The Enneagram: A New Christian Perspective

My sophomore year of college, I heard about a peculiar topic which overwhelmingly navigated many conversations within young evangelical women - the Enneagram tool. Perhaps it was my long history of unwittingly falling into the seduction of fads prior to my conversion which made me a skeptic of popular trends in and outside of the Church, or perhaps it was indeed the Holy Spirit which protected me from a monstrous ideology leading to self-deception. It has been a tool used by those in the Church and outside of the Church in order to produce a better personhood in this world. Because of its prominent footprint and proven use, the Enneagram remains a staple for many evangelicals, which is the very problem I seek to address. The issue rests in the hands of a self assessment tool enabling the deception within oneself in order to curate a personality fitting in the eyes of a particular reader. Though much of the Enneagram itself is problematic, at core, it is the body of believers which has enabled its existence to fill in a void which the Church is responsible to fill.

Because of the Enneagram’s prominence in evangelicalism, I will pose a perspective which primes the core issue of its birth in the Church body and continual footprint.

Firstly, it must first be mentioned that exposing the Enneagram tool and the mysticism which embodies its entire motive is essential to the argument. However, the core concern lies within the context of the Church body and its deficit in modeling God’s principles of building up the body of believers. For this reason, the Enneagram tool has integrated itself into the Church because of the lack of affirmation and accountability within the body of believers.

Origins of the Enneagram

When I first began to hear of the Enneagram, I did preliminary research on its origin. Every website, book, and article came to the same conclusion whether they were “pro-Enneagram” or “anti-Enneagram. To sum it up, the answer is“we don’t know the origin, it’s something ancient.”You may have the same experience fumbling through the web and sections of books to figure out if there can be something ‘Christian-enough’ about this tool which gives it grounds for use. Enneagram advocates urge readers to put to the test the wisdom of this tool in order to uncover its proven use. Shortcomings of its murky origins are easily overlooked when relying on experiential knowledge and testimonies of its fruitfulness.

You will read that the ancient backgrounds of the Enneagram emerged from various ancient backgrounds such as sufism, ancient Judaism, and monasticism.

Sufism relations are directly tied because George I. Gurdjieff (1866-1949) claimed he received the Enneagram secret from a Sufi brotherhood. Though claims were made, it was later found untrue. The main contribution of Gurdjieff was the diagram which he said could see the universe and its cosmic reality. From here, his pupil P.D Ouspensky (1878-1947) wrote down the ideas of Gurdjieff called “ The Fourth Way'' which influenced the New Age Movement. Oscar Ichazo (1931-2020) later took these teachings and incorporated new thought into it. He never used it as a personality tool, but it is vital to mention that Ichazo had contact with Metatron and Green Q’tub - two spirits which contributed much to the development of the Enneagram. The personality types launched when this tool got into the hands of Claudio Naranjo (1932-2019). This spiritual seeker and New Age psychiatrist learned the secret of the Enneagram from Ichazo, then in return began to observe the Enneagram more. Most of his “observations'' were born fromautomatic writing(see video here: watch at 3:45 https://youtu.be/wlO3KJWnNd8?t=180). Automatic writing is also known as psychography, having the psychic ability to pen written words without full consciousness due to a spiritual or supernatural force.

Modern Day Enneagram

Since Naranjo’s automatic writing addition to the Enneagram, the nine personalities came into existence. This “secret” as it was called was introduced to many others who were seeking for spiritual truths and personal growth. Richard Rohr (1943- ), a Catholic priest came across this discovery and became the new face of the Enneagram. His books are fundamental to contemporary Christian circle’s understanding of the Enneagram and its use. Ironically, Rohr does not hold to some fundamental orthordox understandings of Christology (See interview here ). He even denies the atonement of Christ as pillar of Christology (see video here). A recent book published in 2020, “Richard Rohr and The Enneagram Secret'' dissects the thoughts of Rohr and his incoherence to Christian doctrine:

            “ One needs to know Rohr denies the biblical doctrines on man, sin, creation, salvation, and God. Richard Rohr also teaches a false Jesus/Christ. Rhor makes a distinction between Jesus and Christ by saying Jesus was not the “Universal Christ,” who is “bigger” than Jesus. To Richard Rohr, the creation is Christ. In summary, the origins of the Enneagram are in mysticism, occultism, and the New Age.”

It is clear that there are no origins prior to the twentieth century. Rooted in the ambiguous origins of the Enneagram are principles drawn from other ancient religions which should have no place for those who build their foundation on that of the Word of God (Luke 7). Additionally, there is no empirical evidence in science, anthropology, nor in psychological theories and psychometric studies which prove this to be true outside of experience. The bulk of the Enneagram is foundational to intuition and mystical experiences. Thereby, it is important Christians stay alert to the problematic understandings of this tool and the many who follow it.

