Proclaimer Blog
What is the meaning of sex?
I've just finished reading this new book by Denny Burk, published by Crossway and available in the UK for around £11.50 or as a £7 ebook. It's a comprehensive review of the purpose of sex (clue: it's to glorify God) and precisely what that means. It's well written and not plagued by too many anecdotes or imaginary couples (those kinds of things really get me going…..!!!). There are a lot of footnotes for this type of (non academic) book, and it's interesting that many of the footnotes are taken from books I have read and liked (Piper, Ash, Hollinger etc). Along the way, as well as affirming a robust and orthodox view of sex within marriage and its significance, Burk interacts with current issues: homosexuality, transgender and gender spectrum, admissability (or otherwise) of certain sexual acts, family planning and singleness.
This is an excellent book. It is well ordered, logical and begins with the things such a book ought to begin with. There's a flow to is which is natural and helpful. The footnotes perhaps indicate that much of its teaching is gathering together what is written well elsewhere, but even at that level, it's a helpful addition. Moreover, the number of footnotes also indicate that Burk is interacting closely and carefully with views with which he disagrees, partiuclarly revisionist hermeneutics. I found this really helpful.
I particularly valued his interaction with the Driscoll's chapter "Can I…..?" (which is – at best – sloppy in its exegesis and so leads to some alarming conclusions). Burk puts us straight. I also found his latter chapters on homosexuality and (especially) transgender, very helpful and thoughtful, although I wanted him to say more, but presumably the format and purpose of the book did not allow. Inevitably, there were some areas which I thought were overstated – he presents, for example, two views on whether the contraceptive pill is also an abortofacient in some detail. I'm not sure I agree with his conclusion. But these are very minor niggles.
However, here's the thing. I still prefer – as an overarching book – my colleague Christopher Ash's book on marriage: the big one. That may be familiarity. Burk certainly quotes it a lot, always (I believe) positively. But it's not available in the US, and because it is now 10 years old, it doesn't interact with some of the recent material in the same way Burk's does. That probably means Burk's will be out of date in a short season too. So be it. That's the way of things now. But for the moment, this is well worth a bit of your time and money and provides a useful, biblical, positive and thorough view of sex as the Bible presents it. Thanks Denny!