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Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Six Introverted Personality Temperament Blends



Romans 12:4-5 "For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

1 Corinthians 12:27 "Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it."

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."


Introduction:
The past few of posts have been driven with the desire to equip God's people and church with the ability to increase understanding of one another. In the scriptures above, God has different people of different temperaments in the local church. According to Dr. Tim Lahaye's book: "Spirit-controlled Temperament", the four personality temperaments (choleric, sanguine, melancholy & phlegmatic) can yield up to twelve different combinations. Furthermore, each person has all four types, with one, two or sometimes three being the dominate ones in different measure. When we consider how each person is wired and has different levels of each temperament style, the blends and combinations can certainly exceed the ideal 12 blends. 

The Lord is so creative and innovative. If we can appreciate how each of these temperaments interact with one another, and the beauty that can result from such interaction, how can we not praise God for how such a design exists in the local church and in our families? It was with thoughts such as these that we ended yesterday's post. We looked at six extroverted temperament styles in yesterday's post. Today we want to consider the final six temperament blends that are spelled out in Dr. Tim Lahaye's book: "Spirit-Controlled Temperament". These final six are noted for being "introverted" in their expression. Before we get to them and for the sake of review, let me briefly review the four temperaments by showing how they relate to people being extroverted and introverted.

Extroverts and Introverts
I'm sure the reader has heard of these terms "extrovert" and "introvert". An extrovert is an outgoing person who wears their emotions on their sleave and divulges their thoughts to people. Introverts are those who prefer to stay in the back ground and keep to themselves. When it comes to this issue of temperaments, two of them are extroverted (choleric and sanguine) and two are more introverted (melancholy and phlegmatic). Keeping these distinctions in mind may aid in understanding the following combinations and blends of temperaments we find ourselves or other people having and living out every day. 

The Six Introverted Personality Temperaments (based off of Dr. Tim Lahaye's Book: Spirit-Controlled Temperaments)
The blends of the four personality temperments (choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic and melancholy) are stated in terms of one dominate and one secondary temperament. Thus for example, if a person has a dominate choleric personality temperament with a melancholy temperament being a secondary influence, we would term that temperament combination: ChlorMel (Choloric dominate and Melancholy temperment being second). Let the reader note below the following extroverted temperament blends, as spelled out by Dr. Tim Lahaye:

1). The MelSan = Dr. Tim Lahaye notes: "Now we turn to the predominately introvertish temperaments. Each will look somewhat similar to one we have already examined, except that the two melded temperaments will be reversed in intensity. MelSans make good scholars and are probably the best of all teachers, particularly for high-school and college students. Their Melancholy nature will ferret out little-known facts and be exacting in the use of detail, while the Sanguine will communicate well with students. They usually major in the social sciences, theology, philosophy, literature, or the humanities."  According to Dr. Lahaye, many of the prophets could very well had been MelSans.

2). The MelChlor = Dr. Lahaye writes about this style: "For MelChlors, the mood swings of the Melancholy are somewhat stabilized by the Choleric's self-will and determination. The is almost nothing vocationally that these people cannot do-and do well. They are both perfectionists and drivers." Dr. Lahaye then notes that Luke in the New Testament may had been a MelChlor.

3). MelPhleg = Dr. Lahaye states concerning this blend: "They are not nearly as prone to hostility as the two previously discussed Melancholies and usually get along well with others. These gifted introverts combine the analytic perfectionism of the Melancholy with organized efficiency of the Phelgmatic. They are usually good-natured humanitarians who blossom in a quiet solitary environment for study and research." Dr. Lahaye suggests that the Apostle john may had been an example of this temperament blend. 

4). PhlegSan = According to Dr. Lahaye - "The easiest of the twelve temperament blends to get along with over the long haul are the PhlegSans. They are congenial, cooperative, thoughtful, people-oriented, diplomatic, dependable, fun-loving and humorous. They never dispaly an abrasive persoanlity and are negihborhood favorites-with adults and children." Dr. Lahaye suggests that Timothy in the New Testament was a PhlegSan.

5). PhlegChlor = Dr. Lahaye notes about this temperament: "The most active of all Phlegmatics are PhlegChlors. Predominately Phlegmatic, these people will still never become balls of fire. Like other Phlegmatics, they are easy to get along with and may become excellent group leaders. If properly trained, they make good foremen, exectutive vice presidents, accountants, educators, planners and laborers in almost any area of construction. Phlegmatics-excellent listeners, genuinely in other people-have the potential to become good counselors. They have the patience of Job and often are able to help those who have not found relif with other counselors. Their gentle spirit never makes people threatened." According to Dr. Lahaye, Abraham would had been perhaps a PhlegChlor.

6). The PhlegMel = In this final temperament blend, Dr. Lahaye notes: "Of all the temperament blends, PhlegMels are the most gracious, gentle, and quiet. PhlegMels are rarely hostile and almost never say anything for which they must apologize (mailny because they rarely say much). They never embarrass themselves or others, always do the proper thing, dress simply, and are dependable and exact." Dr. Lahaye writes more details, but in short, he considers Mark, the author of the Second Gospel in the New Testament to be this temperament blend.

Closing Thoughts:
These past several days have been dedicated to exploring what are called personality temperaments. We have leaned quite heavily on Dr. Tim Lahaye's book: "Spirit-controlled Temperament", Tyndale Publishers, 1992. I would encourage the reader to go to a website like Amazon and purchase the book, it is well-worth the read. Such considerations like those we have explored in these past few posts can aid greatly in understanding people in our families, our churches and even ourselves. 

The wisdom found in such a study certainly meshes well with what scripture has to say about God making man in His image. When we survey the Biblical text, there are roughly 2,000 different people of all different personality temperaments. My prayer is that these studies have provided a launching point for further reflection in how we can better appreciate and pray for one another. 

6 comments:

  1. Dear Pastor, I read Dr. LaHaye's book several years ago. I was amazed at what I learned about myself. This knowledge helped me to be able to accept certain positions that were offered to me at various times for service in the church. I was also able to understand myself better and accept that these traits were a gift from God. It is kind of like looking in a mirror to see who I am and why.

    I am MelPhleg and an INFP (Meyers/Briggs). And on the spiritual gifts side, I was classified 1) Knowledge; 2) Discernment; 3) Teaching; 4) Evangelism; 5) Faith.

    I could definitely see why I was "pulled" in some directions and not others. And that I did not have to feel guilty for not fitting in where I indeed did not belong. It helped me be a much happier camper!

    God bless you. I love your posts everyday!

    Abby

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  2. Hi Abby:
    I also found Dr. Lahaye's material highly illuminating and found out through his tests that I am a Chlor/Mel/Phleg. The inights to be gleaned from one's natural make-up and the supernatural giftings granted at saving faith not only aid in finding God's fingerprint for the individual Christian, but for a Christian family and Church family as well. Thanks for your response and may God bless you and yours this Advent Season!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you, Pastor. And may God bless you and your family with a Merry Christmas also. Thank you, dear Jesus, for being our Lamb. Thank you King of kings, and Lord of lords.

    http://phillipgreene.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/manger-to-the-cross.jpg

    Love and peace in Christ,
    Abby

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