Christians, the Enneagram and Personality Tests, a match made by… Satan.
Let me start with a question. It’s quite common for people to lead a conversation with, well I’m a _______ (fill with a number or four letter acronym). But, how often do we lead a conversation with, I’m a child of God, saved by the blood of Jesus? Very rarely I’m afraid.
What gap are you trying to fill, or what behavior or negative trait are you trying to excuse by using those tests to determine who ‘you truly are’?
And what or where are those tests rooted? Have you researched some of the main persons responsible for bringing the enneagram about? It is quite disturbing.
Anything rooted in any other source than the Bible is not good counsel.
Are you looking to feel complete? God gives us direction for that.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Everything we need to know about ourselves, the world, the after life, and how to live is all wrapped up in the books of the Bible. God has given us everything we need, and yet for some reason it is not enough for most people. We need someone else to write a book, or hold a seminar, or make some ‘test’ to tell us who we are.
I mentally keep coming back to, Why is God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Bible not enough?
This isn’t a statistical, science proven number, but I’m going to say (by experience) that the majority of people who use and claim their results from the (Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and any other test) use them as an excuse for why they are the way the are. And that you just have to accept it. I’m going to stand up and say, No, you don’t have to accept it.
What does the Bible say you are? What does God expect of your daily life and walk?
The Word of God says we were helpless, corrupt, lost, sinners, but once we come to Jesus we are adopted, redeemed, made new, and loved! Everything we are is right there. We are sinners in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
In my experience with the personality tests and people, I have heard people say, well we can’t/won’t get along because my Myers-Briggs test says our personality traits are incompatible. We have Pinterest boards full of information and helpful tips and tricks for dealing with our ‘ABCD’ traits. But nothing about what and how God says we should be. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:12
I doesn’t say, love them so long as your personalities align. It says love them, as He has loved you.
We have walked so far away from what our Christian walk should be. All of these tests are focused on self. The self discovery, awareness, and care fads, are not rooted in Biblical doctrine. And I think the church's involvement in it has been detrimental. We have slowly over the years, lessened the value of the Word of God, and filled those gaps with philosophies and experiences that are not of God, so let's call them what they are, lies from the pit of hell.
We have a life manual, a precious gift from our Heavenly Father, the one who created us and knows everything about our innermost beings, we have the Holy, Inspired, God Breathed, Bible.
If there were no other books, no personality tests, and no self help gurus (we’d definitely be better off) and we would have more than enough in His Word to guide and teach us.
Anything that does not point to Jesus and our Heavenly Father, points to the devil. There are only two options in this life. We choose to serve Christ or Satan, there is no gray area.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Psalm 1:1a Find where your counsel is coming from. The Bible says we will be blessed if we do not walk in the counsel (advice; opinion, or instruction, given upon request or otherwise, for directing the judgment or conduct of another; opinion given upon deliberation or consultation.) of the ungodly.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2
We would have no time for our Enneagram number or our four letter personality trait if we are meditating day and night on the law of the Lord.
How many Bible verses do you know by heart? Now how many movie lines and secular songs can you sing from memory? Most of us are severely deficient in the things that matter, scripture memory, study and application.
Let me wrap this up by saying, nothing, no test, no philosopher, no guru, can tell you who you are. These tests are no excuse, God requires and desires that we live a certain way, and He has laid out that path for us in His word. Most of those ‘traits’ that define us in those tests can be and should be changed and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
There is only one thing we are supposed to look like and aspire to and that is the character of Jesus Christ.
So instead of catering to your #_ , ABCD label. Chase after Christ, search for Him and His character traits.
Apply yourself, fill your time with the Words of God, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus… Hebrews 12:1b-2a
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