Let me start off by saying no one is immune to sexual temptation. It doesn’t matter what your job is, how old you are or how much time you spend with Jesus each day. We all have the potential to fall sexually.
Even ministers … and maybe especially ministers.
Ministers have jobs that automatically put them in a pressure cooker.
It’s not unusual to have a stressful job, but there are five unique aspects of a ministry position that make it more vulnerable to opening the door to sexual temptation
1. A pastorate is a place of power.
Whether the minister is using it or not, he has great influence over others.
The pastor is an authority, he is looked up to, he is on stage and he is usually highly regarded. Broken people with damaged lives come regularly to talk with the minister, many of them desperate for a word or attention.
It is not hard for a minister to sway others with their words or personality. The minister probably doesn’t realize the power he has over others.
2. Ministers are often isolated and unaccountable for their actions.
Ministers spend large amounts of time alone. Many don’t have a set schedule or a structured day. They don’t have to clock in and out of work, and don’t usually have church leaders asking them accountability questions.
This is especially true for the small church minister who is often the only staff member. Isolation and lack of accountability are seedbeds for disaster.
Even ministers … and maybe especially ministers.
Ministers have jobs that automatically put them in a pressure cooker.
It’s not unusual to have a stressful job, but there are five unique aspects of a ministry position that make it more vulnerable to opening the door to sexual temptation
1. A pastorate is a place of power.
Whether the minister is using it or not, he has great influence over others.
The pastor is an authority, he is looked up to, he is on stage and he is usually highly regarded. Broken people with damaged lives come regularly to talk with the minister, many of them desperate for a word or attention.
It is not hard for a minister to sway others with their words or personality. The minister probably doesn’t realize the power he has over others.
2. Ministers are often isolated and unaccountable for their actions.
Ministers spend large amounts of time alone. Many don’t have a set schedule or a structured day. They don’t have to clock in and out of work, and don’t usually have church leaders asking them accountability questions.
This is especially true for the small church minister who is often the only staff member. Isolation and lack of accountability are seedbeds for disaster.
No comments:
Post a Comment