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Prostitution and
the
P
ROSTITUT!ON
is as old as man
and has been a problem to society
since biblical times. Yet strangely,
millions today don't know what the
Bible says about
this
social
problem.
Modero clergymen have a vast
assortment of ideas about how pros–
titution should be dealt with. Inter–
estingly however, their proffered
solutions to the problem often con–
tradict the biblical solution.
States Dr. Robert Denton of the
General Theological Seminary.
"They didn't worry too much about
prostitution in Biblical days...."
Another, Howard Moody. senior
minister. Judson Memorial Church
of the United Church of Christ.
added: "Consenting adults should
be free to engage in sexual activ–
ity. .. . Prostitution is a victimless
crime."
Still another, Gary Marshall, associ–
ate pastor, Holy Trinity Lutheran
Church. opines. "Legalizing pros–
titution makes good sense
to
me."
And perhaps most shocking of all,
Ralph Clingan, pastor. Ascension
Presbyterian Church, asserted: " l'm
all for it. ... The existence of prosti–
tutíon in biblical times was always
disdained but never forbidden...."
What does the Bible say about
prostitution? Does it condemn it or
condone it? What approach should
society have toward this problem, if
it were to follow biblical guidelines?
The Bible makes two things clear:
Prostitut ion should be banned. and
merey and compassion should be
shown toward the women who have
been victimized by this illicit trade.
Three thousand five hundred
years ago, when the ancient nation
of Israel lcft Egyptian slavery, God
instructcd thcm: " Do not prostitute
your daughte r and so make her a
whore: thus the land shall not play
the prostitute and be full of lewd–
ness" (Leviticus 19:29). (All quota–
tions are from
The New English
Bible
unless otherwise stated.) God
also commanded, "There shall be
no whore of the daughters of
Israel ..." (Deuteronomy 23:17,
KJV).
Despite these clear rules, ancient
Israel began circumventing God's
laws. Almost immediately, the
people plunged into sexual contact
which had been forbidden (Num–
bers 25: 1). Throughout the follow–
ing generations of Israel.
prostitution was never dealt with
successfully because the nation
never wholeheartedly obcyed the
laws of God. In fact, one of the
mightiest heroes of ancient Israel,
Samson. had a weakness for women.
During the days of Solomon.
when Israel was at its peak of great–
ness. prostitution thrived. (One of
Solomon's first judgments con–
cerned two harlots -
r
Kings 3: 16-
28.) Solomon himself set a bad ex–
ample of sexual conduct, since he
had 700 wives and 300 concubines
- he was "a lover of women" the
ancient Chronicler relates
(1
Kings
11: 1-3).
Ironically, Solomon himself wrote
about the dangers of young men
falling into the hands of prostitutes.
In Proverbs. he declared: "Why, my
son. are you wrapped up in the !ove of
an adulteress? Why do you embrace a
loose woman?" (Proverbs 5:20.)
~------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------~
A prostitute often comes from a
broken borne. an unstable family, or
from a slum environment. She may
associate as a young girl with a mor–
ally loose crowd. Her relationship
with her father is generally negative.
After she leaves home and is on her
own, she may have difficulty finding
a job. Desiring money and the nicer
things of life, the girl may know of
friends or acquaintances who are
prostitutes. The hours are not bad,
the money seems good, and not
much effort is required. So she
makes the transition from tbe
straight world into a new career
12
which promises much but delivers
little. For unlike most professions,
the prostitute's mobility
is
downward
with increased age and experience.
A few years ago in south Seattle,
Washington, a young man thought
of a scheme to earn fast money. He
knew a lot of girls in a local high
school, approached them, and asked
if they would like to make sorne
easy money on weekends.
Many of the young, na'ive girls
were attracted to the idea. They
wanted money so tbey could have
nice clothes and buy extra things for
themselves. The young pimp prom-
ised them they would be treated
well. Since they were Oriental girls.
he said, they would receive prefer–
ential treatment and more money
than other girls.
The girls bought the idea, but
soon found out it wasn't as they
thought it would be. They had no
idea of the headache and problems
prostitution would cause.
They bid their clandestine activity
from their parents. Sorne quit after
a while. Others began to feel
ashamed, but they were stuck. Their
pimp soon changed his tune and
tbreatened to tell their parents if
PLAIN TRUTH July·August 1973
..
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