Ministry and Make-up

The Bible says we are wonderfully made and uniquely complex (Psalm 139:14). There is no one who is exactly the same as me. Science estimates that our body is formed by billions of DNA which determine our personality and direct our behavior. This make-up is called temperament. Temperament makes us the way we are and defines how we do things. They are inborn traits but they can be modified as we interact with our environment. Thus, whether we admit it or not, our temperament will affect our ministry. For example, as an extrovert person, I enjoy the company of people. I am less energetic when I am alone. In ministry, I am mostly inspired when I see other people’s cooperation in a task. I don’t enjoy the idea of being a superman. I am a team player so it would be difficult for me to accept when others are not participating. In decision making, I am more cognitive than being affective. I don’t want to rush into a decision unless I have thought about it many times. So I am deciding based on what I perceived to be right. The affective person often makes decision based on what they feel to be right. Likewise in doing my ministry, I would take a lot of time thinking the pros and cons before trying to apply a certain strategy or concept.

Our temperament also affects our relationship with other people. In fact, my relationship with our Senior Pastor was in jeopardy these recent months. Being both choleric type of person, I knew where we will be mostly in trouble with each other. Our different leadership style often creates conflict between us. But whether I agree with him or not, he deserves respect. I had to show it by submitting to his leadership. More importantly, our relationship is much more valuable than our different ideas and approaches. We have the Holy Spirit that acts as agent to purify our motives and consciences.

This is a continuous struggle but understanding the person is the key for a healthy relationship. A mature person is expected to be more understanding and patient with others. Knowing our personality will help us understand other’s tendency. It nurtures our relationship. It preserves our ministry.