Looking for a leader...

I fear the outbreak of Cleggmania that has occurred in the last few days says more about the state of the UK than any measure of GDP or inflation. A couple of years ago I stated the fear that reality TV-style voting would be so deeply embedded in the public consciousness that it would have a profound impact on the next election. I think we are seeing it. In our sofa-bound, remote-controlling consumerist state we are conditioned to voting for who most entertains us, or whose story we most identify with. Policy is a mere sideshow. It’s a Big Brother-esque desire to vote people out because “we’re bored of looking at this lot now, we want some new folks to look at”. In many ways, politics has become the soap opera opiate of the middle classes, numbing our senses from the reality of daily life by providing easy targets to blame for every ill. We outsource our own responsibility as citizens and communities, able to point the finger at those who are obviously morally weaker than us.

2007 provided the perfect example of this. Toward the end of Tony Blair’s time in office, cries were going up from all quarters, “We don’t want an actor who will deceive us. Just give us someone who will roll up their sleeves and get the job done.” “No more spin”. Cue Gordon Brown’s appearance, and a tumultuous reception, followed by an acclaimed first 100 days. But after the novelty of the new man had worn off, these same people could be heard crying, “Can we have Tony back please?” “He made us feel good, and tickled our tummies”. “That’s really what we want – a performer to make us feel everything’s okay.”

That’s what we really really want sadly – someone with the X-factor.

But I don’t think it’s what we need. The last few days’ desperate straining toward someone who most of the country know nothing about has certainly energised the election and taken things in a direction which I am personally happy about, but I fear it does expose a gaping hole in our souls. As human beings created in the image of God, I believe we all have an innate desire to connect with our creator and seek his leadership. This can often gain expression in putting too much expectation on those humans who lead us, whether in church or the wider society, abrogating our individual responsibilities for our own spiritual growth or our communities

Combine this with our need to be entertained, and you get a dangerous mix. This need to be led has been the decisive factor in allowing many 20th century despots to have their way with a people. In this election season, could we refocus on our true leader, who as Psalm 145 (The Message) says, “never gets voted out of office”, and be encouraged that a large majority of the population are crying out for him too, even if they don’t know it yet.