Spiritual Styles

This is my response to the suggestion made in the "28 Days..." exploration of the Mystical style to re-read the section in "3 Colors..." on the mystical style and post reflections.

I was directed to TED.com as part of my 28 days... work in the Rational Style, my native style. I came across a talk by the Turkish novelist Elif Sharak. Where I connect with her presentation is through my own conviction that our Bible is a literary work, and must be understood and interpreted on literary terms. Heretical as it may sound, I believe that much (by no means all) of our scriptures are fiction, or at least remembered history with fictional embellishments.

Can't help but relate the doctrinal style (my opposite style) with the typology of thinking/feeling aspects of one's personality. As I understand this part of one's personality, it represents the ways in which a person typically makes a decision - either on facts/logic or on feelings. It appears that "thinking, embracing systems, content over experience, objectivity" take precedence in one's connection with God, and may have a correlation with that part of one's personality.

Imagine a church where your pastor is in another city and the sermon is "broadcast" to the various campuses. Imagine a church where the garage band (not the "modern" but still melodious music that you may hear on K-Love (a US Christian radio station) today) is the worship music. Imagine a church where the Bible is on everyone's iPhone and everyone can annotate and comment on both the pastor's interpretation and each other's comments, much like a Wiki.

My native style is Rational, with Enthusiastic at the opposite pole. I've been working through the 28 Days of Discipline process in the Enthusiastic style. Having re-read the appropriate 3 Colors material, here's my main question: When we have what appears to be a trans-rational experience, how can we tell if it's really God's power, rather than something in our imagination or of our own subconscious making? I know rational people are supposed to have the highest level of discernment and be best able to make such judgments.

I am happy to have read the book. So much of it made sense. (I DO have some questions, though, that I'll save for another post.) I've taken the test and I'm fairly unsure where it leads or how I ought to proceed.

As my wife and I started this journey, we both immediately began to relate non christian family members to different styles. This has opened our eyes to look at different ways to show Christ according to how the person relates to spiritual issues.

For example, it is obvious to us that one relative is rational, and another is mystical.

Have you problems to find facts beyond reasonable doubt? I know now that I do have it...
My native style is the enthusiastic style and my opposite one is the doctrinal style. So I've decided to do the doctrinal style on the 28 days of discipline.

I took a workshop in 3 Colors of Your Spirituality at a church convocation this month. Initially, I thought I was fairly comfortable in my native style (sensory) and open to other styles. Perhaps I am, but what I realized as I read the book was that I feel that I could use some work on my foundation (prayer and worship, learning from scripture, etc.) and sink into that this Lent. I think I am in need of the intensification of Level A growth right now.

Prayers welcome! :)

Jolene
Toledo,OH

I find it intriguing that the mystical style which is the opposite of my doctrinal strength has always been fascinating to me. I have a greater appreciation for liturgy than my doctrinal brethren and also have been interested in symbols and being responsive to the Spirit's promptings despite what my "common sense mightt dictate. I don't always respond but I'm at least aware off the promptings and need to follow through on them more faithfully.