Why Christians Should Avoid the Enneagram

If a practice was introduced by a New Age mystic and promoted by New Agers, would you be interested?

What if this practice became extremely popular among Christians who believed it had helped them. And suppose some churches were teaching it. Would you accept it? 

What if some people were honest enough to acknowledge its New Age mystic origins but claimed you could separate the good from the bad? 

Would you try it?

I first heard of the Enneagram at a large Christian women’s meeting, and I had a check in my spirit. So I researched it:

“Richard Rohr is widely recognized as the man who single-handedly brought the Enneagram to the western church—first to the Catholics and then to the Protestants.…” (source)

Rohr is a Franciscan priest who denies the deity of Christ, claiming Christ's death didn't save anyone. He believes there are many ways of salvation, and he teaches that Scripture is filled with commands we should deny, ignore, and oppose. (source)

The passage below explains how Christians should view both Rohr and the Enneagram.

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? … What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? … ‘Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.’”  2 Corinthians 6:14-18 

I encourage you to read the notes below. And for more insights, check out the videos and in-depth articles linked at the bottom, and stay away from any teacher who promotes the Enneagram.

Notes:

✔ Read more about the Ex-vangelical movement (also called the Progressive Christian movement) and others like Richard Rohr: Wilderness Wanderers.

✔ One reason I have warned women to avoid the IF Gathering is that the founder uses and promotes the Enneagram. And her lack of discernment is evident in many of the speakers she includes in the seminars. Read more about that HERE. 

✔ Many claim the Enneagram is simply a personality test, but that is also a strike against it. Years ago, the Myers-Briggs personality test became very popular with Christians, and my husband was directed to use it in his job as a director of career planning and placement at a university. He found it caused many students to limit themselves and justify their weaknesses. Myers-Briggs testing is based on the teachings of the atheistic psychologist Carl Jung. I believe the Myers-Briggs does more harm than good and should be avoided, but the Enneagram is even more problematic because of its New Age origins and emphasis.

Helpful articles and videos:

✔ Concise, helpful video (less than 6 minutes) by Melissa Dougherty: The enneagram: Personality test or guide to the occult

✔ Alisa Childers' article, Why Christians Should Avoid the Teachings of Richard Rohr, and video, The Enneagram: Harmless Personality Test or New Age Tool? 

✔ Doreen Virtue, top-selling New Age author who came to Christ and now teaches about New Age influences in the church: Why Christians Should Avoid the Enneagram 

✔ A 30-minute video from Good Fight Ministries: Demonic Origins of the Enneagram  

BLN