This article is an absolute field for exploration. As I’ve soaked this in, it’s turned my thoughts towards the concept of “actual needs”. I’ve been going through a season in life where I was accustomed to certain “perceived needs” being regularly met. For His reasons, He’s placed me in a season of “deprivation “ of “ perceived needs”. Running parallel with that is the reality where I’m also in a season of life where my “actual needs” have been supplied in the most abundance in my life.
What’s my point here? I think that finding freedom from pack dynamics is tied to the question of “what do I truly need?”. If you follow the conditioned meta narrative of what a “happy life” looks like, you will discover a plethora of “perceived needs” and you will discover that those “perceived needs” will only be supplied if you place yourself in the “assigned pack order”.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting monastic or stoic life if the answer. But I will offer, that if you wake up in the morning and have Christ, you do have it all. If you can harness that strength, then the pack cannot control you and hang over your head……but this “need” here is lacking.
Yes it is lacking and I pray regularly that Jesus restores it (Psalm 126). But if through the strength of Christ we understand in our soul……our greatest needs aren’t emotional. Oh, believe me, believe me…….I fight that idol constantly (I was personally raised playing video games, watching TV and movies and lived for 1980s Saturday morning cartoons and cereal……so of course I place a high premium on emotions). But if we/I instead hold onto by faith, that our “actual needs” are provided by our Father in Heaven Who knows how to give good gifts to His Children…….then we can at least contemplate that our “need” for the pack isn’t as provisional as we once thought it was.
Such a profound article that helped me personally explore where “I’m at”.
Thank you Johnathan!
P.S. if you want an excellent visual “story” of how pack dynamics work, watch the 1980’s cartoon series Voltron. Once you watch this series (which shaped a generation……trust me)…..then you can see how the idea of “I am me”, eroded….and how the Truth of Our King will do was replaced by “as a pack we will do”…..
It’s the arcane battle of all ages. It’s The King of Kings Who has won, is winning and will win, vs the collective spirit of “we”. As a pack we will…..”come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower…….”
I don’t think we can escape pack dynamics. I think we can escape *coercive packs* by telling the truth about what is actually needed and refusing to trade spine for provision, approval, or safety. We will always orient in packs—but we can choose ones that strengthen agency, honor reality, and do not require self-erasure to belong.
I agree, I too don’t think we can escape packs. And I also agree that the “right” pack can (and does) provide strength.
Yet at the same time, I wrestle with the concept that most modern day packs aren’t rallying behind or following “True North”. It’s about the groups survival and your “place” in it.
I’m going to use pop fiction to illustrate my thoughts. In the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s….Superman stood alone. He was “the guy”. He alone could be looked to, trusted and followed. Captain America is another example. He single handily is going to defeat the Nazis. These were characters you could aspire to be like. You could follow their lead and stand for “Truth, Justice and the American way”.
The 60’s however, introduced something different….The Fantastic 4, The Avengers, The Justice League. In those narratives, you lose “That guy”. The story shifts from person to group dynamics. Success is only possible if the group can manage to remain cohesive. This type of story telling invites you to think inward. “”Where do fit?” It’s no longer externally focused on “The guy”.
What am I ultimately getting at? While pack dynamics are inevitable, the question for me is “what are we packing around?”. If it isn’t The King of Kings and Lord of Lords” , then we deteriorate into serving the pack for the sake of the pack itself. And that’s where (in my opinion) human agency is lost. I can find meaning, place, value, honor by admiring and wanting to be just like Superman. But if I want to be a member of The Avengers…..it’s all about how I benefit or hurt the team. Self agency gets lost in that dynamic.
Just some thoughts and ideas I’ve been working through and wrestling with.
Having been in a Christian community where I’ve experienced firsthand this situation the end of your article were truly Words of Jesus Christ love and healing and I intend to go back to frequently for encouragement…Thank you for sharing the blessing of writing God has given to you🙏
Healing does not begin with confrontation, but with composure—truth does not need permission to remain true. When we choose calm, clarity, and reality over blame and instability, we align ourselves with the quiet, restoring authority of Jesus Christ.
