Some personalities, lean toward a rules based, black and white theology that allows them to easily decide who is right and wrong and who to fight, who is with them or against them. If you disagree with them, you are their enemy. No you are THEE enemy. But are you their enemy because you are wrong about theology, or because they have subscribed to a theology that helps them feel comfortable within the way they view the world? In other words, is this God’s fight, or their own? If they weren’t Christians, wouldn’t they just manifest their personalities in some other fight, some other black-and-white way of viewing the world? For these people rules define who they are. Control is very, VERY important. In a church service, things(Liturgy) must be done in the correct way and the Sermon must give clear and definite answers.
You get other personalities who spend their life DOING! If it comes to God they need to do in order to experience God. Sitting still and meditating about God is just not possible for them. God exists for them in the realm of works. It is very difficult for these personalities to accept other Christians who are not out there busy with projects. True Christianity is visible in what you do. Often this group lives their lives in neat boxes. Neatly distinguishing between doing their Christianity, their work, their family, their fun etc. If they weren’t Christians, they would be busy doing other projects that they deemed worthwhile or fun. In a church service, things(Liturgy) must focus on being interactive, the sermon must give directions towards the necessary actions.
Then there are the personalities who blossom when they can be alone, thinking on God, about God and isolating themselves. People who experience God in the Silence, prayer, meditation and worship. For these personalities it is very difficult to go out and really experience God in doing and the noise of the world. If they weren’t Christians, they would probably took up a hobby like bird watching, stamp collecting or pottery. In a church service, things(Liturgy) must be simple. The Liturgy and the sermon must be meditatively.
Still others experience God in relationships. Talking, laughing, crying and worshipping together is where God becomes more than a religion. It is very important for them to be part of a group and a community of care. They act out their faith in groups. If they weren’t Christians, you would find them at parties, in groups with mutual interests. In a church service, things(Liturgy) must encourage conversation and interaction. The sermon must rely on the telling of stories and time for witnessing is very important.
Are these the only personalities and do the different personalities belong to only one category? No definitely not! Is there one personality that is more correct than the others? I would like to answer “Yes mine”, but that would be a lie. The answer is NO. Only where all the personalities come together, and interact, irritate and integrate with one another can we see the bigger picture about God. God created us in His image, this “us” does not exclude anyone, not even the weird. It is necessary to learn form the “others” to grow to a fuller appreciation of God.
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