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

Narrated by: Joshua Ryan Butler

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2023 Joshua Ryan Butler (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The timeless biblical truth of God’s story of sex has been lost in our modern era. However, the sexual confusion and pain of our day demand that we return to this brilliant narrative, embracing not simply biblical rules for sex but God’s heart for our sexuality.”—Dr. Juli Slattery, president of Authentic Intimacy and author of God, Sex, and Your Marriage

“Beautiful Union is simply astonishing. It’s the Protestant magnum opus on sexual ethics we’ve been waiting for and one of the most important books I’ve ever read.”—Brett McCracken, senior editor at the Gospel Coalition and author of Uncomfortable and Hipster Christianity

“With joy, enthusiasm, and the wisdom drawn from years of pastoral experience, Beautiful Union will help readers discover what Saint Paul was talking about when he described the union of man and woman as a mega-mystery (see Ephesians 5:31-32). In the process, readers will discover the cure for what ails our sexually confused world.”—Dr. Christopher West, president of the Theology of the Body Institute and author of Our Bodies Tell God’s Story

Excellent book for married and singles.

This was very insightful, paints a beautiful image of scripture and was very enjoyable to read. This book points to the answer that our culture cries out for of meaning in sex, marriage, and ultimately our heavenly destination.

People love to be offended

I am convinced that most of the negative reviews are from people who haven't bothered to read the book. They're posting negative reviews because they're offended that someone would use sex as a metaphor of our relationship with God, which makes me wonder if those people have ever read their Bibles.

The Bible is full of sexual metaphor. Mankind is created in the image of God--not the physical image, but a spiritual and functional image--and God created man to get married, have sex, and make babies. It naturally follows that what human beings were created to do must image something about what God does, and the Bible confirms this over and over. Nearly every book of the Bible talks about how God's relationship to his people is like that of a family, and it sometimes uses explicit sexual imagery to talk about it, although that imagery is softened by translation.

Our modern culture is so overwhelmed with sexual pathologies that even the most devout people can't seem to see through the filth to the beauty that God intended. This book could be a great help for people who want to correct their vision, to see themselves, the people of God, and sexuality the way God intends for them to see it. But you have to be able to set aside your instinctive moral outrage at the mention of anything sexual and pay attention to what Butler is actually saying instead of what you imagine him to be saying.

Read the whole book before forming an opinion

This book has caused quite the ruckus this far. Though graphic in a section if not read in context it may come across odd for lack of a better word but in the context of the entire narrative this book and all its metaphors bring a forth a new lens to look at sexuality through while not swaying from Biblical truth. Joshua explains his learnings and insights of the gospel and sexuality from a place of humility and wisdom. Which is much needed in this cultural moment.
With all books that are not the Bible, remember you won’t agree with every thought and I’d question if you did. So as always with any work chew up the meat, spit out the bones. Praise the Lord for where unity of thought is and seek the Lord while engaging in further discussion on what you disagree with.

If it’s of any worth I give it a 10/10.
Joshua thanks for all the time and effort you put into this work in order to help further the conversation of sexuality and the Bible as we all seek Jesus on His design for life and flouring.

Brilliant and beautiful!

Joshua Ryan Butler paints a compelling vision of the beauty of biblical sexual love. This work will surprise skeptics and the convinced.

Superb

If there can be such a thing as evangelical catholicity, this book should be counted within its ranks. Exceptionally well done.

Beautiful Union is just that…BEAUTIFUL

Josh Butler has done an amazing job articulating the beauty of Gods design for sex. We always talk about how we need to have a bigger vision and a more beautiful vision to share with the world on sex and sexuality. This is that!! This was truly beautiful and stirred my soul to wonder anew at God and his love!! Thank you Josh!

This Hit Different

Western Christianity has ignored this subject in any real way. That’s why the church is hemmed up in “invisible chains!” This was refreshing. And done serious food for thought.

Exceptional!

Josh’s book is a gift to the church! It is pastorally nuanced, thoughtful and accessible to all. I really enjoyed this audiobook!

Great

Excellent and much-needed teaching on the theology of sex. A much-needed reframing of what sex is and why God created it in the first place. I’d recommend it for everyone in the church. It’s theology, but also intensely practical.

Also, although the tone of the book is informal, Butler’s prose borders on poetry at times. Lovely to listen to!

Very loving book

This book was canceled and created a twitter storm due to short section that seemed patriarchal out of context. The publisher made a mistake by releasing that early section. However, if you actually read it the book it is a very loving book. He humanizes all people, orphans, divorced, people from every circumstance. I am sad that the trigger, caused so many Christian’s to throw stones, yet it’s understandable in some regards as they were deeply hurt by some bad theology. Unfortunately we still live in a broken world, the devil was happy as Josh got canceled. This book spiritualizes sex in a healthy loving way that is out of my comfort zone. Of course I disagreed with some spots however we’ll done Josh. I pray for you and your families healing from the accusations thrown at you.