Introduction One aspect of the reformation of the Church in the 16th century had to do with reforming the beliefs and practices of the culture regarding sexual immorality.   A homily that became one of the fundamental teachings for the Anglican Church, written in 1543, aimed to correct the loose morals of the times. [1]   It was titled ‘Homily Against Whoredom and Adultery,’ but it has in view every form of sexual immorality: adultery (breaking wedlock), whoredom, fornication, and uncleanness.   This essay will provide an outline of the teaching, with the intention of pointing out how it remains relevant. Culture First, the homily points out that it is timely.   Sexual immorality was considered by many as no sin at all.   The context of the time was permissive and needed correction.   The sin in this day reigned above other sins.   The immorality of the time was not limited to one culture or region but appeared to be worldwide.   We see in this point that the homily was arguing

Imagine a roundtable discussion in the early Church with the apostles in attendance that addressed questions about sexuality and culture.  This 1st century discussion would not have been very different from a discussion in our day.  There were some teachers who approached the culture from Scripture, and others who approached Scripture from the influence of the culture.  The Christian apostles had to respond: would they maintain the sexual ethics of the Old Testament, an ethic from Judaism, even in a Gentile world, or would they accommodate their theology to the Graeco-Roman practices of their day?  This imaginary meeting that follows did, in fact, take place (Acts 15)—we just do not have details of the discussion.  Yet we do have the writings of the apostles in the New Testament, which are presented here. In attendance of the imaginary meeting were Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, Jude, and an unknown apostle who was writing a detailed work to a Hebrew church in the diaspora.  A