Enneagram?
Sometimes I get lots of mail on subjects of no interest to me whatsoever.
The following fits that category.
Lately, I’ve been getting lots of inquiries about the use of the enneagram in spiritual communities.
Some churches are now using this personality test as a screening device for employees.
Some Christians are upset about this as the test allegedly has some roots in occult practices.
What do I think?
I think the vast majority of all these personality tests are pseudo science garbage.
I had no use for them when I worked for corporate America and have no use for them now.
When I was a younger man we had these things called “newspapers”.
In the newspaper was the daily astrological forecast for your “sun sign”.
Occasionally, it was accidentally accurate because it was vague and general enough to be so.
The enneagram is what happens when you no longer have newspapers…I kid because I care…not really…
Is the enneagram spiritually harmful?
Probably not…Christians have had their own cottage industry since the 70’s with Christianized personality profiles and identity tests that were every bit as stupid as this one.
Lots of Christians used to sneak a look at their horoscopes in the newspaper.
Salvations held up under the strain…
This is where I’m supposed to remind you that you can only find your true identity in Christ and through the Bible… even though the Bible isn’t written about your identity, but God’s.
You should understand who you are in Christ…but we’re talking about apples and oranges here.
Now that I’ve offended everybody, I’m going to go deal with something that matters.
Make your own application…
You are, as usual thought provoking and at the same time, you are very funny! You say the things that need to be said…no apologies necessary…bless you for reminding us that our identity is IN Christ…keep up the challenges to all of us…keep making us think!!
Just one more thing
People who ‘like’ themselves will just find one more bit of identity to fortify their soul. People who struggle might get something to help gain self-understanding. People who see hierarchies everywhere will see another here. I was slow to engage, and easy on the adoption. As per those who think it to be the devil’s trick? Meh! The evil one has better weapons. I think whatever it is it’s probably Trumps fault, inspired by the Russians, lied about by the deep state and should be added to the impeachment charges.
8WingNut Dread
Michael
Just as an observation… I’ve worked with a few younger clergy. Some of them make use of Enneagram in their teaching and churches. I’ve noticed, however, that this is mainly done by those who “fast tracked” their ordination process, that is, they did not go through the lengthy psychological evaluations normally expected. I have an instinct they believe that somehow enneagram makes up for this lack of evaluation. I could be wrong, but it is something I’ve observed…
Does anyone know: is it true that the ennegram has its origins with the
Jesuits in some long-ago century? That’s what I’ve heard.
To me, it’s like Myers-Briggs — a tool to help see how you relate to others
and the world around you. Nothing more, nothing less.
But I do get Michael’s skepticism, at the same time…
The Enegram and Myers Briggs personality indicators and similar tests can be fun ice breaking conversation starters and party games but I wouldn’t use it for hiring anyone. Personally I think the Clifton strength based assessment may be more dangerous since the bottom line is if your perceived strengths don’t match up well with the corporate or Christian ministry you are working for, you probably be out of job. There no such thing as improving or getting better where you are weak in this system. It’s all about excelling where you are strong. Not a very biblical idea in my opinion. Some may disagree.
Back when I wanted to be an important person at my old CC, I took that goofy temperament test, which was very popular at that time. As I was in an ambitious stage of life, the results always came out for choleric, which basically meant, BOSSY. <— Which is what I was in those days and which lead to my downfall and ultimate rescue by God, but at the time I believed it gave me permission to be a jerk, which I took full advantage of.
When I take similar tests now (for fun), the results are always along the line of "You are a person who should stay in your study all day and night with your cat and dog, a cup of tea, and a book about mysterious medieval events." So since that's "who I am," I can indulge myself guilt-free. (Not!)
So these tests are probably of the devil, is my conclusion. You can use them to justify your worst qualities.
I find it so interesting that many say “I’ve heard that it came from xyz”, when the actual origins of the Enneagram are easily found with even a minimal google search. https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/the-traditional-enneagram and (while Wikipedia is dubious, this is an accurate report) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enneagram_of_Personality
MrFixit will eventually post today further information on the subject. He has done extensive ‘background checks’ on the subject and it’s gurus.
Yes Michael. our identity is found in the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Bible.
We have given thesubject of the Enneagram a good deal of review as we have seen friends in large church leadership positions promote the Enneagram, even using substantial sums of tithe and offering funds to ‘train’ staff and family of staff in the Enneagram. We have watched numerous friends divert the focus of their discipleship from the Scriptures to it.
Zondervan and Lifeway are making BANK on the self-focused naivete of those who should know better. I am hoping it’s just another foolish fad, though a good deal of participants’ time and money will have been wasted.
Marcia Montenegro, a former professional astrologist and now seminary trained apologist has several articles on her webpage http://www.christiananswersforthenewage.org/ and her Facebook pages.
At our local rescue/recovery mission, we use a tool called LIFE LANGUAGES. We find it very helpful in helping clients unravel some of the reasons they do what they do. Another tool, though not connected to personality type is something called GENESIS PROCESS (www.genesisprocess.org). So good at dealing with deep wounds, trauma, shame, and harmful attitudes, reflexes and habits of which we are often unaware.
When I was hired by a CC church a few years ago, I instituted what is classically considered the definitive HR tool for evaluating candidates for hire. I used it extensively in my business as well. Far better than the Enneagram. Here it is:
https://youtu.be/P8ciVBQixpU
Wow
What I like about this thread is it proves one can learn something new every day.
First time in all my years I have ever even heard of an Enneagram.
Must have been sheltered.
I guess I’ll have to google it now to learn more.
The pattern in reminiscent of the sefirot (Kabbalah), a bridge, perhaps, between that and MBTI which is also pseudo-occultic in nature? Whatever Jung, influenced by the occult, came up with isn’t clinical psychology which is science-based. It took decades after Freud and Jung for clinical, science based psychology to gain ground. Yet silliness like this remains. Easy answers tickle the brain. These are non answers.
-speaking as an IN… Whatever… I can’t remember what pigeon hole into which I was classified. Yet in my 20s, it was certainly validating! A better estimation of who you are is likely better gleaned over wine or a six pack with your BFFs and brutal honesty.
I just came across an old thread I left on another sight…
God sent me a candy gram for Mongo. I have been much happier sense!
Enemas, Labrynths, Promise Keepers
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