I organized a case study to find more information. Within the 50 Christians who participated, 78% said the ancient and mystic roots contributed no hindrance to their understanding of it. The aim is two-fold.

1. To caution the community of Jesus-following-believers of an ideology redirecting our eyes away from the perfect Christ and to the imperfect self within.
2. Recognition of a deficit in the Church which should spur every believer to live into their God-given responsibility, fulfilling the call to build one another up in the body of Christ.

If the Enneagram indeed does have origin complexities contradictory to biblical concepts, why do Christians still use it? The challenge of critically thinking through everything we use to “amplify” our ministry work and our Christian image is not an easy route, but is a necessary one. Standards believers set for what they deem are true and good in the world will inherently pour into orthopraxic methodologies. Additionally, the worldview of those observing. Everything communicates.

Current Enneagram Users

Many have fallen into the persuasion of this tool in Protestant Evangelicalism, prominent figures like The Bible Project’s Tim Mackie and Jon Collins, Mark Batterson, Louie Gigglio, Dave Ramsey, Dr. Russell Moore, Amy Grant, and other Christians in public ministry.

By no means am I making salvific claims and judgement calls on Christians who use the Enneagram as an aid for ministry. Nor am I condemning any individual of their personal use of it for self-development and work related strengths finders. It is no secret that this tool claims multi-faceted purposes of use in Christian communities. Though I would argue the Enneagram should be fully omitted from any relations to the body of believers for the reasons below, it does not alter the justification Christ made possible for us. I know many God-loving Christians who faithfully serve God and simultaneously are a fan of the Enneagram. In fact, many of my close friends were the pioneers of my invitation to it.

How the Enneagram Works

According to many books and online websites telling the secret of the Enneagram wisdom, (like the enneagraminstitute), the Enneagram is a personality test which supplies understanding in the character of a person. It claims there are 9 types of personalities and subtype personalities which make up the holy ideas and virtues that drive the core of our soul (https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/the-traditional-enneagram). Each personality has its own three modes: Healthy, Average, and Unhealthy. Each of these modes are expressed differently based on the type that you are. A self-assessment is then encouraged by Enneagram users. If aid is needed, a test is also provided on multiple websites. Over a million tests are taken monthly on this site alone (https://www.truity.com/test/enneagram-personality-test). The question to ask oneself when trying to find their Enneagram type: “ Which enneagram number most sounds like me and who I am today?”

There are variables which make the Enneagram's claim of secret wisdom questionable. Firstly, taking a test dependent on artificial intelligence (question-answer) algorithms in order to solidify which type you are is skeptical on its own. Secondly, we are forced to reckon with the role of honesty in a self-assessed personality test. We are self-deceptive people more often than not. The Bible certainly says so. Allowing ourselves to be our own primary encourager and accountability partner is not a wise choice of honest feedback. In Mark 7, Pharisees and scribes gather around Jesus questioning the physical defilement of Jewish customs his disciples neglected.

The traditions of men were valued above God’s law. Jesus replies, making clear that it is the depraved heart of a person’s inward reasoning and perception which enables wickedness to override true understanding.

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality,theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness, All these evil things come from a person and defile a person.” - Mark 7:21-23

Though Jesus is specifically addressing the Pharisees customs, it is clear deceit is not foreign to the human heart.

 It is foolish to think that our own self-assessments would not be tainted by sin, and thereby a facade of our warped reality.

The Barnum Effect

The Enneagram promises to promote clarity within the self that can only be discovered when looking inwards, and journeying outward. Undergirding this thought is the barnum effect which in psychology refers to the phenomenon that occurs when individuals believe that personality descriptions apply specifically to them, more so than other people, despite the fact that the description is actually filled with information that applies to everyone (link britannica definition link). This title is given to P.T. Barnum who said “ A “sucker” is born every minute.” The generic attachment attributed from personality to individuals proves that people are gullible, and malleable, and also utterly longing for special and unique ties. In an individual’s longings and desires for being understood, found are existing tools like the Enneagram, other personality tests, like the Meyers Briggs and astrology.

Examples of phrases found in the Barnum Effect studies applicable to nearly anyone and everyone (Kathleen D. Vohs):

• “You have an intense desire to get people to accept and like you.”
• “Sometimes you give too much effort on projects that don’t work out.”
• “You prefer change and do not like to feel limited in what you can do.”
• “You are an independent thinker who takes pride in doing things differently than others.”
• “Sometimes you can be loud, outgoing, and a people person, but other times you can be quiet, shy, and reserved.”
• “You can be overly harsh on yourself and very critical.”
• “Although you do have some weaknesses, you try very hard to overcome them and be a better person.”

