The genesis of all abuse in any relationship is abuse of that relationship by the stronger side and the responsibilities it entails. This can be seen in numerous cases.
Marriage: Wives should be subject to their husbands as in the Lord (Eph 5:22) but this must be balanced by the instruction that all Christians should be subject to one another (Eph 5:21), AND, that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for her (Eph 5:25)!!! Therefore, this does not give licence to men to abuse their wives, quite the contrary; it increases men's responsibility to be kind and supportive.
Slaves "Slaves, be obedient to your masters" (Eph 6:5), but this must be balanced by Paul's instruction to masters to stop threatening (read abusing) slaves because in heaven we will all be equal and there is no partiality (Eph 6:9). Therefore, this does not give licence to masters or work bosses to abuse employees but increases their responsibility to be kind and supportive.
Governors Christians are instructed to be subject to every governing authority (Rom 13:1-7), but this must be balanced by God's instructions to rulers and judges (eg 2 Chron 19:5-11) to exercise their authority on God's behalf without partiality or bribes. Therefore, this does not give licence to rulers to abuse their subjects but increases their responsibility to be kind, just and fair.
Parents Children are instructed to obey and honour parents (Ex 20:12, Deut 6:15, Eph 6:1-3, etc, etc) but this must be balanced by the instruction that fathers should not exasperate (read abuse) children (Eph 6:4, Col 3:21) but must take their parental responsibility very seriously (Ps 127:3-5, Deut 6:6, 7, Titus 2:7, See also 1 Peter 5:2, 3). Therefore, this does not give licence to parents (most often fathers) to abuse their children but increases their responsibility to be examples of the good, kind and just.
God and Us The most extreme example of this is our relationship with God. God is in a much more powerful situation that we are and so takes correspondingly greater responsibility in our relationships. In fact, God even takes responsibility for our sin and has implemented a plan to solve our sin problem (Rom 5:8, Gal 3:13, 2 Cor 5:21) In imitating God (John 13:34, 35, 15:12, 1 John 4:8, 11, 19, Eph 5:1, 2, Phil 2:5, 1 Cor 2:16, Luke 6:34, 35) we must do the same.
All these are examples of the principle that Jesus offered in Luke 12:48 - "to whom much is given, much is required"- a sobering idea for those in responsibility.
