How the Enneagram Undermines Biblical Teaching

Jimmy Fortunato

May 15, 2025

How the Enneagram Undermines Biblical Teaching

The Alarming Rise of False Doctrine in Today's Churches

Are you noticing more "Christian" resources incorporating personality tests, particularly the Enneagram? What seems like harmless self-discovery might actually be leading believers away from biblical truth. With the Enneagram's growing popularity in Christian circles over the past five years, it's time to examine what Scripture says about such practices.

The Bible is clear: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ... Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine..." (2 Timothy 4:1-3)

Why Christians Are Being Drawn to the Enneagram (And Why It's Concerning)

The appeal is understandable. The Enneagram promises:

  • Deeper self-knowledge

  • Better relationships

  • Spiritual growth

  • A path to "your true self"

But here's the troubling reality: the Enneagram has no biblical foundation. Instead, it promotes looking inward for truth rather than to God's Word. This sermon transcript exposes the conflict between Enneagram teachings and biblical doctrine.

As stated in the sermon: "The problem with the Enneagram... they seek to promote a knowledge of self that can be found by looking within." However, Scripture teaches that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)

The Biblical Warning Against Extra-Biblical Sources

The sermon powerfully highlights three critical problems with incorporating the Enneagram into Christian practice:

  1. It's Not Rooted in Scripture: "You and I do not need any extra-biblical sources for our Christian growth. We have all in the Bible."

  2. It Has Pagan Origins: "You can go back to the 1950s... it was clearly tied to astrology. Instead of the numbers, they're the sun, the moon, and Mercury and Venus... that's not Christian."

  3. It Contradicts Biblical Teaching: "They say they have visions but all it is is false divination."

Romans chapters 1-3 already tell us everything we need to know about ourselves—that we're sinful before a holy God and need reconciliation with Him. This biblical self-understanding is far more important than any personality categorization.

How to Stand Firm in Biblical Truth in an Age of Fads

The sermon delivers a powerful reminder from 1 Kings 18, where Elijah challenged the people: "How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."

Just as Elijah demonstrated that you cannot blend pagan practices with worship of the true God, we cannot blend personality-based self-help systems with biblical Christianity.

The pastor emphasizes: "You're going to serve one or the other. You and I are going to serve one true and living God or we're not. You can't take the Enneagram and Christianity and just blend them together."

Instead, Christians are called to:

  • Test all teachings against Scripture

  • Reject what contradicts biblical doctrine

  • Stand firm on God's Word as the complete source of truth

  • Understand that doctrine matters because it divides truth from error

The Path Forward: Discipleship Through God's Word

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 commands believers to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" Notice what's missing? Jesus never instructed His followers to use personality tests, astrological concepts, or self-discovery tools.

True discipleship happens through the teaching of God's Word and living it out in fellowship with other believers. As the sermon states: "You are a disciple - and you are discipling some... by your words, by your actions... by your example."

🎧 Want to dive deeper into expository preaching and verse-by-verse Bible teaching? Listen to the full sermon in our three-part series on biblical discernment and false teachings. This powerful message provides essential guidance for every Christian seeking to grow in biblical wisdom rather than worldly trends. 📚

Click here to listen to the complete sermon on standing firm in biblical truth through faithful, expository preaching and sound verse-by-verse Bible teaching.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - Psalm 119:105

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