Put a bunch of young adults in a room and mention Myers-Briggs and you'll have a conversation that can go on for a good while. It's true, it's fun taking turns talking about ourselves. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is personality questionnaire that is very popular among college students, especially from what I notice, Christians. Among psychologists, it is praised for its construct validity, internal consistency, and test re-test reliability, albeit some criticisms of course.
After taking the questionnaire, people fall into 1 of 16 types. The main appeal is the extremely flattering things they have to say about each type. The test explains to people how they perceive the world and how they make decisions, and with this, their strengths and weaknesses. With a much heavier emphasis on strength of course. It's frequently used by colleges and companies to assess their individuals, even the World Race has each of its participants take it. The MBTI isn't the only of its kind, the most recent one I've heard of is Strengths Finder, but I havent taken it myself because in order to take the test you have to buy the stupid book first -__- no thanks.
We live in a strength focused culture. Depending on what our strengths are, thats where we're putting our focus; to develop them, and to apply them. Through our strengths we choose our careers and our roles. It is our strengths that define who we are. But is this something to be embraced by the body of Christ? It's true that God gave each of us our own gifts, and its important for us to affirm one another. But God never told us to rely on our strengths, He's inviting us to rely on His.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
