Enneagram…Knowing Oneself is part of Sanctification

Written By Joseph Fritchley

Introduction

Every generation must discern how to walk wisely in a world filled with both wonder and danger. Discernment is not fear—it is faith with its eyes open. Caution keeps us dependent on the Spirit; paranoia keeps us distant from His work.

It’s easy to label something “evil” simply because it has been misused. The internet, for instance, has broadcast horrors, lies, and heartache across the world. And yet, through the same network of wires and screens, sermons have been preached, prayers shared, and souls awakened to the gospel. The medium is neutral—it reflects the motives of the one who wields it.

The Enneagram, in that same way, is neither holy nor heretical by nature. It can become an idol in self-centered hands or a mirror in surrendered ones. The issue has never been the tool, but the heart that holds it. Even Scripture—God’s perfect Word—has been twisted by those seeking power rather than transformation.

This reflection is not an uncritical endorsement, but a Christ-centered framework for using the Enneagram redemptively: with wisdom, humility, and biblical grounding. Its purpose is not to elevate personality, but to illuminate where grace is most needed. When we allow Christ to stand at the center, every map of the soul becomes a pathway back to Him.

I. Defining the Enneagram Properly

The Enneagram is best understood as:

“A descriptive map of human personality patterns — nine primary types — that highlights habitual ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and invites transformation toward wholeness.”

It is not:

  • A doctrine or metaphysical system,

  • A revelation of truth about God,

  • A replacement for Scripture or the Holy Spirit in guiding sanctification.

Properly used, the Enneagram is a tool, not a truth source — akin to how Christians might use psychology, sociology, or medicine to understand aspects of human nature.

II. Theological Foundations for Its Use

1. The Doctrine of Common Grace

God’s truth and wisdom are not confined only to explicitly Christian sources:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17)

Even non-Christian thinkers can perceive aspects of human reality, though imperfectly. As Augustine and Calvin both argued, truth is God’s truth wherever it is found.
Thus, tools like the Enneagram can be redeemed and baptized into Christian frameworks when tested against Scripture.

2. Biblical Anthropology

The Enneagram resonates with the biblical understanding that:

  • Humans are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) — inherently good and capable of love.

  • But this image is marred by sin (Romans 3:23), resulting in distorted motivations, fears, and desires.

Each Enneagram “type” can be understood as a pattern of sin and self-protection that emerges from our fallenness — while also reflecting a core longing that only Christ can satisfy.

For example:

  • Type 1 longs for righteousness → fulfilled in Christ’s righteousness (Phil. 3:9).

  • Type 2 longs for love → fulfilled in God’s unconditional love (Rom. 8:38–39).

  • Type 3 longs for worth → found in identity in Christ (Eph. 1:4–6).

3. Sanctification and Self-Knowledge

Christian spiritual formation has long emphasized self-examination:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23–24)
“Know yourself, that you may know God.” — Augustine

The Enneagram can aid this biblical process of confession and transformation by exposing habitual idols and helping believers cooperate with the Spirit’s sanctifying work.

III. Addressing Major Objections

1. “It has occult or New Age roots.”

Historically, the modern Enneagram developed through several influences (e.g., Gurdjieff, Ichazo, Naranjo), some of whom held esoteric beliefs.
However, its psychological structure can be separated from its metaphysical claims, just as Christians use medicine without endorsing secular materialism.

Analogy: The apostle Paul quoted pagan poets in Acts 17 to reveal truth about God.
Christians can similarly use cultural tools while rejecting false worldviews behind them.

Connections to Early Christian Thought:
Some scholars and spiritual directors note parallels between the Enneagram’s moral framework and early Christian reflection on sin and virtue.

  • Evagrius Ponticus (4th century) identified eight logismoi—“evil thoughts” or root passions—which later shaped the list of seven deadly sins.

  • The Desert Fathers and Mothers, whose spiritual disciplines centered on naming and overcoming interior vices, emphasized self-knowledge as the doorway to repentance and union with God.
    In this sense, the Enneagram’s concern with “core sins” and distorted desires resonates with the early church’s long tradition of diagnosing the passions of the heart for the sake of holiness.

The tool’s redemption depends on how it’s used and interpreted — not on its origin story.

2. “It replaces Scripture or spiritual disciplines.”

A faithful apologetic insists the Enneagram must never become a replacement for:

  • Scripture as final authority,

  • The Holy Spirit as transformer of hearts,

  • The church as the context of sanctification.

Used rightly, it serves under the authority of Scripture — as a mirror, not a map of salvation.

3. “It’s too self-focused.”

The goal of Christian use is Christ-centered self-awareness, not narcissism.
True self-knowledge leads to humility and dependence on grace. The Enneagram can highlight where pride, fear, and false identity have replaced Christ’s lordship — prompting repentance and deeper freedom.

IV. A Christ-Centered Framework for Use

To root the Enneagram in Christian discipleship, communities should:

  1. Ground it in Scripture — e.g., use it alongside passages like Romans 7, Galatians 5, and Colossians 3.

  2. Integrate it into spiritual practices — confession, prayer, community accountability.

  3. Teach discernment — emphasizing that transformation is through Christ, not self-effort.

  4. Guard against identity distortion — “You are not your number; you are in Christ.”

  5. Encourage grace — the Enneagram reveals need, not excuse. Grace is the remedy.

V. Example of Christ-Centered Integration

For each type, we can outline: Core Fear, Core Desire, Core Weakness, Core Longing and various ways of how the Gospel can fulfill these. Examples below are taken from https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/blog/breaking-down-the-enneagram

  • conscientious, orderly, appropriate, ethical, judgmental.

