Why Do I...?
Why Do I ...?
Personality tests have become all the rage not only in culture but in the church. I recall when I was a fairly new believer, Tim LaHaye's book, Spirit-Controlled Temperament, was making its rounds through churches. It seemed the Bible was insufficient to tell us why we behave the way we do or understand ourselves.Other "tools" were developed over time like Myers–Briggs Type Indicator, Personality profile tests, and others made their way into churches around the country, one of the latest is the Enneagram. Are they helpful or perhaps even harmful. Are they supplements to the word of God or do they distract from it? In, "The Problem with Personality Tests,"Doug Ponder writes:
“What I object to is the troubling way in which most people, including many Christians, seem to think that personality tests supply us with secret knowledge that is utterly vital for life in God’s world. And though Christians would never come right out and say so, the way that many speak about personality tests makes it seem like the poor apostles did the best they could, talking about sin and virtue as often as they did, but if only they had known about personality types! Then their epistles would have be different. Better even. More like the self-care blogs so popular today. If only…
It’s worth pointing out that personality tests did not exist until 1917. Before that time various theories attempted to explain human behavior, like imbalances of the four humors (blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm) or astrology (which is sadly still with us today). Yet the biblical authors were aware of these theories, and their stubborn refusal to mention any of them is a good indicator that they understood what makes people tick a good deal better than those who walk in darkness. https://mailchi.mp/9a1d5c9fb8ad/happy-lies-a-review?e=169825fd77
Perhaps we should take heed to the realization that the biblical authors, guided by the Holy Spirit while writing Scripture, didn't turn from Scripture to those who walk in darkness for guidance and answers. Many today are turning to them in droves:
“Besides all of this, most personality tests have dubious origins that raise deep concerns. The Myers-Briggs analysis was based on the theories of agnostic psychologist Carl Jung, who candidly admitted, “We psychotherapists must occupy ourselves with problems which, strictly speaking, belong to the theologian.” (This raises all sorts of important points about the compatibility of psychology and Christianity, but that’s another article for another day.) The Enneagram was developed in 1916 by man named G. I. Gurdjieff who believed it was a mystical way to understand all truth (which Jesus would have a thing or two to say about.) It did not become a personality test until the 1970s, when Claudio Naranjo engaged in the occultic practice of “automatic writing” by entering a trance-like state that permitted spirits to guide his hand as wrote about the Enneagram (1 John 4:1 anyone?).”
God really has given us what we need to know to understand ourselves and others and how to bring honor to Him in how we live and treat others. It may be difficult to do because our self-centered sinful heart doesn't like it but it is easy to understand.
https://mailchi.mp/9a1d5c9fb8ad/happy-lies-a-review?e=169825fd77
