Kunes Foundation Podcast: God's Experiment: Week 9

[1:00] Adopted vs. Orphaned Mindset

Week 9 of the “God Experiment” focuses on whether we live with an adopted or orphan mindset.

[2:08] Confidence vs. Insecurity

Orphan mindset competes and seeks attention; adopted mindset rests in belonging and doesn’t need to prove worth.

[6:25] "What About Me?" Mentality

The orphan spirit is revealed when we struggle to celebrate others' blessings and instead ask, “What about me?”

[16:09] Shame vs. Dignity

Orphans carry shame and feel like the black sheep; adopted children walk in dignity, knowing God is not ashamed of them.

In The God Experiment, Week 9 offers a powerful and deeply personal exploration into the concepts of the "orphan spirit" versus the "adopted mindset." Drawing on scripture, lived experience, and raw honesty, Gregg and Josh navigate the complex emotional and spiritual terrain of identity, belonging, and transformation through God's love. This episode isn’t just a theological discussion—it’s a mirror many listeners might see themselves in.

At the heart of this week’s conversation is Ephesians 1:5, which says: “He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”

For many Christians, the idea of being adopted into God's family is familiar. But this episode challenges listeners to go beyond intellectual understanding and confront how deeply that truth has—or hasn’t—transformed their identity. The difference between simply knowing you're adopted and actually living from that place of acceptance is monumental.

The “orphan spirit” is not necessarily about physical abandonment. It’s a mindset, often inherited or learned through life’s disappointments, that whispers: You don’t belong. You must earn love. You're not enough. In contrast, the adopted mindset recognizes identity, worth, and love as secure and unconditional—freely given by a Father who never lets us down.

The week opens with a look at how confidence—or the lack thereof—exposes our spiritual posture.

Those with an adopted mindset have personal confidence, not because of perfection or performance, but because they rest in their place in the family. In contrast, those carrying an orphan spirit often feel the need to compete, perform, or stand out to earn attention or affection.

The podcast touches on how this can be generational. Sometimes, our parents unintentionally pass on the orphan spirit through emotional absence, harsh expectations, or subtle favoritism. Healing begins when we recognize the lie: God is not like that. He is present, attentive, and proud to call us His own.

God’s family is built on interdependence. Just as the body has many parts that need each other to function, we’re designed to rely on and build one another up.

The orphan mindset screams, “I’ll do it myself.” It views others as competition and isolates in fear. The adopted mindset says, “I belong. I bring value, and so do you.”

The podcast beautifully illustrates how workplaces, families, and churches thrive when people function in their unique gifts and honor the gifts of others. Rather than comparing or competing, those with an adopted mindset contribute and collaborate.

This might be the emotional core of the conversation: shame. Many believers carry deep-seated shame from childhood, past sin, or broken relationships. They feel like the "black sheep"—tolerated, but not celebrated. Even in the family of God, they feel they’re barely allowed in.

But Hebrews 2:11 offers this truth: “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.”

The adopted mindset chooses dignity—not arrogance, but a settled worth that says, “God delights in me.” The Gregg and Josh share powerful reflections on how shame manifests in sarcasm, withdrawal, perfectionism, or the inability to receive love. But Christ’s death on the cross canceled shame. When we accept our place in the family, we shed the label of “outsider” and embrace the honor of being called sons and daughters.

The orphan spirit clings to performance: “If I do the right things, I’ll be accepted.” But true acceptance can’t be earned—it’s given.

This mindset shift changes everything. God’s standards are not external, harsh rules but family values that shape us because we belong. When you know you’re adopted, obedience flows not from fear but from love. You follow God's commands not to earn a spot in the family, but because you’re already seated at the table.

Lastly, the discussion turns to discipline. Those with an orphan spirit see discipline as rejection or punishment. But the adopted mindset views it as training from a loving Father.

Like a coach shaping an athlete or a mentor guiding a student, God’s discipline is aimed at growth, not condemnation. It's correction with purpose—to help us become who we were always meant to be.

The Gregg and Josh discuss how painful seasons can be misinterpreted as abandonment, when in reality, they’re moments of spiritual training and refinement. God's discipline is a sign of His commitment, not His distance.

Perhaps the most stirring theme in this episode is breaking the cycle. Whether it’s shame, performance, independence, or insecurity—it’s time to trade the orphan spirit for the peace of knowing you are fully adopted.