PREVIOUS: Enneagram type NEEDS

SITE : “What is the Gospel?”  

BOOK :  “The Enneagram: A Christian Perspective“∼ Richard Rohr & Andreas Ebert  “…. their best-seller shows both the basic logic of the Enneagram & its harmony with the core truths of Christian thought, from the time of the early Church forward.”

BACKGROUND – For millennia humans have tried to discover a predictable pattern of grouping people according to personality similarities. The ancient Greeks observed 4 basic types, & believed they were determined by the kind of body fluid you had (red blood, yellow bile, black bile & phlegm).

The Apostle Paul said that we are unique parts of the larger body of Christ. Jung listed 16 types, which were later incorporated into the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator.

TRUE IDENTITY in CHRIST 
The Enneagram is about WHY we do what we do, not just what we do.
❣️“Enneagram types aren’t merely ‘types’ of people – but paths to God (the person God made us) .” – Russ Hudson

❣️ “The Enneagram exposes 9 ways we lie to ourselves about who we think we are, 9 ways we can come clean about those illusions, & 9 ways to find our way back to God.” – Christopher Heuertz, The Sacred Enneagram

Where we are on our spiritual journey can limit our awareness about our relationship with God. Picture the Enneagram as a giant circle of life, with our type as the tiny spot where we stand, representing our limited view of Self, the world & God. If we start from there, we’ll admit how much more there is to see.

Each personality type is based on a wounded message that molds the motivation behind its behavior. On the surface the Enneagram may seem to be just another way to gain self-knowledge, but it can also be used to move us toward the transformation God extends to us in Christ.

But for this tool to work properly we need to know its purpose in the context of the Gospel.
The Gospel is an enthralling invitation to be reconciled to God through the death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture says to “put off your old self” & “put on the new self created after the likeness of God.”

The Enneagram points out the specific ways we are held captive by our human nature, as well as the unique ways God intends for us – as His ‘image -bearers” – to display His glory & love to the world.
More than offering simple labels, the Enneagram gives us a roadmap that shows where we most need God’s healing in Christ, those exact places sin & wounds make us “fall short of the glory of God”.  (More….)

NOTE: No serious student of both the Gospel & the Enneagram thinks it is the gospel. We know the Enneagram is not the way, the truth & the life. God’s word is the lamp to our feet, & food on the journey to doing God’s will.  But we can think of the Enneagram as our Fitbit, providing some clear markers for the journey. (More…)

This tool provides 9 (actually more) distinct pathways to growth. That doesn’t mean there are only 9 types of people in the world. God made no two exactly alike. Although we identify most closely with one type, we contain traits of ALL 9. We’re a whole person, not just 1/9th.

But we’re not all totally different either. We have more in common with some people than with others. Understanding the types can help us like & love each other more accurately. This inventory encourages us grow spiritually, & cultivate compassion for others. So we can pray for clarity to approach everyone as unique yet related.  

To use the Enneagram for spiritual growth, we start by identify our type. If you’re confused, study each number, & ask God to clarify which one most likely motivates you.
EXP: Why traffic jams stir your anger, why some movie make you cry, why the political climate frustrates you…..
(The most common type, is #6, then #9. Least common are #4 and #8 (More….)

ANATOMY of Ennea-Types
Beth & Jeff Weekly : “The Enneagram is powerful & effective when viewed through the lens of the Gospel.  When we’re out of alignment with Truth, each type’s defects reflects the fall of man. If we’re not resting our true identity in Christ, then struggles & shortcomings lead us to think & act in ways that harm ourselves & others.

When we’re healthy & aligned with the Gospel each Type reflects God’s glory & creativity – although imperfectly. By His grace, we can ask the Holy Spirit to guide us into healthier ways, to find peace & rest despite life’s burdens or trials, & appreciate people of every Type.”

IMP : When you find any tool that helps solidify your core self in Christ – use it. But don’t overvalue the tool. Worship the One who formed you.

NEXT : Enneagram – CHRISTIAN Perspective (#2)