to punish women is reflecting this).

Was I intrigued by the book's title when I received the email about reviewing it? You bet! Did I enjoy the book? Meh. I didn't even know there was controversy surrounding the book before I started reading it. This article from Sheila Wray Gregoire at Bare Marriage does a great job explaining some of the problems in the book. Basically, if you're a woman, you're not going to like this book. And honestly, after reading about the controversy, I like this book even less.

Beautiful Union is published by Multnomah and is available to purchase now. I received a free e-ARC from the publisher.

Sex is beautiful. It is also sacred. When God created the human race, he was highly pleased. When sin entered the world, all hell broke loose. Whatever God had created became corrupted or tainted with sin. Sex is one of them. Just like how Adam and Eve allowed sin to turn their innocence into shame, more often than not, sex had negative connotations. What God had created as good and beautiful, descended into something people are generally ashamed of. So, they hide. They say that sex talk equals promiscuity. They presume that any thoughts of sexuality or sexual act are "dirty" until proven otherwise. We need a healthy correction to this beautiful gift of God. This book is an attempt to do just that. It studies the intent of God's gift, the beauty, the mystery, and the vision God has for us. In other words, sex is a beautiful thing from God and we need to recover this beauty culturally, mentally, and theologically. Butler first looks at the way modern culture has corrupted the original meaning and intent of sex. He compares the biblical and cultural use of language to describe sex. One of the distinctions is how the Bible does not shy away from the description, unlike the way modern culture treats the subject. Perhaps, this has something to do with the way sin has triggered the human tendency to hide things that they perceive as inherently shameful. Butler then makes his case by boldly pushing back against the cultural norms with two words: Generosity and Hospitality. Taking on biblical boldness, he tries to connect sex with the nature of grace. Using complementary language, one party receives while the other gives. Butler makes a theological stretch (albeit a stretch too far), to cement the roles of each gender into the giving and receiving metaphor. He spends some time describing what union is and why it is beautiful. Going back to the umbrella of God's creation, sex is indeed a beautiful gift from God. Freedom and grace accompany this beautiful gift. Using God's identity as the Triune God, he shows us how we are made to belong to one another. He then goes on to describe and also redeem words deemed taboo, like "orgasm," "making love," "semen," "vagina," etc. He also covers topics with regard to abortion, adultery, birth control, diversity, divorce, singleness, gay-sex, "the leave and cleave gospel," and the dangers of "cheap sex," the "sexual prosperity gospel," the latter being the comparison between purity keeping and legalism. In that aspect, I think Butler has given us lots of food for thought on how to think about such issues from a biblical standpoint.

Part One describes the beauty of sex as what God has created. Part Two looks at the ways the world has corrupted the thinking of sexual matters. Part Three is Butler's attempt to redeem human sexuality based on God's vision. He begins with a humourous take on sex based on his childhood perception of a trampoline in his parents' bedroom. He ends with a final declaration and we are all made in the image of God, and blessed with the reality of love.

My Thoughts
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I remember one of the most poignant sayings about medicines, in general, is from the Canadian physician, Dr. William Osler who once said, "The person who takes medicine must recover twice, once from the disease and once from the medicine." The stronger the push, the stronger the push-back. This is exactly what is happening with this book and the reactions to it. First, let me comment on his attempt to describe the problem. I think Butler recognizes the importance to destigmatize sexuality and sex in general. In a culture inundated with sexual images that portray sex negatively, sex has become a taboo subject, especially among conservative circles. While most modern societies have progressed beyond the Puritan lifestyles of the Victorian era, there is still a sense of widespread reservation when people mention sex or the sex act. Many words and symbols used in modern times tend to paint sex somewhat negatively. Movies with explicit sexual scenes will have disclaimers that say, "Viewer discretion is advised." Feminists accused advertising agencies of sexualizing females through scantily clad women or provocative images. Pornography has moved from printed tabloids and magazines to the Internet. Commercials on birth control, hormone medication, and other stimulants tend to be shown discreetly during the day and particularly with certain movies with heavy sexual content. Even in language, some words associated with sex are connected with crudeness and vulgarity, not to be used in mainstream society.