It could be that the Enneagram is nothing other than a Christian alternative to astrology.

Falling into Propaganda

Astrology would like to claim the stars’ alignment to the imaginary line drawn from the rotation of the sun is the location of the constellations which make up the 12 zodiac signs we know today (Time Magazine). These zodiac signs have traveled also through other ancient backgrounds and was coined by the Greeks. Modern day astrology suggests that the time you were born affects greatly your personality and characteristics today. Though astrology is not the same as scientific astronomy, many claim its truth in their lives. Perhaps it is the digitalized age filled with propaganda which makes these personality assignments and tests intriguing, or the desire to fill another deeper void within.

Propaganda on Social Media has made personality fads more accessible than ever before. Facebook alone has varied personality tests, like “Which Disney Character Are You? What Avenger Are You? Etc…” Likewise, the booming mediated age has contributed to Enneagram’s popularity through Instagram’s infographics, Facebook groups, Twitter pages, and simple Google search. Propaganda is a form of communication aimed towards influencing the attitude of a population toward some cause or position (Ministry Media Matters). Christians ought to be aware of the fads which can sometimes gain approval because of the “Christian” way it sounds through the lens of propaganda. The phenomenon of propaganda seeks integration in a social ether, maximizing the spread of desired behavioral modifications according to a pattern of life. The aim of propaganda desires to provoke action among people and adhere to a doctrine which clings to influence and moralism. The Enneagram is a tool loved by many because it affirms things about us that many others do not verbalize. It offers a list of things to better and a list of things you should not do because you tend to do them. This list of “to-dos” and “not-to-dos” becomes attractive because of the “me too” movement and the moral implications that follow.

The Word of God

The Enneagram is problematic based on its popularity and propaganda’s control of collective inclusion, but blaming social media and modern day techniques aren’t the entire issue. The claims of its roots in diverse ancient cultures contrary to the Word of God. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus tells of the sower whose seed fell along different foundations. Jesus later reveals that the seed he speaks of is the word of God (Lk 7:11). Those who are in the good soil are those who hear the Word of God and hold it fast, bearing good fruit with patience. If indeed the Enneagram is constructed upon a skeleton of different religions combined, it is necessary to rid this tool from our Christian circles. In Acts 20, Paul addresses the need to protect the flock and care for the church whom Christ’s blood was paid. Paul said that fierce wolves will come and speak of twisted things to ause disciples to draw away. As Christians, to be on guard and ready for false teachers and teachings infiltrating our Church. The Enneagram is a minute yet dangerous trespass permeating the Christian community. It moves our foundational soil lain on the Word of God to a soil intertwined with thorns (Lk 8:14), stripping away enablement for true spiritual maturity.

Growing Knowledge

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Spiritual maturity is not something any of us fully possess, it remains an active charge. The goal to strive towards spiritual maturity is growing knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 3:12-14). It may be hard to hear, but understanding ourselves through the Enneagram is not the antidote to a clearer picture of our relationship with Jesus, or our relationship with our spouse, family, friends, coworkers, or strangers. Neither does understanding our sins through the lens of the Enneagram fully capture the true weight of it within. The Enneagram seems to think understanding yourself firstly would then inform you of how you can better love Jesus and others. It’s just simply not true. In actuality, journeying inward in order to externalize fruitfully is incoherent to Jesus’ instruction and model of fixing our eyes on heavenly things (Matt 6:33). We ought to keep our eyes on the things above, Jesus Christ Himself the God-Man. The Enneagram feeds on our favorite topic, ourself. When our eyes are shifted firstly on Christ, the awareness of our sin makes possible the fruitfulness of true union with Christ.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith ⁱwith virtue,⁵and virtue ^jwith knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control ^kwith steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness ^lwith brotherly affection, and brotherly affection ^mwith love. ⁸ For if these qualities⁶are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or ⁿunfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why does this matter?

Etched into the depths of our being is our desire to love and be loved well. In the Garden of Eden, God made us because quite frankly He wanted to. He loves us. He also created us to love Him. When the fall happened, not only did humanity fall from right standing with God, but also marred was the true and perfect love man ought to have for God. If humanity's love for God is distorted, the effect carries through to humanity’s love for humanity as well.

