Can we talk about sex? Is a theology of sex possible?

I’ve recently engaged significantly with Josh Butler’s new book “Beautiful Union: How God’s Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort of) Explains Everything”, culminating with this review.  The title of Butler’s book suggests that it wasn’t aimed so much at being a pastoral book on relationships -though some pastoral… Continue reading Can we talk about sex? Is a theology of sex possible?

Beautiful Union?

I recently wrote in response to an article that appeared on The Gospel Coalition website. The article was an extract from Josh Butler’s new book “Beautiful Union: How God’s Vision for Sex Points Us to the Good, Unlocks the True, and (Sort of) Explains Everything”  The extract provoked a great deal of controversy, hence the… Continue reading Beautiful Union?

Can we talk about sex and relationships? The pastoral challenges and pitfalls

I’m returning to the themes coming out of The Gospel Coalition’s controversial article “Sex is not your saviour but it points to the one who is” which provided an excerpt from Josh Butler’s forthcoming book, Beautiful Unnion. As promised, I want to deal here with some of the challenges and pitfalls around talking theologically and… Continue reading Can we talk about sex and relationships? The pastoral challenges and pitfalls

Why getting our theology around sex and marriage is important but difficult

A few weeks back, controversy erupted around The Gospel Coalition publishing an extract from Josh Butler’s up and coming book, Beautiful Union.  Recently, Preston Sprinkle hosted Josh along with Sandy Richter, an OT scholar and Brenna Blain, an advocate for abuse victims on his podcast to discuss the book and the controversy.  You can watch… Continue reading Why getting our theology around sex and marriage is important but difficult

A raw conversation about sex and theology

As the fall out continues from Josh Butler’s book, Beautiful Union, and that car crash TGC article, we are, I think beginning to see some helpful reflection and interaction. Issues around marriage, sex and intimacy are I think of importance to those of us who care about pastoring well and so whilst some of us… Continue reading A raw conversation about sex and theology

One Flesh – Is it just about sex?

The other day, I wrote about how a particular problem at the moment is where we acknowledge that a theology of everything is possible but do this by breaking everything down into its constituent parts and analysing them leading to what I called the anatomisation of everything. I was making a wider point but it… Continue reading One Flesh – Is it just about sex?

Is a husband his wife’s saviour?

Well the fire started the other day concerning sex, relationships and salvation doesn’t show any signs of dying down. Rachel Denhollander shared this from John MacArthur as another example of problematic teaching about marriage. Now, to be fair to Josh Butler whose TGC article kicked off this whole debate, I think that he might say… Continue reading Is a husband his wife’s saviour?

Just because the mob is after you doesn’t mean there isn’t a real problem

The saga about the bloke who wrote an article about sex and salvation, had it withdrawn and then had to resign continues.  Now, some more prominent evangelicals are beginning to find their voice on the matter.  Now, for what its worth, I’m not too worried if people were quiet in the early stages, we can… Continue reading Just because the mob is after you doesn’t mean there isn’t a real problem

What we don’t talk about: The Fall out from that TGC article about sex and salvation

Following “that” article on The Gospel Coalition Website about sex and salvation, the saga continues.  You may remember that at the time I wrote my response, the original article had been pulled and replaced with a longer article from Josh Butler’s book.  Well, if you go to the page now, you’ll instead find a statement… Continue reading What we don’t talk about: The Fall out from that TGC article about sex and salvation