I'm sure we all know Christians who are outgoing and make friends where ever they go. People are attracted to them. Is the 'personality' a gift?
I also know Christians who know the Bible from cover to cover but are quiet and shy. Is that wrong?
This is a very good topic Santana. Have you read Zac Poonen's article [url=https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7563&forum=36&3]here.
I know what I was taught about this but I'd rather hear from others and appreciated what Zac had said. I think we have something to do with our "personality" and it can either be a gift to others or a curse... but then again - are they correct or is it just a clash of personalities - GOD show us - that's all I can pray for myself.
Thanks for a good topic.
Santana on 2009/5/4 12:17:22 wrote:
I'm sure we all know Christians who are outgoing and make friends where ever they go. People are attracted to them. Is the 'personality' a gift?I also know Christians who know the Bible from cover to cover but are quiet and shy. Is that wrong?
I also realize that because of who I am I will never be able to witness to some people but another personality type will.
God made us all different so that we will fit in somewhere and with someone and it's not for us but for His glory and His alone!
Yes; our personalities, like everything else,
are a gift from GOD. What should draw people
to you is the "Christ in you". HE is
altogether lovely!!
I remember a care group years ago, I'll never forget it, where we all took a turn to tell each person there what we liked about them.
When it was the one girl's turn, everyone in the room told her how much they loved to talk to her because she was the best listener they knew.
She broke down and started to really cry. She said she'd been harbouring guilt for years about not being vocal enough or saying the right things.
Hearing how her quietness had blessed everyone there for years was a great weight off her back that no one but her knew was there.
It was a pretty awesome time.
One of my daughters is very quiet and I make sure to let her know how much we appreciate her quiet spirit and how much it adds just like those that are prone to speak.
Personally, if everyone talked as much as I do, they'd drive me nuts. :-?
GOD Bless you Ceedub - what a post - I'm applauding. I'm half your daughter and half of you. Bless GOD in Heaven.
When I posted above about how much we control our "personality" [and with Poonen's message in view as well] I was thinking of all that I'd read from Nee, etc. etc. etc. over the yrs but this one message that I heard sort of wrapped up most of what all those books have said quite nicely and in just a short message - It's "Sweet". Praise GOD!
It's by Pastor Rhodes called "Listening To The Holy Spirit" on this list. http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php
Excellent.
Thank you!
Hey
I wanted to just say that I know for myself having struggled with being shy that it can most defiantly be sin in ones life. There have been many times when God has given me words to share and out of fear and being shy around others I have not spoken or shared as He would have wanted me to. This is something that I have had to repent of and do often still struggle with. I really do want to die to this area of self in my life, it has been difficult though.
I agree with who it was who said that we should walk in such a manner daily that others are attracted to us because they see Jesus in us and nothing else.
Just my thoughts
Your little sister in Christ
Oh Sis, I don't know if it helps to call it 'sin'. I've read so much about this that it scrambles my head. Moses was meek - the meekest man on earth he said - he didn't want to be the "mouth piece" .
But as far as those who don't speak much - I [b]miss
And before GOD, I've typed all of this and just deleted a yard of it and can't bring myself to hit submit - so here we go again - count to 10, pray, take a couple of very deep breaths, hit preview a couple more times, pray against fear again and then - hit submit. :-?
I am not sure that any one temperament has an advantage over another. It may appear that an extrovert has a lot going for him/her, but in the sight of God, do they really?
Let consider a few things: an extrovert knows he/she can manipulate people quite well. They have this inborn skill and somehow their charm attracts people because it makes them feel good.
The introvert on the other hand lives in the shadows and may envy - but not always - the extroverted because of their popularity. Or, the introverted may be turned off by the charmer. In any case the introverted may bury himself/herself in books or another project and become quite knowledgeable. The introverted learns that respect must be earned and the friends that he/she has will be loyal because they appreciate the quality that lies in this person.
As I look at both of them, they both will have issues that will need to be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. The extrovert will have to surrender his/her charm and become real, learn that his skills are not equal to the power of the Holy Spirit.
The introvert will have to learn to overcome his/her fear of people so the Holy Spirit can use him/her.
Both will have problems that need to come under the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ with the aid of the Holy Spirit. But one cannot say one temperament is superior to the other: God made both but both still need to be redeemed. It is unwise to compare yourself with another.
