This is a big misconception that needs to go die. It makes it seem like our generation(s) are way worse than any others. I’ve had to bring this up several times in the past year in different contexts, the most recent one here.
The New Testament epistles were written to men and women in a MORE sex saturated culture than us. Men and women were openly banging temple prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6, 2 Corinthians 6), having sex with their father’s wives (1 Corinthians 5 – “even something pagans wouldn’t tolerate” per Paul), and things like that. Pederasty/pedophilia (men having sex with young boys) was common and even romanticized some in Greek and Roman culture.
The apostles and Scripture called these Christian men and women to avoid sexual immorality and save sex to marriage.
Yes, the backdrop for which the New Testament Christians was worse than we have it now. Yes, there are now groups that are starting to try to legalize pedophilia, but we are far from there yet.
God’s design and morality are universal, but it’s easy to think that we are always living in a culture that has it the “worst.” I believe this mentality more easily leads to compromise due to many Christians feeling like it’s inevitable. It is not. The early Church dealt with it and survived effectively. We can too.
