God’s Gifted People

Introduction

In his book God’s Gifted People, Gary Harbaugh presents the notion that one of God’s gifts to humanity is our personality. Using the Myers-Briggs Type indicator (MBTI) Harbaugh delineates strengths, and weaknesses shown by differing personality types, and how application can be made in every day life.

God’s Gifted People

Reading God’s Gifted People gave insight to the nature of interpersonal relationships, and how every individual approaches problems from a differing perspective. The impact of being able to profile and expound on these “types” is profound. Significant personal and professional gains can be made. This was learned through careful reading and analysis of the MBTI.

Synopsis

God’s Gifted People written by Gary Harbaugh was developed while Dr. Harbaugh served on the staff of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and also as a faculty for the MBTI training program. Harbaugh’s primary point is that the correct understanding and application of personality typing will aid the individual, the church, and the large organization. God’s Gifted People is practical in scope, and the findings are based on well established techniques.

Personal Reflection

As I started reading God’s Gifted People I felt myself questioning; which type am I, and what types are my family members? The book was easy to understand, and the practical aspects jumped off of the page at me. The short Bible study at the beginning of the book caught my interest as I have yet to pick up an academic work that was biblical. This was very refreshing.

It had fun analyzing my family and coworkers, and pegging them into their “personality types;” it was also fun to subject them to the questionnaire, or the computerized form. What surprised me most was how much fun they had doing the test. Not a single person balked at learning their “type” and how that might apply to interpersonal or work relationships. Basically this was an enjoyable read full of useful data. I would caution that it is not possible to peg humans into specific types accurately. It is however possible to get a picture or reflection of the way people might be and project sound decisions based on this. Every human is unique, but that does not detract from the predictability of human behavior.

Most interesting is the individualized sections where Harbaugh reflects on the types of church service and worship that appeal to certain “types.” I found this portion of the analysis eerily accurate, and emotionally appealing. The fact that my own “type” the INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging type) would seek out services based on knowledge rather than experience rang true, so did the assertion that “NT’s are interested in abstractions and may be most stimulated if they are left to fill in some of the blanks.” (Harbaugh, pg. 83) This is also true in that I have found memorized prayers very deep and meaningful but liturgical sermons boring and lacking in the abstractions necessary to keep my interest. The author seems to have predicted my outlook successfully.

The author makes an argument for ecumenical thinking on page 140; this is the only fault I find with the book in general. I tend to shy away from ecumenism and interfaith relationships. Witnessing to the Muslims, the Mormons or the Buddhists is fine but please do not include them in my congregation unless they are willing to renounce false religion / heresy and submit themselves to the lordship of Jesus.

Professional Application

“In discussing gifts it is indeed possible to integrate psychological insight with theological understanding.” (Harbaugh, p.20) I believe there is much to be gleaned here. Jesus selected a motley crew of disciples to follow after him (Matthew 4:18-22), ever since people have wondered what he was thinking. The answer lies in who the men were on the inside; something Jesus knew better than they did. These were not just fishermen and publicans; these were people who would preach to the Jew and the Greek, travel the world, build churches and feed the sheep. These men were selected because Jesus knew the individual personalities of each one.

So then we must strive to know those around us and appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. Only when we look at the person objectively does Simon become Peter, and Saul becomes Paul. There were inherent strengths brought out by the Holy Spirit in each case, so too with us.

The ability to look at a person this way will redefine our marriages as we learn to see faults as differences, and opinions as perspectives, it will help our patients as we highlight their strengths with them, and it will help congregations as we show members how to get the most from their worship and Bible study. Relationships can be mended as parents are shown that their child is not sick but rather views the world in a different way.

As the author himself points out the MBTI is not the answer to life, but it is a valuable tool, and perspective that we can employ, and enjoy.

Harbaugh, Gary L. (1990) God’s Gifted People Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Fortress.

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