The Table
THE SPIRITUAL TEMPERAMENT INVENTORY
We invite you to spend 10 minutes taking the Spiritual Temperament Inventory below. Your results will be provided immediately and sent to your email upon completion. To learn more as to what your results mean, scroll down to read about each characteristic.
The Spiritual Temperament Characteristics
Activist: “Loving God Through Confrontation with Evil”
Bold in desire to see evil confronted and good prevail.
Often gets involved in spite of personal costs (Mat. 5:10).
Being well thought of is not as high of a priority as standing up for those in distress (James 1:27).
Energized and rejuvenated by courageously coming against evil and rallying
for the good.
When confronting wrong, has a greater sense of solidarity and fellowship with
the triune God.
Activism takes a different shape depending upon the particular evil being confronted. They may revel in a highly challenging environment that pushes them to the very edge of their potential. This is when they feel closest to God.
“We owe a lot to Activists. Many of the people who have started ministries or currently direct a Christian organization have an Activist temperament. Their vision, tenacity, drive, and vigor keep them moving forward without a lot of affirmation; indeed, they are able to progress even in the midst of antagonism.”
Biblical Examples: Moses (Ex. 2:11-12); Elijah (1 Kings 18); Habakkuk (Hab.1-2); Nehemiah (Neh. 1); Amos (Amos 5:24); Jesus (Isa. 11:4-5, 16:5; Mat. 23).
“If you are an Activist, thank God now for the gift He has given you of displaying His heart of justice and righteousness to a world that things of Him as absent and indifferent, even tolerant of evil. Thank Him, too, for the gift you are to Him and to others.”
Ascetics: “Loving God Through Solitude and Simplicity”
The life of an Ascetic is very much “internal” and he/she works hard to develop
the inner life.
For ascetics, silence is a gift and they sometimes see words as burdensome and
a distraction from giving total attention to God.
Ascetics love stillness and tranquility (Isa. 30:15).
Simplicity in living conditions and environment is highly valued.
Enduring hardship, suffering, self-denial and hard work are considered means
to loving God.
All work done unto the Lord is considered worship.
Food is mostly considered as a means of sustenance and not pleasure. Going
without, including fasting is seen as a means of nurturing a greater hunger for
God.
“They are people of obedience, because for them, submission prevents selfindulgence while also assaulting human pride. In this rebellious world, the Ascetic believes that respect for human authority demonstrates an ultimate respect for God’s authority.”
“The church owes a lot to those with Ascetic temperaments. Many of our spiritual disciplines have been made accessible through the writings of Ascetics who take the quest for godly transformation seriously.”
Biblical Examples: John the Baptist (Mat. 9); Daniel (Dan. 9); Joel (Joel 1-2); Jesus (Mat. 4:1-2, 8:20, 14:23; Luke 6:12; Heb. 5:8; 1 Peter 2:23).
“If you are an Ascetic, thank God now for the gift He has given you of seeing Him in the midst of simplicity. Thank Him, too, for the grace to be committed to careful obedience in a world where defiance, greed, and self-indulgence are the order of the day, and for the gift you are to Him and others.”
Caregivers: “Loving God Through Serving Others”
Caregivers discern practical needs and move to address them.
They are hands-on servants and doers of the Word.
They feel most alive and close to God when in volunteer service to others, knowing that in this way the work of the Kingdom is being advanced.
“Though many people feel close to God (and others, for that matter) when they are doing something for Him, for Caregivers these times markedly increase their awareness of God’s presence. They also experience shouldering the burdens of others as a form of prayer.”
“Caregiving is clear evidence that God is in the house. Those with Caregiver
temperament are wearing signs around their necks that read, ‘Come watch God at work as I care for people.’”
Biblical Examples: Mordecai (Est. 2:7); Ruth (Ruth 1-2); Women who came to the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:1); Jesus (Mat. 4:23-24, 9:35-36; John 13:4-12)
“If you are a Caregiver, thank God now for the gift He has given you of displaying His heart of compassion and kindness to a world that views Him as aloof and too busy for them. Thank Him, too, for the gift you are to Him and to others.”
