The question was asked “When a minister has an affair, is it an abuse of power?” The answer is “yes“.
Ministers are in positions of influence and authority. When people are in positions of influence, there is always a potential for abuse. Anytime someone holds a position of influence, be it ministry, political, military, police, government, education, healthcare, etc., there’s the risk of abusing their power.
Abusing positions of influence has a long history. Men and women have been abusing their positions of influence throughout human history.
Although the admonition should be to use power rarely and sparingly, there are many in positions of power that instead use it full force and often. Since the thrill of power has a corrupting influence, they’re seduced by the power they think they control.
In the case of ministers, these people are in positions of influencing how we live our lives. They influence the shaping of values and morals. Being in such a position, many people place their trust in them, based on the position they are in and their religious teachings.
Since they’re in a special position, many ministers take advantage of that trust in leading their followers in directions that are self-serving. Such ministers forget that they’re supposed to ministers of God, rather than playing God.
The followers want to feel special. When the minister takes an interest in them, they feel very special. In some cases, the followers are akin to church groupies.
In some cases, they are just innocently yet blindly following their leader.
Special relationships carry with them special responsibility and higher accountability. When ministers or politicians or any leader starts viewing themselves as above accountability or law, even Biblical law, they are using their position to a self-serving degree.
(Note: I address the early Biblical accounts of ministers abusing their position in my e-book on “What the Bible Says About Adultery”). When that happens, they are abusing their power.
Some of the signs that abuse of power is going on include:
1. Assuming a position that they are above the law. This often shows up as having ‘special’ dispensations.
2. Wanting complete control over the lives and possession of their followers.
3. Claiming they have a ‘special relationship’ or revelation from God that overrides church teachings.
4. Claiming that they have special needs above those of ‘normal’ people.
5. Justifying their indiscretions by claiming that they doing ‘doing a greater good’ (e.g. they have good intentions).
6. When they show more interest in their followers than their own family.
7. When they start ‘soft pedaling’ on issues like adultery.
Best Regards,
Jeff
