Many years ago I remember taking the Myers- Brigs Personality Indicator Test and remember being classed as INTJ. Without going into too much detail it meant that I was in the 50.7% of the population that are introverted. Whereas Extroverts get their main source of energy from external sources, such as being with people, Introverts get their energy from within. I have to admit that I did not give it much thought until recently. Being stubborn, I find that when God wants me to take notice he often brings things along in threes.
At the beginning of October at our Franciscan meeting we once again undertook the Myers-Brigs test this was quickly followed by being reminded of the importance of personality type on a course for Spiritual Directors I am presently attending. As part of that course we have to look at ourselves and I began to see that my own type was important in how I dealt with others. Finally, two weeks ago I was away looking at Fresh Expressions with Ray Simpson of the Community of Aidan and Hilda; again personality type was mentioned and it seemed that most of us on the course were firmly in the Introvert category despite being leaders. God was definitely saying something!
Doing some research I came across the blog of Adam McHugh. On his blog Adam describes himself as “an ordained Presbyterian minister, a spiritual director, and an introvert. He has served at Presbyterian churches, as a hospice and hospital chaplain, and as campus staff with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.“
Adam has just published a book called Introverts in the Church as I turned the pages and read of his experiences I realised that he could just as easily be talking about me. But it is not only me, it is all the others who suffer in silence in our Churches that have taken on an extroverted culture. It explains why my own Church is picking up people from the surrounding parishes, all of which have an extroverted form of worship: there are few other places for them to go.
As an example of how introverts may feel this Sunday past I was helping facilitate our Annual Reader Training Day. It was hard work with a myriad of things to do to help things run smoothly. At the end of the day was a Communion Service – a time to relax and enjoy God’s presence. But for me it was the opposite worshipping in an extroverted style with loud hymns made me want to be somewhere else. I would have rather sat quietly in some Chapel even if it meant missing out on Communion.That which should have refreshed did exactly the opposite.
Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with extroverted forms of worship. At Pentecost I enjoyed a praise service which was very extrovert. But there is a growing tendency, especially in my own Deanery, to see extroverted forms of service as the Christian norm. I’ve heard it said that if you don’t like the worship there must be something wrong with you – or even worse – you cannot be a Christian. I know for a fact that in some circles I am ’suspect.’
Of course, this attitude does not appear everywhere but it does raise some questions. If our population is split roughly 50-50 between extroverts and introverts, who do we cater for in our services?. If we think lively services is the way to go we may well be excluding half the population. The same goes if our only services are only quiet and devotional. Ideally we should offer both.
I’ve not yet finished reading the book and I certainly have not got all my thoughts in order. What I do feel is that God has put my feet on a new and exciting path. I’ve got a lot of exploring to do.
INTJ Personality Type (Which seems amazingly accurate in my case)
Tags: lesson from life, Ministry, mission, sharing