A 124-year old heritage building was brought down this year in the Central Business District of Auckland, New Zealand as it had become a hazard to the public. A group protested against the destruction of the old structure; but the Council bulldozed the building anyway. That was not the end of the story.
The property had been bought by John and Michael Chow of the Chow Group who describe their company as a “successful investment property group with a market value today in excess of $125 million.” There is a slant though in the tag; for the company thrives on the sex industry, particularly operation of brothels. The Chow Group will be constructing a 15-storey brothel and hotel building in the property.
More than 200 objections to the use of the building were submitted to the four independent commissioners who said that the law permitted a brothel on the site. Many are upset with the decision. A disappointed Mayor Len Brown said that “a landowner would end up advantaged by a situation that should never have been allowed to happen.”
Denise Ritchie, one of the civic leaders opposed to the proposed brothel passionately said, “Any frustration about the expanding sex industry can be sheeted home to the 60 MPs, mostly Labour and Greens, who nine years ago voted to decriminalise and normalise prostitution and the commercial sex industry. It’s a simple case of, we reap what we sow.”
About 22 countries (in the US only in rural Nevada and in Australia, the eastern states) in the world legalize prostitution and New Zealand is mentioned as very loosely regulated. While legislations or regulations were meant for the protection of prostitutes, pimps have turned themselves into “decent” business executives profiting from the sexual services of women and feeding on the lust of customers.
The Bible addresses prostitution in this verse, "The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." (1 Corinthians 6:13) Another one says "For a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men." (Proverbs 23:27-28) Surely a pimp is a deeper pit.
The damage that prostitution brings is tremendous to marriages, to families, to society. Worst it destroys the purity of the body and the soul.
If I were to address the Chow brothers, and others who trade on flesh and pleasure, I ask them this question, “Would you consent to your wife or daughter becoming a prostitute? Would you?”
For those who offend God by desecrating the purity of the body and the soul, they have allowed themselves to become tools of the devil, and marked their spirits to eternal damnation in hell. It is never too late to turn away from the trade of prostitution, for God’s mercy is without bound. "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)
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