Part 9: The New Formation (2 of 2)
Outrage doesn’t just shape how we see others.
It reshapes how we understand ourselves.
And what we believe others owe us.
The Hidden Beliefs Behind Outrage
Underneath outrage culture is a set of beliefs. Rarely spoken. But deeply felt:
“My feelings are the most important part of me.”
“My feelings should govern my behavior… and yours.”
And if that’s true… something follows.
Emotional Authority Becomes Absolute
If my feelings are ultimate…
Then:
If I’m upset, something is wrong
If I’m deeply upset, something is very wrong
If I’m outraged… someone must be to blame
And not just blame. They must change.
Part 8: The New Formation (1 of 2)
By now, we’ve traced the pattern.
There is a formation happening in the world. There is a strategist behind it. And tools are shaping us:
Lust of the eyes → what we see
Lust of the flesh → what we feel
Pride of life → who we believe we are
But what happens when all three come together… and ignite?
You get something new. Something powerful. Something everywhere.
👉 Outrage
A Culture Fueled by Outrage
We live in a moment where outrage is currency.
It drives clicks, views, engagement, influence. Entire systems are built on it.
One image. One clip. One headline. One “Gotcha.”
“Look at this. You should be outraged.”
And when we are… we stay engaged. We hand our attention, focus, and dollars to those who upset us most. We’re bought and paid for — and never notice.
Part 7: The Tools That Shape Us (3 of 3)
If the first tools shape desire…
This one shapes identity.
The Comparison Engine
Pride of Life is built on comparison.
Jesus captures it in a single moment when he tells the story of the arrogant Pharisee and the lowly Tax Collector. (Luke 18:10-14), NIV.
In Luke 18:10-14, the Pharisee prays, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” Verse 11, NIV. (Italics mine).
Not just wanting to be good…
But needing to be better.
Better than him. Better than them. Better than that group. Better than that failure.
Because as long as someone is below me…I feel secure. I judge – and self-justify.
Part 6: The Tools That Shape Us (2 of 3)
If the lust of the eyes whispers:
“You need more…”
The lust of the flesh speaks from even closer:
“You need to feel better.”
From External to Internal
This is where the system moves inward.
The lust of the flesh is not primarily about what’s outside of us. It’s about what’s happening inside.
Our discomfort. Our anxiety. Our pain.
Soon, the haunting, burning question begins to lead us: “What will make this go away?”
Part 5: The Tools That Shape Us (1 of 3)
By now, we’ve seen something we can’t unsee.
A formation is taking place in the world. It is not neutral. It is not accidental. There is a strategist behind it — a “guru” shaping the system itself.
And the result of that system is a numbed heart. An anesthetized soul. Novocain for the inner life.
But numbness is not the end.
It’s the setup.
Because once the heart becomes insensitive and dull, it is much easier to guide.
How the System Moves Inward
John names the tools of the master strategist:
"The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life…" 1 John 2:16, NIV.
This is how formation moves from outside us… to inside us, from influence… to discipleship.
Part 4: When the Heart Goes Numb.
Spiritual anesthesia is more than a metaphor. When conscience goes quiet and sensitivity to God’s Spirit dims, something dangerous happens: we start craving sensation just to feel something. Anything.
And that opens a door.
And the spiritual formation guru is standing right behind it, offering experiences and pleasures that season life with zest and comfort. Cunningly, he leverages our fear and insecurity against us and forms us through lust and fear rather than grace and truth.
A guidance system that operates through lust and fear shapes us into puppets. And the one pulling the strings is only too happy to destroy us from the inside out.
Destruction follows that door.
We’re discipled for death.
And most of us don’t even realize we’re headed for slaughter.
Part 3: The Guru behind spiritual formation in the world.
If you’re a fan of conspiracy theories, here’s one that dwarfs them all:
The world itself is a discipleship engine.
And behind it is a blinding, guiding influence shaping its direction.
The goal?
To keep people from seeing the light of the gospel of Christ. (2 Cor. 4:4b).
Because if that light breaks through…
Everything changes.
So the system is designed to immunize people against truth.
Not always by rejecting it outright.
But by:
Distracting from it
Redefining it
Dulling the appetite for it
A quiet inoculation of the soul.
And religious inoculation means giving you just enough truth to make you blind to the reality of the Gospel, subtly dulling your spiritual senses and making authentic discipleship more challenging.
This is subtle, deceptive, and nefarious. The god of this age slowly immunizes your soul with just enough twisted truth to mimic the look and feel of the authentic gospel of God’s grace. He’s an expert at creating a spiritual mirage that looks and feels inviting – and crafty enough to convince you that the mouthful of sand is really refreshing. Blind to the Gospel.
And to the guru behind the world’s discipleship machine.
Part 2: Our First Classroom and Beyond.
The World Is a Disciple-Making Machine
Formation doesn’t stop at our family’s door.
Take a step outside and look around. This world is not neutral. It is a disciple-making machine – and it never powers down.
