making sense of personality

Personality is the tendency to behave in a certain way. It has motivational tendencies embedded within and is aligned with our purpose, calling, giftedness (see post on 4/3 "Purpose, ambition, and calling"). Thus, one's personality is neither right or wrong, good or evil, it simply is how we are wired. Often people feel pride or shame over their personality. Neither is appropriate. Contrary to popular belief, personality is not what Scripture calls our flesh. Whether we are sinful or righteous depends upon our heart's disposition to worship and depend upon ourself or upon our faith in what God has said and done on our behalf. As discussed in earlier posts "flesh" denotes our carnal mind (seeking to exalt self) versus a Kingdom mind, which has been transformed by Grace.

We should celebrate our personality as God's blessing on us. When our heart is adoring and trusting Christ, our personality is guiding our behavior in a way that honors Him and fulfills us. Below is a description of my Myers Brigg personality type (INTP). Those of you that know me will see that this personality explains why I do what I do (including this Blog). When I am behaving consistent with this, my life flows well. When my heart is trusting God, my life's rhythm is Holy :-)

Same for each of you. Knowing your personality will free you to enjoy how God has blessed you to be a blessing ..... something to consider 4 sure!!

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INTP personality type (Myers Brigg)

They are the master designers of all kinds of theoretical systems, including school curricula, corporate strategies, and new technologies. For INTP’s, the world exists primarily to be analyzed, understood, explained - and re-designed. External reality in itself is unimportant, little more than raw material to be organized into structural models. What is important for INTP’s is that they grasp fundamental principles and natural laws, and that their designs are elegant, that is, efficient and coherent.

INTP’s are rare - maybe one percent of the population - and show the greatest precision in thought and speech of all the types. They tend to see distinctions and inconsistencies instantaneously, and can detect contradictions no matter when or where they were made. It is difficult for an INTP’s to listen to nonsense, even in a casual conversation, without pointing out the speaker's error. And in any serious discussion or debate INTP’s are devastating, their skill in framing arguments giving them an enormous advantage. INTP’s regard all discussions as a search for understanding, and believe their function is to eliminate inconsistencies, which can make communication with them an uncomfortable experience for many.

Ruthless pragmatists about ideas, and insatiably curious, INTP’s are driven to find the most efficient means to their ends, and they will learn in any manner and degree they can. They will listen to amateurs if their ideas are useful, and will ignore the experts if theirs are not. Authority derived from office, credential, or celebrity does not impress them. INTP’s are interested only in what make sense, and thus only statements that are consistent and coherent carry any weight with them.

INTP’s often seem difficult to know. They are inclined to be shy except with close friends, and their reserve is difficult to penetrate. Able to concentrate better than any other type, they prefer to work quietly at their computers or drafting tables, and often alone. INTP’s also become obsessed with analysis, and this can seem to shut others out. Once caught up in a thought process, INTP’s close off and persevere until they comprehend the issue in all its complexity. INTP’s prize intelligence, and with their grand desire to grasp the structure of the universe, they can seem arrogant and may show impatience with others who have less ability, or who are less driven.