Why Do We Think We Need the "Strong Man"?

In recent days we have seen certain billionaires trumpeting the need for a more aggressive, masculine energy in the corporate world. We have also seen this same type of messaging prevailing in the socio-political world.

Bob Ekblad has pointed out that the growing idolatry of the person of Donald Trump - along with other billionaires, influencers and authoritarian leaders in other nations - among people who call themselves Christians must be called out and resisted. What is at the root of this adoration of the “strong man”?

In psychoanalytic terms, it could be that the culture is looking for a surrogate or pretender ‘father’ who seems to offer security or even power to anyone insecure in their identity. Insecure identity appears to be a defining characteristic of the age, and there are a growing number of predators who seek to take advantage of it. This opens the door for idolatry, the de facto worship of these "Strong Men." 

The authoritarian leader presents as all powerful, satisfying a need in adherents for defense from perceived enemies, financial success, innocence before accusers (and revenge against them), control over the unknown, and supreme power. 

The all-powerful authoritarian can never admit losing, wrong-doing or failure, and must be right, successful, in total control, and unstoppable, offering loyal subjects a kind of psychological and spiritual covering they feel they need.

The thinking goes, if your authoritarian leader is a winner, a huge success, impervious to all attacks and allegations, the best of the best, immune to failure - then maybe you are too! You identify as closely as possible with the Leader and his success. Any sense or experience of failure must be the result of enemies cheating or lying or treating you (or your anointed leader) unfairly and unjustly.

All of this is pretty far removed from the person and message of Jesus, the meek and gentle one, the poor in spirit, the merciful, the pure in heart, the lamb led to the slaughter. This is the one in whose life we are invited to participate, whose mission we are welcomed to join, whose character we are called to emulate.

We have gone pretty far wrong, and much of it is being done in the same of this same Jesus. 

Lord, have mercy.

Check out the full course on Jesus OR Nationalism here: Jesus OR Nationalism