(If you are new to the Enneagram or know very little about it, this post is for you.)

A description of the Enneagram…

The Enneagram is a personality typing system containing nine perspectives or “lenses” through which people see the world. Each of the nine types act as sort of an internal GPS, revealing why you think, feel and behave the way you do. It has gained traction in the Evangelical community in recent years and is being used as a learning tool by some Christian leaders as they strive to gain more understanding of themselves, their congregations and staffs.

Learning your type helps you understand the pretty and not-so-pretty about yourself and how to navigate to your healthiest destination. When you understand what motivates you – WHY you do what you do – you can have more awareness, forgiveness, and compassion for yourself and others. Better yet, when you view your Enneagram type through the lens of the Gospel, you can consider who you are in Christ as you evaluate your struggles and walk in freedom as you use recommendations from this tool to help you grow to be more Christ-honoring in your relationships.

Walk in freedom, yes. As Romans 8:1-2 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” But as I sit in the comfort of the gift of grace God gives to us, I find myself also desiring to know myself and others better so I can love well – and serve Him well.

The Enneagram IS…

1. A tool to help you better understand people and honor their differences.
2. Not what you do, but the motivation behind what you do.
3. An indicator for how healthy you are and what’s happening between you and Jesus.
4. A tool that gives language and clarity to what makes you and others tick.
5. An explainer of your default patterns, behaviors, temptations and traps.
6. ONLY a tool.

The Enneagram is NOT…

1. Who you are (scripture already answers that!).
2. A list of the things that are wrong with you.
3. A list of things that make you better than the next person.
4. A weapon to use against others when you think you know their type.
5. An excuse to stay stuck in poor behavior and not try to improve.
6. A new all-in lifestyle for you to adopt and consume yourself with – you might find yourself squeezing out scripture and prayer.

Why the Enneagram is helpful…

1. It can give you greater understanding of your spouse’s or close family member’s behavior, giving you a greater appreciation for how unique God made them.
2. It alerts you to behavior that is off track – so you can process and react to those things in a productive way.
3. It reveals to you when you are functioning as the healthiest version of you (or the unhealthiest).
4. It helps us remove our masks of personality, becoming conscious of who we really are and a truer version of ourselves.
5. It addresses the various complexities and nuances of human behavior, reiterating the truth of how unique God really made us to be.

The bottom line is this – learning about the Enneagram accelerates personal growth and brings increased health to relationships as we develop more awareness of what makes each of us tick, but it should be viewed through the lens of the Gospel so we keep Jesus in the place of utmost importance and don’t mistakenly adopt the Enneagram as a new all-in lifestyle that diminishes scripture.