“Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 10:2, ESV).
In the early nineteenth century, the State of Pennsylvania prosecuted Jesse Sharpless, an unscrupulous huckster who “scandalously did exhibit and show for money” a pornographic painting in a private viewing. Despite having admitted to displaying the painting for paying customers, including underage children, Sharpless defended himself by arguing that he should not be held criminally culpable for immoral acts done in private.
But the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania disagreed. They argued that because some forms of private immorality invariably result in societal consequences, it is sometimes appropriate to punish such offenses criminally:
“Whatever tends to the destruction of morality in general may be punished criminally. Crimes are public offenses not because they are perpetrated publicly, but because their effect is to injure the public…. The corruption of the public mind, in general, and debauching the manners of youth, in particular, by lewd and obscene pictures exhibited to view, must necessarily be attended with the most injurious consequences.”
Sharpless faced criminal penalties because early Americans acknowledged that the distribution of pornography must be restrained in a civilized society. They understood that some acts, even when done in secret, victimize society at large.
The proliferation of pornography in recent decades has borne this out. As many as 10% of American adults now admit to struggling with pornography addiction. Not surprisingly, pornography distribution and consumption are correlated with markedly higher divorce rates, as well as juvenile crime, property crime, and sexual violence.
Society must defend itself from these clear and present harms. Although pornography consumption and the lust that drives it are sins best handled by the spheres of family and church, the production and distribution of pornographic materials should be criminalized by the civil government. Those who profit from pornography must be held accountable—just like Jesse Sharpless.
PRAYER: Lord, deliver us from the blight of pornography that plagues our land. Embolden our government officials to bring godly justice against the wrongdoers who pedal this poison in our communities. We look forward to the day when righteousness reigns again throughout this nation. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