It is full of voices competing for your formation:
Media tells you what to want. Culture defines what success looks like. Social systems train your instincts. Relationships reinforce — or quietly undermine — your sense of belonging and worth.
Each one whispers the same invitation, “Become like me.”
Not loudly. Not always obviously. But persistently. And over time, those whispers become instincts. Those instincts become identity.
They want to mold or shape you in their image…
so that you will be like them.
Part 1: Discipleship and The Gravity You Don’t Notice
Discipleship is not something that starts when you sign up.
It’s something that never stops.
From the moment you were born, you have been shaped, formed, and grounded by forces around you.
Right now, without permission, forces you can’t see are shouting for your attention. Like gravity, they are relentless.
Consider your morning commute – which doesn’t seem to be a likely hotspot for formation.
The ads you hear on the radio or see on roadside billboards, the bus, or the subway are trying to sell you this month’s version of “The Good Life.” How does the day’s traffic – or morning news – affect your cheery mood? Are the unpleasant voices of your angry boss, spouse, or child still echoing endlessly in your head? Did you check your phone to pull a message, and 30 minutes later discover you’ve been held hostage by your social media feed?
Formation is always happening – even during something as simple as a morning commute.
Like gravity, this kind of discipleship is constant. It is always pulling your thoughts, your desires, your habits, your identity.
You are not if being discipled.
You are always being discipled.
Part 3: Falling Off the High Horse
Status-seeking ends the same way every time: You fall off your horse. You hit the ground. And sometimes, our landing is hard – directly in the poop. Guaranteed.
Circumstances: The Gift or the Bow?
The Lord's direction in our lives is a gift. In other "Is the Shepherd Speaking?" blogs, I've covered some of the many forms His guidance takes. Sometimes this gift is tied up with a bow of circumstances that align "just right,"—but that is not always the case. So how do we recognize if God is saying something through our circumstances? Can the alignment of favorable events and situations be a reliable indicator of God's heart for us? Yes – and no!
Mirror, Mirror
James makes it pretty clear. If you and I want to reflect godly wisdom and understanding, we must live a life marked by humility, purity, peace, consideration, submissiveness, mercy, goodness, impartiality, and sincerity.
Does this sound countercultural to you? It is! The "wisdom" of the world looks and feels nothing like God's. Instead, it is earthly, unspiritual, bitter, envious, selfishly ambitious, chaotic, and even demonic. This tone is sadly familiar in the culture these days.
In my experience, some people find a random scripture and think God spoke to them but there is no humility, peace, submissiveness in the delivery. Sometimes, they find what they want to hear to self-justify or defend themselves. Instead of cultivating inward peace, submissiveness, and mercy, they try to use what they think they've heard to correct others or make them behave differently. They miss that the real problem is their tendency to self-justify. That's why James 3 is such an important test. The "word" becomes a weapon.
Batter Up! Recognizing Peace at the Plate
In the previous blog, we looked at how you and I can learn to hear God and test what we receive. High on the list of how to discern such things is to ask ourselves, “Does this pass the Shalom Test?”
“And let the Peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body; and be thankful.” The literal translation for the word rule is “to umpire.” Just as a baseball umpire determines when a ball is in play, God’s spirit will let us know if we are operating in His Peace. If we are connecting with God and feel peaceful, then game on! However, if we have no peace, we can be sure it is a foul ball—odds are we are out of the boundaries set by God.
Is the Shepherd Speaking?
Over the years, I find summer is an excellent time to revisit the goals and plans set out at the beginning of the year. It helps encourage me with whatever progress I'm making and determine the necessary adjustments required in areas where I may be stuck. This summer is no different; only life seems more complicated. This year, I must take many more options and considerations before the Good Shepherd. After all, He is the One leading and guiding my way forward. If I hope to venture in the right direction, I must connect with Him and ask.
Resources for Creating Transformational Small Groups
Having explained the practices, pitfalls, and perils of talking things through to find "peace," let's turn our attention to resources that can help. These materials encourage the development of healthy grace-filled, joyful, and loving attachments in small group settings. Within such spiritual communities, healthy identities are formed, and sustainable transformation is experienced. Together, followers of Jesus can practice and share God's presence, grace, love, and peace.
Finding Identity and Transformation by Seeking Things Above
Followers of Jesus are in the process of being transformed into the image of Jesus. We are born into an entirely new identity from the moment we receive Him. He knows our old identity is hopelessly marred by the 4Ps and our self-created avatars. Instead of trying to fix that false identity, God gives us an entirely new identity rooted in His life and image.
Grace as a Foundation for Peace in Your Small Group
The word grace was around for hundreds of years before Paul used it in his epistles. Grace is a relational term that implies an ongoing, mutual connection between people. Historically, when a person of higher stature sent a gift to another, it signified the beginning of a relationship. The gift was called a "grace" and was a sign of great favor. The person receiving the gift understood the relational intent behind the "grace." Accepting the grace meant the recipient agreed to an ongoing relationship with the giver. The grace giver considered the recipient to be someone special. Today, grace continues to mean that we are someone's favorite and very special to them.