The Lie About Power: Why We Need Willing Leaders

Growing up, I watched movies and read books about heroes and leaders. While many shaped me in good ways, they also planted a lie I didn’t recognize until recently:

The best leaders are the ones who don’t want power.

This idea was exposed in a video I came across recently. While I don’t agree with every point or every film the creator discusses, he does an excellent job showing how modern culture mistrusts power—and how that mindset has shaped both fictional characters and real men like me.

Aragorn: The Leader We Needed

Let’s look at Aragorn—one of my favorite characters—and see how this lie plays out.

In Tolkien’s book, Aragorn is confident and assured. He knows who he is: the heir of Isildur. He speaks openly about his lineage and embraces his destiny—not out of pride, but out of love for his people. He’s prepared, humble, and wise. He knows the limits of his power—refusing the One Ring—and leads others with strength and restraint.

In the movies, however, Aragorn is hesitant. He hides from his legacy, fearing he’ll repeat Isildur’s failure. He doesn’t want the crown and only steps forward when forced. He still loves his people, but his fear can be greater than that love.

For years, this difference puzzled me—until I realized the message.

The movie reflects the cultural belief that the only trustworthy leaders are reluctant ones.
That power itself is corrupting—unless someone else forces it on you.

The Truth About Power

Power is not inherently bad. It’s morally neutral. The real question is:
How do we use it?
Do we use it to serve ourselves—or to serve others?

The danger isn’t in seeking leadership. It’s in seeking power without virtue.

Aragorn’s strength came not from his reluctance, but from years of formation.
He trained, suffered, and grew in wisdom so that—when the time came—he was ready to rule well.

And we need men like that today.

A Culture Afraid of Leadership

Our generation has been taught to distrust ambition—especially male ambition. We’ve been told that desiring leadership is prideful. That power must only be handed to us, never sought.

But in doing so, we’ve created a vacuum.

We end up placing men in positions of power who haven’t prepared themselves to lead.
They didn’t want it. They didn’t train for it. But they took it anyway.

And the results speak for themselves.

Forge Yourself for the Role

Instead of fearing leadership and power, we should be forming ourselves for it.

We should be working right now—when no one is watching—to become the kind of men who can be trusted to lead.
Men who have the virtue, vision, and courage to step forward when it counts.

Sometimes we’ll be asked to lead.
Other times, no one will ask—but the need will still be there.
In those moments, you’ll either rise—or shrink back.

Don’t wait to be chosen.
Choose to be ready.

🔨 Your Challenge This Week

1. Watch the video Click Here.
   It exposes the lie that power is inherently corrupting.
2. Reflect:
   • Has this mindset kept you from stepping up?
   • Have you avoided leadership—even in small ways—out of fear of being “too ambitious”?
   • If you were called to lead tomorrow, would you be ready?
3. Take Action:
   Pick one area of your life—home, work, community—and lead better this week.

Let me know about other characters changed because of our modern fear of power.

You don’t need a title to start acting like a leader.

You need formation. You need courage. You need to begin.