In the case study done with 50 random users of the Enneagram with ministerial aspirations, it was found that nearly 29% of them felt as if people within their Church body did not see them as they actually are. When a similar question was posed “ Do you think the Enneagram sees you as you are?” only 12.5% of people said “no.” More than half of people felt more seen by this tool in their actual personhood than the body of believers around them. The building of the body is less likely to happen if one does not trust the body of believers and the pair of eyes that are seen within their local context. This is where a solution needs to be made. The Enneagram does not fit in Christian Evangelicalism and in order to rid this tool and following fads that will come, the Church needs to be better at fulfilling the entire commission of Christ.

The Church’s Responsibility

The Church is an organization and an organism. There are ways that we work as a function of operative species for a common goal. As an organism, we are living and breathing functions of God’s living truth. Because we are called to operatively work and functionally breed life, fellowship with one another is fundamental. There is privilege and honor and difficulties with how we speak with one another, but it is not an option - by no means!

The Church is responsible to make clear the set apartness that we ought to be as a body of Christ. Throughout history, devoting oneself fully to God in clear allegiance has been a problem for humanity. Starting from Genesis in the Garden of Eden. We fail to affirm one another and keep each other accountable. Adam failed to account Eve for her disobedience to God. Many commentators would suggest Adam loved Eve more than he loved God. Therefore, Adam’s idea of love was to disregard his God-given duty to love her well through accountability.

The Church must be the voice of truth for one another so we can share in the development of one another towards Christ-likeness as we are being sanctified. No tool like the Enneagram or any other fad should be the force to which we ascribe in order to find our identity and characteristics. Therefore we should rid the tools and go back to the basics of loving one another in the Church by being advocates of kingdom seekers because of Jesus. We must build up the body of believers and seek to harmonize them by affirming one another and keeping each other accountable.

            “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers,[b]12 to eq1. uip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[c] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” - Ephesians 4:11-15

It is paramount that the Enneagram no longer root its mystical New Age thought into the Church. When we find other tools labeled as such coming into our Church.

We need to evaluate the deficit of the Church and move towards being a better Church by being men and women of the Word. The Church body must be a mirror of Christ’s perfect reign and must be the direction.

Three Things We Can Learn From the Enneagram

The Enneagram should not be a quick stop to a better you. However, “tools” like this do teach us a few things.

1. We are more alike than we are different:In Dr. Tucker’s book “All Together Different,” he says this: "Identity is the question of our age. It is also the root of  many of our conflicts. As a culture, we are deeply conflicted about issues related to ethnic and gender identity. We are divided by age, nationality, and many other markers, even our  favorite sports team. The church is not immune from this conflict. If anything, questions of identity are even more pressing for the church because it has been made different by divine design. The church  is made up of those who come from every tribe, tongue, and  nation. We have been given a diversity of gifts by the Holy  Spirit. We worship in a variety of styles. Most importantly, the  church is made up of those whose identity has been fundamentally changed as a result of the redeeming work of Jesus Christ." If the Enneagram claims that 7 billion people in the world can be identified between 9 personality types, it infers that we have more commonality than we think.

1. We desire to love better: The Enneagram claims that it helps us in our marriages, our relationships, our work environment. We are always looking for more ways to do life better with others.
2. We crave to know: We are made to search our hearts and this world until we understand epistemologically (1) who we are (2) and what the purpose of our existence is.

Three Things Followers of Jesus Should Consider

1. All people desired to be loved, seen, heard, and known:Because humanity has a built in desire to love and be loved, we will always be searching for it somewhere. Be the person who affirms and keeps accountable fellow brothers and sisters.
2. A deficit in the Church will attempt surplus elsewhere:If the Church doesn’t provide its members with a lens to truly see, people will attempt to find it somewhere else.
3. Everything Communicates: From what you do, what you use, and who you are, everything communicates something. Evaluate how the use of how the Enneagram can potentially communicate who we are as a body of Christ. 

Though perhaps many of you do not depend on the Enneagram to be a primary source of knowing, it can slowly creep into your theology. Separating theology and worldly ideologies can be difficult once you’ve bought into the world’s understanding. Therefore, it is paramount to be the Church. Build one another up. Listen to one another. Pray for one another. Encourage one another. Next time you see someone who is totally bought into the Enneagram, do not shun them. I repeat, do not make it all about the cultish New Age thought and mystic skepticism found. Consider what they truly desire. Instead of introducing the Enneagram to a friend, spend time asking them how they are.

Downloadable PDFS for exemplification

Works Cited: 

Cron, Ian Morgan. The Road Back to You: an Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery. IVP Books, an Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2016.

Kammerzelt. Ministry Media Matters.2020

Rohr, Richard, and Andreas Ebert. The Enneagram: a Christian Perspective. Crossroad Pub., 2001.

Ruether, Rosemary Radford. To Change the World: Christology and Cultural Criticism. Wipf and Stock, 2001.