You are a trinitarian being. Did you know that?
Not only is our creator trinitarian (Three-in-One), but so are you!
Made in God’s own splendid image, you embody three ways of engaging the world.
You feel. You think. You do.
In Enneagram language, we speak of these “centers of intelligence” as Heart, Head, and Gut.
All nine Enneagram types (which we will learn about in the coming days) are grouped in three clusters, or “triads” of Heart (Twos/Threes/Fours), Head (Fives/Sixes/Sevens), and Gut (Eights/Nines/Ones).
In last Sunday’s sermon, I claimed that all three of these instincts are within all of us.
This is simply how we are made, and it is how we are called to love God and one another:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your mind, and with all of your strength (gut). This is the first and greatest of all commandments. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ~Matthew 22:37-40, Mark 12:30-31, Luke 10:27
Yet, while all three are within, one of these centers of intelligence tends to dominate.
For those of us within the heart triad (Twos/Threes/Fours), we are driven by feelings. Whether we are conscious of them or not, often, our hidden motives have something to do with the interplay of our feelings or emotions with the feelings and emotions of others, within our interpersonal relationships. [That is why on Sunday, I suggested that our Lord’s temptation to leap from the pinnacle of the temple, was a temptation of the heart triad. Heart folks are dominated by the unconscious motivation of shame, resulting in a concern with their image—or how others view them or “feel” about them.]
Those who are in the head triad (Fives/Sixes/Sevens) tend to think their way through life. With them, hidden mind games that are always at work within–usually expressing themselves in the form of some kind of fear. [That is why on Sunday, I suggested that our Lord’s temptation to turn stones to bread was a temptation of the head triad. Head folks fear that there won’t be enough—not enough information, not enough safety, not enough enjoyment/pleasure…etc.]
Finally, those who are in the gut triad (Eights/Nines/Ones) move through life guided by their gut—their intuition. With these persons, there is usually (just beneath the surface) some kind of anger unconsciously motivating them to do the things they do. [This is why on Sunday, I suggested that our Lord’s temptation to have the nations of the world bow down to Him was a temptation of the gut triad. Gut folks are driven by the unconscious motivation of fear. So, they seek to establish and maintain control or authority over their environments, and often over other people.]
All three are within. We ARE trinitarian.
But one of these centers of intelligence (one of these triads) tends to be home.
It is how we live and love in the world.
It is where our strength lies! But it is also where our trap is set.
Our current sermon series, “Me, Myself, and Why?” is an invitation to explore our strengths, and mind our traps.
Why? So, that we may be found faithful truly loving God WITH ALL heart, mind, and strength!
As we journey through this series, I want you to check out our “Enneagram Resources” page on our website, to explore the App, Websites, Podcasts, and Books that will enrich your study, and empower your desire to love more deeply and live more freely in Christ.
Have I told you lately how much I love being your pastor?
Well, I do.
Shaun
Dr. Shaun King
Senior Pastor
Johns Creek Baptist Church