The Enneagram vs Scripture: Why God's Word Is Enough
The Rising Popularity of the Enneagram in Churches
Have you noticed the Enneagram's growing influence in Christian circles? This personality typing system has rapidly gained acceptance in many churches over the past five years, with some even using it for hiring decisions. But Scripture warns us to "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
The Bible is clear about our responsibility: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." (2 Timothy 4:2-3).
Why the Enneagram Contradicts Biblical Teaching
The Enneagram fundamentally contradicts Scripture in three critical ways:
1. It promotes looking within for truth rather than to God's Word
The Enneagram encourages self-knowledge through introspection, but Scripture teaches "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). True self-understanding comes only through God's revelation in Scripture.
2. It has occult and mystical origins, not biblical ones
Despite claims of Christian roots, the Enneagram's history traces back to astrology and occult practices. As the sermon states, "You can go back to the 1950s... it was clearly tied to astrology." Christians are commanded to "learn NOT the way of the heathen" (Jeremiah 10:2).
3. It presents an alternative path to spiritual growth
The Enneagram suggests personality insights lead to spiritual enlightenment, but Scripture teaches that spiritual growth comes only through the Holy Spirit working through God's Word. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).
Standing Firm on Biblical Truth
The sermon powerfully references Elijah's challenge in 1 Kings 18: "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him." We face a similar choice today.
Just as Elijah demonstrated the incompatibility of pagan practices with worship of the true God, we cannot blend personality-based systems with biblical Christianity. We must choose one or the other.
Christians are called to:
- Test all teachings against Scripture
- Reject what contradicts biblical doctrine
- Embrace God's Word as completely sufficient
The Path Forward: God's Word Alone
True spiritual growth and discipleship happen through God's Word, not through personality tests or self-discovery tools. Jesus commanded us to make disciples by "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20).
We do not need any extra-biblical sources for our Christian growth. We have all we need in the Holy Bible. The scriptures are sufficient!
🎧 Want to dive deeper into biblical teaching on discernment? Listen to the complete sermon on standing firm in biblical truth through faithful, expository preaching and verse-by-verse Bible teaching. 📚
Click here to listen to the full sermon on why Scripture alone is sufficient for spiritual growth and discernment.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - Psalm 119:105