Contemplatives: “Loving God Through Adoration”
Contemplatives enjoy in spending extended periods of time simply delighting
in the warmth of God’s presence and love.
All of life is about developing greater intimacy with Jesus.
Contemplatives feel right at home with spiritual mystery.
Contemplatives are often the ones who compose heart-stirring songs or write
deeply insightful books about God.
“Immature leaders usually think that contemplatives are wasting time with all their deep thinking. ‘Get busy!’ they want to say. ‘There’s a hill to take. Let’s go.’ But mature leaders understand that contemplatives need to spend considerable time outside the mainstream. They need to protect their thought life. Eventually their reflections will lead to something wonderful that will bless the whole church. Leaders whose primary pathway is contemplative need to give themselves an extra measure of grace. They need to give themselves permission to spend long hours in quiet reflection, even if others view it as inappropriate or strange, because for them that’s the door that opens into the presence of God.”
“Contemplatives are passionate lovers of God.”
“Contemplatives astound us with their freedom to draw close and experience
the God who comes near (see Psalm 34:18), receiving the affection of the One
whose love is better than wine (see Song of Songs 1:2).”
Biblical Examples: John the Beloved; Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38-42; John 7:1-7); Jesus (Mat. 3:17; John 17:23-26)
“If you are a Contemplative, thank God now for the gift he has given you of displaying His heart of affection and nearness to a world that thinks of Him as cold and distant. Thank Him, too, for the gift you are to Him and to others.”
Enthusiasts: “Loving God Through Mystery and Celebration”
Loving God with gusto, they are cheerleaders for the faith, rarely shy in expressing their love for God publicly.
They feel close to God when they gather people to sing and worship.
They express love to God in open displays of affection in congregational
settings.
Like contemplatives, they also feel right at home with spiritual mystery and
welcome supernatural works of the Holy Spirit.
“The world has been given a marvelous gift through those with Enthusiast
spiritual temperaments. Not only do they give us wonderful worship music, they
also add a sense of fun, optimism, and zest to any group. These faith-loving,
glass-half-full types remind us of what heaven will be like when all the saints
meet at the throne to adore the triune God. They help us get our eyes off
ourselves and onto Jesus.”
Biblical Examples: King David (2 Sam. 6:21); Miriam (Ex. 15); Samaritan Leper Luke 17:15-16); Children (Mat. 21:14-16); Jesus (Luke 19:38)
“If you are an Enthusiast, thank God now for the gift He has given you of displaying His joy and celebration to a world that thinks of Him as a straitlaced killjoy. Thank Him, too, for the gift you are to Him and to others.”
Intellectuals: “Loving God Through the Mind”
Though not necessarily highly trained academically, they love God best through using their minds to deeply think and study about Jesus and Truth.
“By understanding Scripture and being involved in all forms of cognitive activity, they see faith as something to be understood as much as experienced. For them, right thinking is essential, and they love learning new things about God and His Kingdom. In fact, they get bored when their minds are not stimulated.”
“Just as the Ascetic needs extended periods of solitude and silence and the Contemplative needs time to rest in the Father’s arms, so the Intellectual needs to come to God with an inquiring mind.”
“Just as Jesus told us to love the Lord our God with all our minds and strength
(see Luke 10:27), God has also given the Intellectual spiritual temperament as a
gift to the body of Christ. The church has been greatly enhanced by those who
are willing to study for long seasons in order to write a commentary, prepare a
lecture series, or expound on the essential doctrines of the faith.”
Biblical Examples: Solomon (1 Kings 4:29-34); Paul (Rom. 12:2); Gamaliel (Acts 5:34, 22:3); Apollos (Acts 18:24-25); Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:25-26); Jesus (Mark 1:22, John 18:33-38).
“If you have an Intellectual spiritual temperament, thank God now for the gift He has given you of loving truth, and for your commitment to relentlessly hold on to the God of the Bible, who is both reasonable and rooted in history. Thank God, too, for your part in displaying His truth to a world that believes in a deity who can be morphed into anything humankind imagines him or her to be, and for the gift you are to Jesus and to others.”
Naturalists: “Loving God Through Experiencing Him Outdoors”
Naturalists come alive and experience a great awareness of God when surrounded by the splendor of His creation (Rom. 1:20).
