In an age where sexual immorality, impurity, licentiousness, and the like are glorified, idolized, and praised, which has ensnared and effeminized many of our youth, especially the young men, our holy father St. Polycarp warns in his epistle to the Philippians the following:
“If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, “we shall also reign together with Him,” provided only we believe.
In like manner, let the young men also be blameless in all things, being especially careful to preserve purity, and keeping themselves in, as with a bridle, from every kind of evil. For it is well that they should be cut off from the lusts that are in the world, since “every lust warreth against the spirit;” and “neither fornicators, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God,” nor those who do things inconsistent and unbecoming.”
– The Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians, Chapter 5.
Faith Unto Ages 