Read Time: 1 minute 56 seconds
After getting married at the age of 20, Jeff and Beth McCord quickly realized they were misunderstanding each others perceptions of the world and communication. Six years later they were introduced to the Enneagram test and a light switch flipped on.
“You don’t want to use the Enneagram as a sword or a shield,” Beth McCord says. While many around the world use the test as a crutch to pacify their negative behaviors, the McCord’s believe it’s a tool to learn where we need to lean more on God.
After their years of diving deep into studies, teachings and biblical concepts, the McCord’s help their clients see themselves through the lens of the gospel, so they can break free from self-condemnation, fear and shame by experiencing and knowing the unconditional love of Jesus.
So, what is the Enneagram?
Ennea is the Greek word for nine, while gramma means something that is written. “Each of the points on the nine-pointed star represents the nine personality types,” Beth says.
Here is each type:
1. Type 1 is the Principled Reformer.
2. Type 2 is the Nurturing Supporter.
3. Type 3 is the Admirable Achiever.
4. Type 4 is the Introspective Individualist.
5. Type 5 is the Analytical Investigator.
6. Type 6 is the Faithful Guardian.
7. Type 7 is the Enthusiastic Optimist.
8. Type 8 is the Passionate Protector.
9. Type 9 is the Peaceful Accommodator.
How can the Enneagram lead you closer to Jesus?
Each of the nine “types” have four core motivations which are: fear, desire, weakness and longing. Through understanding these four motivations the McCord’s say we find the areas we struggle with that we can overcome through Jesus.
Jeff McCord says throughout church history there have been various tools used by the church to apply the truths of the Bible to our lives. He makes an important distinction that anyone who elevates the results of the tool above Jesus and truth of the Scripture has got it all wrong.
They teach that through understanding your fears and weaknesses you go to the Bible to learn how to address them. If you know you tend to have a more worried personality when you have to do public speaking, then you can find verses to help you in those situations.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known to God.”
Understanding your perception of fear is an opportunity to push you closer to Jesus.
Tune in to the full interview to hear their theological research on biblical principles and the pattern that we can find in human nature in the Enneagram tool. {eoa}
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