“God’s creation is like that; it reaches down into the soul of the Naturalist, becoming a classroom to teach about God’s rhythm, timing, and the seasons of life and death.”
Biblical Examples: David (Psa. 19:1-2; 121:1; 23:1-2); Isaiah (Isa. 42:5); John the Baptist (Mark 1:3-6).
“If you have a Naturalist spiritual temperament, thank God now for the gift He has given you of loving the outdoors and seeing His hand in the smallest detail of what He’s created. Thank Him, too, for fashioning you to call others to slow down and notice His handiwork…Thank Him, too, for the gift you are to Him and to others.”
Sensates: “Loving God Through the Senses”
“Those with sensate spiritual temperaments use all their senses—taste, touch, smell, sound and sight—to focus more fully on Jesus. Easily lost in the awe and splendor of God, Sensates find themselves particularly drawn to God when they are in the presence of beauty, such as intricate architecture, classical music, formal language, incense, icons or stained glass. Just as the Naturalist enjoys God’s creation in the outdoors, so the Sensate enjoys the splendor of what humankind—made in the likeness and image of God—creates to reveal and illustrate God.”
“For the Sensate, visual imagery has become a mediator of the invisible Kingdom of God.”
Sound: In the Old Testament Scripture was read out loud—said to be “spirated” or Godbreathed. “Martin Luther argued that Scripture was meant to be heart, not just silently read, and that listening to the Bible long with the music of Bach or Handel was a great spiritual experience. Handel himself talked of ‘transcendental keys,’ any signature with five to eight sharps, which he associated with heaven.”
Touch: “Orthodox worship includes a cross, an altar, a holy instrument, and frequent kissing.” Biblical references include: Romans 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thes. 5:26.
Taste: Biblical references to “taste” include: Psa. 34:8; Mat. 5:13, 26:26-28; John 21:13; Rev. 22:17.2.
Sight: The Incarnation—Jesus permits us to see God. Creation. Great works of art.
Smell: The sense of smell enhances life experiences. Our minds are psychologically sharpened when smelling incense, for example (Mal. 1:11).
Kinesthetic: For many, being physically active and on the move helps to connect with God. Note the example of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. For some, movement becomes a “sacred space.” Examples: Driving, running, walking, jogging, working with the hands, sports activity.
Biblical Examples: God (Num. 13; Ex 24:16-17, 40:34; 2 Chron. 7:1-3; Lev. 3:5; Deut. 33:10; Ex. 35:31-35; Psa. 150; Ezek. 1:4, 1:26-27, 3:1-3, 3:12-15); Jesus (John 9:6; Mat 8:3, 9:29; Rev. 1:10-16).
“If you have a Sensate spiritual temperament, thank God now for the gift he has given you of creating and appreciating beauty and form. Thank Him, too, for the part you play in displaying to a world that overemphasizes the cognitive just how important it is to worship God with our whole bodies by using all the senses, and thus for the gift you are to Jesus and to others.”
Traditionalists: “Loving God Through Ritual & Symbol”
“Traditionalists enjoy worship, prayer, Communion, Bible reading, and other faith practices when they are done in familiar ways, realizing that these rituals help them join hands and hearts with the saints of old. Something about continuity and sameness ushers in the presence of God for the Traditionalist.”
Church and family customs, rituals, traditions or symbols repeatedly experienced help us to remember. “The word remember is used 170 times in the Bible, and whether we are Traditionalists by spiritual temperament or not, we are commanded to recollect the acts of God on behalf of His people (see Psalm 105:5, 143:5). Because our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Hebrews 13:8), His character and goodness can still be trusted today.”
Biblical Examples: Abraham (Num. 15:37-40); Moses (Num. 21:9); Ezra (Ezra 7:16-17, 8:21); Disciples (Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor. 11:17-34); Jesus (Luke 4:16, 24:30).3
“If you have a Traditionalist spiritual temperament, thank God now for the gift of grace He has given you to embrace ceremony and hold tightly to the community of faith that is grounded in centuries of well-established practices. Thank the Lord, too, for the part you play in displaying the ageless One to a world hat values the new and novel, and for the gift you are to the Lord and to others.”