Enneagram Theology: Is it Christian?

by Rhenn Cherry; D. Johnson

Publisher:

Resource Publications

, 2021

Overview

The enneagram has become popular among evangelical Christians as a spiritualized personality typology that claims to help people better understand themselves and others. Several influential evangelical Christian leadership ministries have promoted the enneagram as a tool in forming and maintaining effective ministry teams, and the personality typology is now taught and embraced at several Christian universities. But uncertainty exists about the appropriateness of referring to the Enneagram as a Christian tool. Are pastors and Christian institutional leaders aware of the theology associated with the Enneagram? Enneagram Theology: Is It Christian? provides a biblical critique of the Enneagram’s underlying theology and exposes not only its foundational theological contradictions with orthodox evangelical theology but also some potential dangers to the church.

Praise for Enneagram Theology

“If you are concerned that a loved one (or your flock) loves the Enneagram, let Rhenn Cherry’s super-helpful book equip you to explain why the Enneagram should be an absolute no-go for Christians. Enneagram Theology is thorough, thoughtful, impeccably researched, and not hysterical and nasty. Lay people and preachers alike need to understand the underlying snares of the Enneagram. Rhenn meticulously exposes those snares.”

—Todd Friel, host of Wretched Radio and TV



“I was praying for a book like this. Rhenn really answers in a godly, loving, and well theologically based manner this tension that the use of the Enneagram brings to the body of Christ. Since my secular formation almost twenty years ago when I learned the Enneagram to recruit and select as a human resources student, and now that I’m seeing even pastors and churches use their pulpits to preach about it, I was deeply concerned about how this topic will affect the church. But with this book, Rhenn not only helps us to know why some leaders are using it, but also helps us to be aware of the risk of using it. If you are a pastor, a counselor, or a church member wanting to have a biblical perspective about the Enneagram, this book is for you.”

—Kike Torres, Lead Pastor, Horizonte, Queretaro, Mexico



“Rhenn Cherry brings biblical exposition and philosophical inquiry together to explore the growing use of the Enneagram among Christians. While the Enneagram has enjoyed popularity among Evangelicals, Cherry points out that many who advocate for its use may be unaware of its theological moorings as expressed in the work of Richard Rohr. Through thoughtful and compelling research, this book does not ask how Christians should use the Enneagram, but if we should use it.”

—Samuel E. Stephens, Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary



“A foundational consideration for Christians enthralled by or skeptical of the Enneagram is whether it is theologically sound. Rhenn Cherry’s book Enneagram Theology: Is it Christian? answers that question with a resounding ‘No!’ This book will help you understand the background of the Enneagram and explore the theological and philosophical foundations that make it unbiblical. I heartily recommend it.”

—John E. Babler, Professor and Chairman, Department of Biblical Counseling, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary



“There have been numerous times as a graduate professor and as a pastor that I have sought to find theologically insightful books that address contemporary issues facing the church and failed. Either they have been theologically simplistic or failed to address the real problem. Enneagram Theology is refreshingly different because it confronts a major problem in the church today with both theological acumen and problem-focused insight. Anyone who wishes to read a carefully reasoned book that probes significant fallacies in using the Enneagram for Christians, you must read this book! The ‘spiritualized personality typology’ the Enneagram promotes undermines biblical soteriology and anthropology for Christians and churches around the world. If you are a pastor or biblical counselor, this is a must-read. It will give you an extremely helpful theological tool for addressing this vital challenge for your church. I commend Rhenn Cherry for the careful work he has done!”

—John D. Street, Chair, Graduate Studies in Biblical Counseling, The Master’s University and Seminary



“The Enneagram is promoted as an objective ‘self-assessment tool.’ But in this illuminating book, Rhenn Cherry shows that the Enneagram is anything but objective. Cherry’s definitive analysis makes clear that Enneagram theology is grounded in the pluralistic panentheism of Richard Rohr, not the authoritative truth of God’s Word. The Enneagram’s corrupt foundation means that it is bad news. But Cherry has good news: instead of questing after our true self in gospel-denying mysticism, we can find our identity in the true human, Jesus Christ. This careful and readable book will help us do just that.”

—Owen Strachan, Provost and Research Professor of Theology, Grace Bible Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: Enneagram Theology: Is it Christian?
• Authors: Rhenn Cherry, D. Johnson
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2021
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Ebook
• ISBNs: 9781666715972, 9781666715958, 9781666715965, 1666715972, 1666715956, 1666715964
• Resource ID: LLS:9781666715972
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-02-18T08:18:27Z

About the Authors

Rhenn Cherry is the director of finances and donor relations at the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and is an adjunct professor of biblical counseling at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Terry live in Kansas City, Missouri.