A few years ago, the mainstream media has reported that two high-level conservative Republican leaders, U.S. Senator John Ensign and Governor Mark Sanford, have had ongoing adulterous affairs.However, after that a conservative New York Congressman Vito Fossella was stopped for driving while intoxicated in Virginia and exposed as an adulterer, forcing him out of the political arena. Senator Ensign’s affair was with a member of his own staff whose husband also served on the same staff (at the same time). Governor Sanford had at least a year-and-a-half relationship with an Argentinean woman whom he has called his “soul mate” in spite of being married. During his last liaison, he flew to Argentina without telling anyone where he was, even though he is a standing governor! (Just goes to show how cloudy one’s mind can become when it is engulfed in sin and deception.)

This is just the latest list of leaders who, while espousing a conservative message of marriage and family, are living shadowy, duplicitous lives. These occurrences both surprise and confuse people. The following are reasons why these things happen:

I. In the current climate politics does not always attract the highest grade of leadership

Often, because of the intense scrutiny resulting from the lack of respect for personal and family privacy, many great leaders refuse to sacrifice their spouses and children on the altar of public service and power. Because of this, I believe the greatest leaders are “under the radar screen,” serving in non-profit organizations, local churches and other entities that don’t usually afford them much publicity.

II. People in power are deceived into an entitlement mentality

Unfortunately, because of our sinful human nature, those in power usually don’t think they have to play by the same rules as everyone else. They often feel their power and political connections insulate them from ever getting caught doing wrong. (Unfortunately, they are mostly correct!) Thus, they think they are above the law!

III. Success destroys more leaders than failure

If you want to see what’s in a person’s heart give them a title with power. The Bible teaches us that pride goes before a fall. Thus, sometimes God withholds worldly success from some people out of love for them. This is because the human heart is sinful; we tend to become intoxicated with pride, inebriated with power, and blinded by success!

Conversely, when people fail they often repent and get back up with greater humility and diligence to do better the next time. Sometimes great failure is needed to prepare us for the greater success God has for us in the future!

IV. The hectic schedules politicians keep to serve our country rarely grant them enough time with their spouses

The political leaders I know are no different from many church leaders. Their schedules are almost inhuman because of the unrelenting daily grind with constant demands on their time! Unfortunately, this leaves little room for interaction with their spouses and children which puts their marriages in jeopardy and makes them vulnerable to adulterous affairs.

VI. They are often traveling alone and are lonely

The nature of politics often involves a heavy travel schedule which leaves political leaders with much alone time in hotels. Often, they will have dinner or fraternize with other professionals they meet on the job to fill their discretionary time. This, coupled with the intense loneliness leaders feel when away from home, and because of the pressure of the job, makes them prime targets to fall into sexual sin.

Leaders with this kind of lifestyle need to integrate daily phone visits with their spouses and also attempt to structure their lives so they never travel alone but with a trusted aid who knows their family, or with a family member.

VII. Power-hungry people will often try to seduce those in authority through bribes and sexual favors

In my visits to Washington D.C., Albany (the capital of New York State), and New York City Hall I have noticed that some of the most beautiful women work in politics in some form or fashion. Some are political leaders, but most are part of someone’s staff. Some may just be lobbyists or visiting and hanging out. I can’t help but think that in many cases both men and women stick around places of power and will do anything to move up the political ladder, including the use of sexual seduction! It has been said that when political leaders are away from home they are often hanging out in clubs and fraternizing with the opposite sex. Adultery is very common in this atmosphere. Just because you are a conservative leader does not mean that you are automatically insulated from these temptations. Political leaders need to intentionally structure their lives to avoid temptation lest they fall and lose their integrity.

VIII. They are often activist leaders without much depth in their inner-souls

Although political leaders are usually very intelligent, often they are so busy they are more of an activist than a reflector. Thus, it is very easy for them to live on adrenaline which results in one not paying much attention to what’s really going on inside of their soul. (Even when it comes to public policy very few politicians really understand the issues; they have staff who surf the internet for news, read pending legislation, and tell them how to vote on the issues based on their political base.) Sometimes, these leaders don’t realize their emotional state is sick until they fall into unhealthy relationships. Those called to the political arena need to proactively prioritize time daily for reflection, prayer, and spiritual renewal so they are not “a mile wide and an inch deep”!

IX. They are rarely rooted and grounded in accountable local church relationships

Many of these Christian conservative leaders start off going to church on a regular basis but unfortunately, because of their schedules, begin to skim the amount of time they spend in church and often depend on quick chapel services while they are serving. Even when they are home on Sundays usually they are busy doing work, even visiting other churches in their district–especially during election time. Consequently, they are not regularly getting fed the word of God. In these situations, political leaders need to allow apostolic leaders or their pastors to have their mobile number for regular private counseling, prayer, and personal accountability.

X. Politics often involves compromise

The very nature of politics implies compromise because of our two-party system. Rare is the elected official who always stands for principle in spite of public opinion polls. Also, to get their bills passed, politicians often must negotiate with the other political party and meet them half way, unless their party happens to be in a filibuster-proof majority. After a while it is possible to get so much into the habit of compromise that their worldviews slowly begins to erode, even when it comes to morality, and they start the see the whole world in grey instead of in black and white absolutes. Of course, living like this causes a person to lose their core values and to begin engaging in behavior they wouldn’t even have thought about in the past!

XI. God will expose sin in His children’s lives in an effort to lead them to repentance

The Bible teaches us that God disciplines those He receives as children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Because of this, God will allow sin to be exposed in our lives so we will face our sin and repent, rather than let us go on living a secret dark life and lose our souls! God will deal even stronger with a conservative Christian leader than others who are not His children. It is the kindness and love of God that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Furthermore, God will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7-9 was written to Christians)! God honors His word so much that He will not continue to allow a person to represent His name publicly who is not living for Him privately. If a person does not judge himself, and if the church doesn’t hold Christians accountable, God will even allow the unbelieving news media to humiliate and bring correction to them!

XII. They work in an environment of sin and degradation

Whether you are working on Wall Street or in places of political power like Washington, D.C. there is a strong environment of lust, greed, vice, and entitlement. This is not an indictment on marketplace leaders but merely a result of the sinfulness of human nature. Whenever there are concentrations of power there are also concomitantly concentrations of every kind of sin. Whether it is something like a rock concert like Woodstock, or an instance of mob violence, people are more like “sheeple”–they follow the flow of the pack. Even strong, committed conservative political leaders don’t stand a chance in this environment unless they:

1. Stay committed to a local church when they are home.

2. Give trustworthy Christian leaders access to their personal lives to hold them accountable.

3. Continually focus on seeking God for spiritual renewal in spite of their intensive schedule.

4. Live a life of personal reflection so they become self-aware of their inward lives.

5. Prioritize daily time with their spouses, whether in person or via phone visits, and take regular vacation time with their families so they are always emotionally connected.

6. Be careful how they spend their discretionary time. It should not be spent fraternizing with members of the opposite sex and those who have lower standards of morality.

7. Never travel alone. They should take their spouses and/or a family member or trusted aid who is more interested in the leader’s personal well-being than in using them to platform their career.