In light of the alleged allegations of against Mr. Robert Kraft who was linked to two alleged visits to the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, last month. It sparked a very interesting observation and conversation.

Now my understanding of the definition of the word consent is: compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed by another, agreement as to action or opinion.

Thus, if two consenting adults enter into relations of passion, sex it’s okay. No law has been broken because they both consented. Sometimes called “the oldest profession,” prostitution is known by many names, from streetwalkers and brothels to sophisticated call-girl or escort services.

However, whatever name it goes by, prostitution is illegal in almost all fifty states.

Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. Prostitution is sometimes described as sexual services, commercial sex or, colloquially, hooking.

Now let me be perfectly clear. I’m not advocating that prostitution is okay.

But I’m bringing to the forefront the real question, what is the real crime?

In the arena of prostitution, you have those who are consenting to a proposal by another or agreed to an action or service which includes payment. What is it about the payment that makes the consenting act illegal?

I submit to your thought process that the real crime is in self-worth. How much is integrity worth? How much is my self-worth truly worth? What is the net worth of my self-worth?  

These persons who are offering sex services for payment have placed a monetary value on the self-esteem, self-worth, self-value.

The persons who are paying for these services are placing and or agreeing to the value of the person that these services are being provided.

This is the true crime and the perpetrators are those who failed to build self-worth and/or those who helped to devalue self-worth. As parents and guardians, we are responsible and accountable to build and instill values into our children’s lives. Help them to value others as well.  

It’s very easy to sit and negotiate a price paid for services. Whatever happened to putting in the work? Looking for not just benefits but a retirement package.

We’ve become callous to the profession of prostitution until it comes knocking on our door.

Let’s address the real crime of devalued self-worth and maybe, just maybe prostitution will no longer be the “oldest profession.”

 

Demetrius Moffett is Senior Pastor of Orange Church of God, 1911 North 16th Street in Orange.