Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Things I Have Learned as an INTJ Preacher

Not everyone is sold on the usefulness of the Myers-Briggs scale, and if you are not and want to skip this post, there will be no hard feelings. Over the years, I have consistently been assessed as an INTJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Thinking, Judging) personality type on the Myers-Briggs scale. This has given me certain strengths in my role as a preacher, such as analytical thinking, strategic vision, and a deep commitment to teaching and sharing truth. However, early on I learned that there were many potential challenges, which thankfully I learned to manage for greater effectiveness in ministry. The bottomline is that we all have strengths and growing edges, and we can work to mature and grow in our roles as preachers. Here are some of the ways I have been impacted by being an INTJ in preaching and ways my tendencies have helped and hindered my ministry - I share them with you in case you are also an INTJ preacher:

1. Preference for Solitude

INTJs tend to be introverted, meaning you may feel most comfortable when working alone and need time to recharge after social interactions. This can present challenges in a pastoral role that often requires frequent and deep engagement with people. The relational aspect of preaching, including pastoral care, counseling, and building relationships within your congregation, might feel draining after a while. While you may excel in delivering sermons, consistent one-on-one engagement may be a challenge.

Solution: Schedule time for solitude and reflection to recharge after more socially demanding responsibilities. Also, develop systems for managing social interactions in ways that feel sustainable for you.

2. Struggles with Emotional Connection

As a Thinking type, INTJs prioritize logic and objectivity, which can sometimes make it difficult to connect emotionally with others or address emotional needs in pastoral care. Congregants may expect their pastor to provide empathy and emotional warmth, which doesn’t always come naturally to INTJs, who focus more on the intellectual aspects of faith.

Solution: Intentionally develop your emotional intelligence by practicing empathy and deepening your understanding of how emotions affect people spiritually. Balancing your analytical skills with emotional awareness will help you engage more fully with your congregation.

I would highly recommend preachers do a unit or more of clinical pastoral education. I ultimately did five units of CPE while training for hospital chaplaincy and it made me so much more capable of understanding emotions and connecting emotionally with others.

3. Perfectionism

INTJs are known for high standards and a drive for excellence. While this can help you craft intellectually rich sermons, it might also lead to perfectionism and frustration when things don’t go according to plan. You may find it hard to delegate tasks, wanting things done in a very specific way, which can sometimes hinder teamwork within ministry settings.

Solution: Recognize that imperfections and flexibility are part of ministry. Learn to delegate more effectively and trust others in their roles, even if they approach tasks differently than you would.

4. Need for Clear Logic and Structure

INTJs value logic, clarity, and well-structured information, which may lead to preaching in a more cerebral or intellectual style. This can be a strength, but it may also result in delivering sermons that are rich in content but less engaging for those who prefer emotional or relational connections. Some congregants may find this style too academic or abstract.

Solution: Make efforts to incorporate stories, illustrations, and emotional appeals in your sermons. This can help bridge the gap between your logical teaching style and the emotional needs of your congregation, making your messages more accessible.

5. Difficulty with Spontaneity

INTJs generally prefer to have a plan and to stick to it. Ministry, however, often involves spontaneous situations—unexpected pastoral care needs, sudden changes in a service, or crisis situations in congregants' lives—that can feel uncomfortable to an INTJ.

Solution: Develop flexibility by building margins into your schedule and intentionally practicing responding to spontaneous situations. This will help you manage stress when faced with the unpredictability that comes with ministry.

6. Tendency Toward Abstract Thinking

Your preference for big-picture thinking means that you’re naturally drawn to the deeper, more abstract theological and philosophical aspects of faith. However, this can make it difficult to connect with people who are more focused on practical, everyday issues or who struggle to follow more abstract or conceptual thinking.

Solution: Work on grounding abstract concepts in everyday life and practical applications. Make your sermons relevant to the daily challenges and experiences of your congregation while still maintaining theological depth.

By being aware of these potential challenges and proactively working on your areas of growth, you can maximize your strengths as an INTJ preacher while also becoming more effective in your pastoral care and preaching.