Ep. 332: DANGERS WITH THE ENNEAGRAM w/ Dr. Chris Berg
Jul 3, 2023
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Dr. Chris Berg, Christian Enneagram expert, discusses the dangers and origins of the Enneagram. Topics include the Enneagram's infiltration into the church, its promotion of pantheism and Christ consciousness, dangers of inadequately trained roles, the connection between yoga and Hinduism, disagreement with Enneagram views, significance of identity in Christ, and the risks associated with the Enneagram.
The Enneagram's origins are rooted in the New Age movement, with elements of pantheism and divinity, making it unsafe for believers to engage with.
The Enneagram challenges traditional Christian beliefs and presents alternative methods for achieving sanctification, leading to compromised theology and a decline in Bible literacy.
Engaging in yoga, even with a Christ-centered mindset, contradicts biblical teachings and can potentially contact the demonic realm, so Christians should seek exercise alternatives aligned with biblical principles.
Deep dives
Origins and dangers of the Enneagram
The Enneagram, contrary to popular belief, was not developed by the Desert Fathers or ancient Christian theologians. It was actually created by a Russian occultist named George I. Gurdjieff and later expanded upon by an occultist named Oscar Ichazo. The Enneagram's origins are rooted in the New Age movement and includes elements of pantheism and divinity. The Enneagram claims to offer nine different ways to get separated from God and advocates finding one's true self through rituals and contemplative practices. Many have reported negative side effects such as depression, anxiety, and a shift away from Jesus and scripture. The Enneagram should be seen as a religion and not just a personality test.
Controversies surrounding the Enneagram
The Enneagram has faced considerable opposition and criticism. It has been condemned for its demonic origins and its connection to mysticism. Rather than relying on the sufficiency of Scripture, the Enneagram presents alternative methods for achieving sanctification. The Enneagram's claim of providing paths to divinity challenges traditional Christian beliefs about salvation through Christ. The Enneagram's infiltration into Protestant Christianity, encouraged by major publishers, has led to concern about compromised theology and a decline in Bible literacy. Many churches have uncritically embraced the Enneagram, leading to confusion and potentially harmful spiritual practices.
The Enneagram and yoga
Yoga, often presented as a physical exercise, has religious origins and aims to induce a transcendental state through meditation and bodily movements. Despite claims that one can engage in yoga while focusing on Christ, it remains a religious activity deeply rooted in Hinduism. The syncretism of blending Christianity and Hinduism in Christian yoga is problematic and contradicts biblical teachings. Engaging in yoga, even with a Christ-centered mindset, is akin to engaging in activities explicitly designed to contact the demonic realm. Christians should seek exercise alternatives that align with biblical principles and avoid compromising their faith.
The Dangers of the Enneagram
The podcast episode explores the dangers of the Enneagram, a personality tool that some churches have incorporated into their teachings. The speaker emphasizes that the Enneagram is rooted in occultic origins and is considered by some as an occultic tool. However, there are also those who accept its cultic origins and believe it can be redeemed for Christian use. The Enneagram is seen as a religion rather than a simple personality test, as it aims to supplant Christ and is focused on self-identification and self-mediation. The speaker warns against engaging with the Enneagram and urges individuals to turn to Scripture and deepen their understanding of the teachings of Christ for true spiritual growth.
The Sufficiency of Scripture and the Idolatry of Self
The podcast episode highlights the sufficiency of Scripture and the idolatry of self that can arise from engaging with the Enneagram. The speaker references 2 Timothy 3:16-17 to emphasize that Scripture is God-breathed and fully equip believers for every good work. By relying on the Enneagram or other personality tests, individuals are essentially adding to the sufficiency of Scripture and taking a self-focused approach to understanding themselves. The speaker stresses the need for better preachers, churches, and a deeper understanding of Scripture, where believers can find true identity and sanctification in Christ rather than in personality theories.
The Enneagram is a movement that has taken the church by storm. It is becoming more and more popular as many Christian leaders are adopting its teaching and incorporating its theology from the pulpit. There are many Christian Enneagram books being published today with tips on how we can incorporate the enneagram with our marriages, church leadership and basically Christian living. The question is: are you aware of its origins? Do we really understand what we are dabbling with? Is it safe for believers to engage with it? Join host Andrew Marcus as he dives deep with Dr. Chris Berg to unpack the history of the enneagram and walk through some of the dangers when we incorporate it into our spiritual journeys.
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