This article is an absolute field for exploration. As I’ve soaked this in, it’s turned my thoughts towards the concept of “actual needs”. I’ve been going through a season in life where I was accustomed to certain “perceived needs” being regularly met. For His reasons, He’s placed me in a season of “deprivation “ of “ perceived needs”. Running parallel with that is the reality where I’m also in a season of life where my “actual needs” have been supplied in the most abundance in my life.
What’s my point here? I think that finding freedom from pack dynamics is tied to the question of “what do I truly need?”. If you follow the conditioned meta narrative of what a “happy life” looks like, you will discover a plethora of “perceived needs” and you will discover that those “perceived needs” will only be supplied if you place yourself in the “assigned pack order”.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting monastic or stoic life if the answer. But I will offer, that if you wake up in the morning and have Christ, you do have it all. If you can harness that strength, then the pack cannot control you and hang over your head……but this “need” here is lacking.
Yes it is lacking and I pray regularly that Jesus restores it (Psalm 126). But if through the strength of Christ we understand in our soul……our greatest needs aren’t emotional. Oh, believe me, believe me…….I fight that idol constantly (I was personally raised playing video games, watching TV and movies and lived for 1980s Saturday morning cartoons and cereal……so of course I place a high premium on emotions). But if we/I instead hold onto by faith, that our “actual needs” are provided by our Father in Heaven Who knows how to give good gifts to His Children…….then we can at least contemplate that our “need” for the pack isn’t as provisional as we once thought it was.
Such a profound article that helped me personally explore where “I’m at”.
Thank you Johnathan!
P.S. if you want an excellent visual “story” of how pack dynamics work, watch the 1980’s cartoon series Voltron. Once you watch this series (which shaped a generation……trust me)…..then you can see how the idea of “I am me”, eroded….and how the Truth of Our King will do was replaced by “as a pack we will do”…..
It’s the arcane battle of all ages. It’s The King of Kings Who has won, is winning and will win, vs the collective spirit of “we”. As a pack we will…..”come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower…….”
Thanks for the comment!
I don’t think we can escape pack dynamics. I think we can escape *coercive packs* by telling the truth about what is actually needed and refusing to trade spine for provision, approval, or safety. We will always orient in packs—but we can choose ones that strengthen agency, honor reality, and do not require self-erasure to belong.
I agree, I too don’t think we can escape packs. And I also agree that the “right” pack can (and does) provide strength.
Yet at the same time, I wrestle with the concept that most modern day packs aren’t rallying behind or following “True North”. It’s about the groups survival and your “place” in it.
I’m going to use pop fiction to illustrate my thoughts. In the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s….Superman stood alone. He was “the guy”. He alone could be looked to, trusted and followed. Captain America is another example. He single handily is going to defeat the Nazis. These were characters you could aspire to be like. You could follow their lead and stand for “Truth, Justice and the American way”.
The 60’s however, introduced something different….The Fantastic 4, The Avengers, The Justice League. In those narratives, you lose “That guy”. The story shifts from person to group dynamics. Success is only possible if the group can manage to remain cohesive. This type of story telling invites you to think inward. “”Where do fit?” It’s no longer externally focused on “The guy”.
What am I ultimately getting at? While pack dynamics are inevitable, the question for me is “what are we packing around?”. If it isn’t The King of Kings and Lord of Lords” , then we deteriorate into serving the pack for the sake of the pack itself. And that’s where (in my opinion) human agency is lost. I can find meaning, place, value, honor by admiring and wanting to be just like Superman. But if I want to be a member of The Avengers…..it’s all about how I benefit or hurt the team. Self agency gets lost in that dynamic.
Just some thoughts and ideas I’ve been working through and wrestling with.
Having been in a Christian community where I’ve experienced firsthand this situation the end of your article were truly Words of Jesus Christ love and healing and I intend to go back to frequently for encouragement…Thank you for sharing the blessing of writing God has given to you🙏
Thank you for reading with such care.
Healing does not begin with confrontation, but with composure—truth does not need permission to remain true. When we choose calm, clarity, and reality over blame and instability, we align ourselves with the quiet, restoring authority of Jesus Christ.
That is exactly what I took from your post and needed to hear and intend on sharing with my daughter
🙏 these are not things you hear from a secular counselor.
Please keep sharing with us!
Well written!!!!
Thank you!