Should Christians Support Laws Against Prostitution?

Poor Jimmy Carter. It must be tough for a life-long liberal Democrat to almost sound like a conservative Republican.

In a recent Washington Post op-ed, the former president argues that to curb prostitution, the government should punish those who buy sex rather than those who sell it. Carter’s one-sided approach is why I say that he almost sounds like a conservative since the typical conservative is perfectly happy with both parties being locked in a cage for engaging in peaceful, private, voluntary, consensual activity.

Carter is disturbed that “some human rights and public health organizations are advocating the full legalization of the sex trade.” He agrees with “Amnesty International, UNAIDS and other groups that say that those who sell sex acts should not be arrested or prosecuted,” but “cannot support proposals to decriminalize buyers and pimps.” He equates prostitution with “violence against women,” “domination,” “oppression,” and “exploitation.” Legalizing the act of paying money for sex “debases men by assuming that they are entitled to access women’s bodies for sexual gratification” and teaches every young boy that “women and girls are commodities to be bought and sold.” To be clear, Carter is arguing against prostitution itself, not just “the harm that accompanies it.”

One, there is no warrant in the New Testament for Christians to support laws against prostitution. There is no warrant in the New Testament for Christians to support the government arresting, fining, and/or imprisoning prostitutes, pimps, or johns—as long as they are not aggressing against anyone or violating someone’s property rights.

And two, Christians are very inconsistent when they support laws against prostitution and not other immoral activities or sins. The immorality of prostitution is without question. The sinfulness of prostitution is without question. The question, then, is why don’t Christians want the government to go after people for other immoral activities and sins? Are not wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony the “seven deadly sins”? Does not the Bible say: “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19)? Why prostitution and not these things? Why prostitution and not the sins they commit? This is where I say: To ask the question is to answer it.

No, Christians shouldn’t support laws against prostitution. Just like they shouldn’t support laws against gambling, drug use, homosexuality, blasphemy, adultery, fornication, cohabitation, and transporting unlicensed dentures across state lines. Just like they shouldn’t support laws against any victimless crime. Every crime needs a tangible victim and measurable damages.

Yes, Christians should support outreach ministries to prostitutes and other “sinners.” Instead of looking to the government to curb prostitution, they should do something about it themselves.

What consenting adults do on their property or in the privacy of their homes, hotel rooms, and cars is their business as long as their actions don’t infringe upon the rights of others. This is true even if Christians don’t approve of the things they are doing.

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