In a pushback against Butler's prescription, controversy has arisen over the use of certain language in the book. There is concern about sexualizing or stereotyping women using theological justification. Butler has all the right intent. However, his prescription has become an unwelcome theological stretch. He is right to point out that sex won't lead to our salvation. He is however out of line to compare the human act of sex with the nature of God. This is especially when he becomes too explicit with regard to the giving of oneself as if the sexual act is all about reaching the climactic ecstasy. He is right about mutual self-giving but his use of the words like "penetrates," "pours out," and "receives" can make some readers uncomfortable. Worse, it leads to certain stereotyping about who is the one giving and who is the one receiving. With regard to this point about how one party gives while the other receives, I would instead say: In a one-flesh union, both parties mutually agree to give and to receive in a loving union. In our modern culture, inclusivity and gender equality are increasingly sacred, so anything that compromises them will risk a vigorous pushback.

Having said that, part of the discomfort or angry pushback might be due to reservations over this topic. Some of us might not even be out of the cultural "shutting the lid on sex" woods yet. Moreover, our views and attempts to redeem sex are still based on an imperfect, sinful, or even wounded human lens. For example, a sexually abused individual might not take to heart easily the points mentioned in this book.

If there is one way to summarize the book, it would be this. The intent is good, and the description is fair, but the prescription is over the top. Will I recommend this book? Cautiously perhaps.

Joshua Ryan Butler is a lead pastor of Redemption Tempe, a thriving church near Arizona State University. He is also an award-winning author of two critically acclaimed books. He and his wife, Holly, along with their three children, reside in Arizona.

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Waterbrook & Multnomah Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

This book was exactly what I needed to improve my marriage. I found the information incredibly helpful and insightful. I would recommend this to any married couple.

Proposing A New View Of Sexual Ethics. This book is remarkably well written and remarkably well balanced, one that no matter your views on any sex or gender related topic, at some point here you're most likely going to fall into the classic preacher joke of "Woah, woah, woah, preacher! You're stepping on my toes!" "I apologize, my [brother/ sister] in Christ. I was aiming for your heart." (and/ or, in this case, the brain as well) :D In other words, no matter your views on these topics coming into this book, there are more than likely going to be things you're wholeheartedly agreeing with... and others that are likely going to make you want to throw the book out of the nearest window. For those who have routinely been condemned by existing Christian ethics, know that there is no condemnation here - indeed, Butler spends a fair amount of time examining exactly what Paul was doing in Romans, one of the oft-cited condemnation passages, and explains how it doesn't really directly apply to sexual issues, but to *all* issues. And yet, at the very same time, Butler does not shy away from the idea that homosexuality is a perversion of God's perfect design and intention, and explains a new view of exactly why he still holds to this position. Ignoring Frank Viola's Parable Of Marvin Snurdley, Butler does a truly remarkable and seemingly thorough job of looking at all issues surrounding sex and gender and shows that traditional views are the closest to being correct... though not always the closest in actual reasoning or in explaining *why* they are correct, which is something he seeks to change here. Oh, and those who have read Ted Dekker's Circle Series are likely to notice some similar language. Indeed, while it is unknown to me if Butler had ever read this particular (somewhat famous in Christian circles) series, Butler here truly elevates and grounds some of the concepts Dekker explores particularly early in that series.

The single star deduction is for prooftexting, which while not *as* prevalent here and while Butler *mostly* explains the full contexts of the passages he spends extended time with (such as the creation account in Genesis and the aforementioned passage of Romans, among a few others), he *does* still engage in citing Biblical verses out of context at times in "support" of some point or another, and I am on a one-man-war to eradicate this practice everywhere I see it. In book reviews, my only weapon is the single star deduction, and thus I apply it in all cases where I notice the problem.

Ultimately this is a book that will prove highly controversial, and yet it is also a book that truly everyone, particularly those who consider themselves "thinkers" or "educated" or "learned" or some such, will need to at least read and consider. Very much recommended.