To a degree, these kinds of tests are helpful, especially when you're working with other people who have personalities different from yours; but, after looking it over, discussing it with Cindy and thinking about things like grace, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, sanctification--all things that are part of the Christian life, I said, "You see, that's why I don't really like these things."
I'm not too fond of them because they fail to do several things:
1) They fail to leave room for the fact that the Holy Spirit sanctifies individuals through the power of the Word and Gospel centered fellowship. So, while the personality test(s) show that you're domineering, and independent, it doesn't express the areas of that part of your personality that need to be redeemed. Take Peter for example--he was domineering and was always the first one to speak up, sometimes to his own embarrassment and shame (Mark 26:33; Luke 22:54-62; Matt 16:21-23). More times than not, it was Peter's pride and self-confidence that caused him to say things like, "I will never betray you. . ." He had qualities that needed to be redeemed, and they were, by the grace of God. Self-confidence, pride, a domineering personality are things that the personality test I took would've glorified, not condemned.
2) They can lend to an attitude of affirmation for personality traits that are actually sinful and should be challenged and redeemed. For example, let's say, that in my boldness and fervor, I say something that's true but is void of grace, sensitivity for others (which I'm guilty of) or I tend to take charge of a situation or group and don't want any help (which I'm also guilty of). That's wrong, that's bad; but if I use my personality test and say, "Oh, well I'm a "High 'D', so that's why I did that," then I've pushed away from the fact that what I did was actually mean and needs to be confronted. Someone will come along and say, "Ya' know, that's just the way that Ant is, that's his personality." I'm a sinner (saved by grace), that's who I am, but if I'm identified as "High D" then I can justify some of my "High D" tendencies and continue in them, all the while forgetting the fact that I'm a sinner, with a sinful heart, not a "High D".
Concerning "Spiritual Gift tests"
These tests are some of the stupidest things I've ever seen. There's a bunch of them, and the worst part is that many churches use them to determine, for their parishioners, what "ministry" they should be participating in. "I want to serve," someone says.
"Where do you want to serve," asked a leader in the church.
"I feel a passion in me for teaching the Word of God. I'm not sure where that fits in or how I'd be able to do it but that's I have a passion for," says the Believer.
"Well what'd your Spiritual Gifts test say?"
"I'm not sure if--"
"Did you take the Spiritual Gifts test?"
"I did, but I really don't--"
"I'm sure that whatever it produced is pretty accurate, why don't you work towards that?"
That's a fictitious example, and maybe it's even a little extreme but hopefully the idea is clear--there is no Holy Spirit in a Spiritual gifts test. Shouldn't the Holy Spirit, and God's Word along with affirmation from our local church family determine our Spiritual gifting and place in ministry, instead of a personality that's called a Spiritual gifts test. I completely disagree with Spiritual Gifting tests. If they were called personality tests (which is what they are), that'd be fine.
Not rejecting but hesitantly endorsing personality tests.
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