    Core Fear: Being wrong, bad, evil, inappropriate, unredeemable, or corruptible
    Core Desire: Having integrity, being good, balanced, accurate, virtuous, and right
    Core Weakness: Resentment—repressing anger that leads to continual frustration and dissatisfaction with yourself, others, and the world for not being perfect.
    Core Longing: “You are good.” 

    Gospel Fulfillment: Christ’s Righteousness

  • thoughtful, generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing, and possessive.

    Core Fear: Being rejected and unwanted, being thought worthless, needy, inconsequential, dispensable, or unworthy of love.
    Core Desire: Being appreciated, loved, and wanted.
    Core Weakness: Pride —denying your own needs and emotions while using your amazing intuition to discover and focus on the emotions and needs of others, confidently inserting your helpful support in hopes that others will say how grateful they are for your thoughtful care.
    Core Longing: “You are wanted and loved.” 

    Gospel Fulfillment: God’s Unconditional Love

  • efficient, accomplished, motivating, driven, and image-conscious.

    Core Fear: Being exposed as or thought incompetent, inefficient, or worthless; failing to be or appear successful
    Core Desire: Having high status and respect, being admired, successful, and valuable
    Core Weakness: Deceit —deceiving yourself into believing that you are only the image you present to others; embellishing the truth by putting on a polished persona for everyone (including yourself) to see and admire.
    Core Longing: “You are loved for simply being you."

    Gospel Fulfillment: Identity in Christ

  • authentic, creative, expressive, deep, and temperamental.

    Core Fear: Being inadequate, emotionally cut off, plain, mundane, defective, flawed, or insignificant
    Core Desire: Being unique, special, and authentic
    Core Weakness: Envy—feeling that you’re tragically flawed, something foundational is missing inside you, and others possess qualities you lack.
    Core Longing: “You are seen and loved for exactly who you are—special and unique.” 

    Gospel Fulfillment: Adoption into God’s Family

  • perceptive, insightful, intelligent, detached, and isolated.

    Core Fear: Being annihilated, invaded, or not existing; being thought incapable or ignorant; having obligations placed upon you or your energy depleted
    Core Desire: Being capable and competent
    Core Weakness: Avarice—feeling that you lack inner resources and that too much interaction with others will lead to catastrophic depletion; withholding yourself from contact with the world; holding onto your resources and minimizing your needs.
    Core Longing: “Your needs are not a problem.”

    Gospel Fulfillment: God’s Wisdom and Presence

  • committed, responsible, faithful, suspicious, and anxious.

    Core Fear: Feeling fear itself, being without support, security, or guidance; being blamed, targeted, alone, or physically abandoned
    Core Desire: Having security, guidance, and support
    Core Weakness: Anxiety—scanning the horizon of life and trying to predict and prevent negative outcomes (especially worst-case scenarios); remaining in a constant state of apprehension and worry.
    Core Longing: “You are safe.”

    Gospel Fulfillment: God’s Faithfulness

  • playful, excitable, versatile, scattered, and escapist.

    Core Fear: Being deprived, trapped in emotional pain, limited, or bored; missing out on something fun
    Core Desire: Being happy, fully satisfied, and content
    Core Weakness: Gluttony—feeling a great emptiness inside and having an insatiable desire to “fill yourself up” with experiences and stimulation in hopes of feeling completely satisfied and content.
    Core Longing: “You will be taken care of.”

    Gospel Fulfillment: Joy in Christ

  • Item descriptionassertive, self-confident, intense, big-hearted, and confrontational.

    Core Fear: Being weak, powerless, harmed, controlled, vulnerable, manipulated, and left at the mercy of injustice
    Core Desire: Protecting yourself and those in your inner circle
    Core Weakness: Lust/Excess—constantly desiring intensity, control, and power; pushing yourself willfully on life and people in order to get what you desire.
    Core Longing: “You will not be betrayed.”

    Gospel Fulfillment: God’s Sovereignty

  • thoughtful, reassuring, receptive, accommodating, resigned.

    Core Fear: Being in conflict, tension, or discord; feeling shut out and overlooked; losing connection with others.
    Core Desire: Having inner stability and peace of mind.
    Core Weakness: Sloth—remaining in an unrealistic and idealistic world in order to keep the peace, remain easy-going, and not be disturbed by your anger; falling asleep to your passions, abilities, desires, needs, and worth by merging with others.
    Core Longing: “Your presence matters." 

    Gospel Fulfillment: Christ’s peace and calling




VI. Conclusion

A thorough apologetic for the Enneagram’s use in Christ-centered communities must rest on three principles:

  1. Biblical authority — Scripture is supreme over any personality theory.

  2. Christological focus — The Enneagram points to Jesus, not the self.

  3. Redemptive application — It serves as a tool for sanctification, not self-justification.

When used with discernment, humility, and gospel-centered intent, the Enneagram can help believers understand how sin has disordered their loves — and how Christ restores them into His image (2 Cor. 3:18).

Joseph Fritchley
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