I keep quotes and odd things. They are useful. So, first, a hat tip to Spartacus, who linked to the first quote in Facebook. Mentor is a good priest, and he reminds us that polyamory and sadistic bisexuality was normal in Rome. The olnly cultus that disgusted them was that of Cybele, where young men ritually emasculated themselves. (That has a death rate, by the way). And the only religions they destroyed were those who practised human sacrifice or did not pay respect to Rome.

Rome learned how to destroy a culture at Carthage. They destroyed the Druids: if Spain was raised to a great height so that the Mayans would be removed from history, one could speculate that Rome grew so that the death cults of the Celts woudl die.

And the way that Christians differed from the pagans around them is that they were sexually continent.

This sampling of texts from the second century demonstrates that one of the main ways that Christians stood out from their surrounding culture was their distinctive sexual behavior. Of course, this doesn’t mean Christians were perfect in this regard. No doubt, many Christians committed sexual sins. But Christianity as a whole was still committed to striving towards the sexual ethic laid out in Scripture–and the world took notice.

Needless to say, this history has tremendous implications for Christians in the modern day. We are reminded again that what we are experiencing in the present is not new—Christians battled an over-sexed culture as early as the first and second century. But it is also a reminder why Christians must not go along with the ever-changing sexual norms of our world. To do so would not only violate the clear teachings of Scripture, but it would also rob us of one of our greatest witnessing opportunities. In as much as marriage reflects Christ’s love for the church, Christians’ commitment to marriage is a means of proclaiming that love.

In the end, Christianity triumphed in its early Greco-Roman context not because it was the same as the surrounding pagan culture, but because it was different.

The current models we have for marriage and for sexuality are broken. We believe all should be equal — in results — and not merely in moral accountability. All of us are fallen, all of us need Christ, and all are morally accountable. At that point we are equal. But women are not men: as anyone who has been in romantic relationships or had siblings of the other gender knows.

We need to rediscover the boundaries around fidelity. And we need things that occupy us that do not inflame our greed, or lust, or envy. Or gluttony.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

(Ephesians 5:1-20 ESV)

We are all tempted. All of us. This is manipulated by every corporation from Microsoft to McDonalds. There are places that we ought not to go… both on the internet and in life, for they inflame our weaknesses. And we all struggle.

No one is exempt. We live in this culture.

But the early church lived in a time of corruption and systematized evil. Where a slave could be raped with impunity, and rebellion was punished by crucifixion. Where the legions, once noble, were but chess-pieces in a lethal game of politics that lead to the imperial purple — and all too often being knifed by the praetorians some years later.

And they withstood this. With difficulty, and pain, and tears. They kept the marriage bed sacred. They shared not that which was for them. And their women taught girls how to care for men; while the elders commanded men to love their wives.

In this time, the church is not teaching correctly. They see the issues, and then damn those who collect or view or are tempted, so that anger is abuse and pornography adultery. Now, both are wrong, but blowing up marriages is more so. Older generations of women knew to keep their husband well wifed up, and that being a wife was both a job and a skillset that had to be taught.

Men were told to return to their wives, and stay away from those who would tempt them. The structure of society was such that temptations were limited.

Because we are fallen.

We need to rediscover this. And if that means that we are accused of being patriarchal, oppressive, racist, non progressive or unpatriotic because we no not let the femininst or gender fluid rule, so be it. They will take many to perdition. Let it not be us, or our families.