My understanding of this issue..
ginnyrose
[i]"Let consider a few things: an extrovert knows he/she can manipulate people quite well. They have this inborn skill and somehow their charm attracts people because it makes them feel good.
The introvert will have to learn to overcome his/her fear of people so the Holy Spirit can use him/her."
I've known some extroverts to just be very lonely or depressed inside or feel they have nothing going for them at all and use that extroversion to distract them or as an attempt to make friends and have known some introverts who weren't afraid of people at all, but actually hated people - like passive-aggressives.
Other extroverts that I know are just very caring people - wanting to help others or make them laugh and some introverts that were the best at working with sick people and other varieties of both types.
I don't believe there are blanket traits or reasons why a person is one or the other, but it seems to be on a person to person basis, even from the same families and thank GOD for the differences, like Zac said.
There are many people in the world that have a more charming personality than a lot of Christians do.
It is not what we are in the natural that counts, but who we are in Christ.
Our natural giftings have to be surrendered to God so that He can use them. God nevers gets any glory out of a self made man, but His strength is made perfect in weakness. God gets glory out of a man that knows that he is nothing in himself, but God is everything. That without God he can do nothing, but he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.
The grace of God is shown more clearly in our weakness, and not in our strength. The man that has no confidence in the flesh can be greatly used of God, and the man that is trusting in his own ability and strength has not died to self, and cannot be of much use to God.
Praise God that we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.
Mike
I don't think we take into consideration that it's not what we post here or what we say at Church or in public as much as what we do & say privately - such as with our most trusted friends, our family at home, through emails and PMs, etc..
"Every idle word"
I've known some rather quiet people to have a lot to say in those venues - even on forums and feel it would have been better if they kept all things public.
This song just flashed through my mind -
[i]Search me, O God,
And know my heart today;
Try me, O Savior,
Know my thoughts, I pray.
See if there be
Some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin
And set me free.
I praise Thee, Lord,
For cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy Word,
And make me pure within.
Fill me with fire
Where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire
To magnify Thy Name.
Lord, take my life,
And make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart
With Thy great love divine.
Take all my will,
My passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord
In me abide.
O Holy Ghost,
Revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival,
Start the work in me.
Thy Word declares
Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now,
O Lord, I humbly plead.
Shyness, a fear of people and social openness (as opposed to quietness and introversion which are normal and related to basic temperament), can be overcome, but it is a stronghold. Shyness is a weakness, or an infirmity of the spirit. Is it a sin? I would say possibly, if it has mastery over a person and hinders the Holy Spirit. But shyness is not immoral or detestable.
Even Timothy might have struggled with this a little, 2Tim1:7. I think it is certainly rooted in the fear of man, and through Christ, shyness can be overcome, but we must be very supportive and gentle with brothers and sisters who struggle with this. The worst thing you can do is point it out, especially publicly. All shy people know that they are shy, they don't need us to remind them and everyone else.
I think it behooves us to be patient and encouraging with the shy ones among us and watch the Lord open them like the morning glory, using the gentleness of light and tender warmth. It is our insensitivity to this painful, lonely prison that drives them back to it, just as the morning glory closes off at the harshness of the afternoon sun.
Shyness is rooted in fear, and fear is an absence of trust. Shyness often stems from some event or series of events that violated trust in others or in oneself, and it can even be present in people who are natural extroverts.
May God open our eyes to be a blessing and an encouragement to the shy ones among us.
Hi Santana,
i personally dont think shyness is a sin is part of your personality is nt something you just learned hw to do, i myself am a shy person and youd think you would grow out of it as you get older but i havent i deal with it everyday im a quiet person and often shy to be around people at times sometimes people think im conceited but its that im shy cant help its who i am.
Santana wrote:
I'm sure we all know Christians who are outgoing and make friends where ever they go. People are attracted to them. Is the 'personality' a gift?
I also know Christians who know the Bible from cover to cover but are quiet and shy. Is that wrong? :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P :-P
In regards to the thread title and the question, "Is shyness a sin?", I remember Elisabeth Elliot saying that she believes shyness is sin. Why? Because for many people it's rooted in self-centeredness. However, there would be a danger in making that a blanket statement and saying that everyone who's shy is sinning. We just can't know what has gone on in someone's life.
I know for myself, I have been shy and the Lord is dealing with me on that. There is a certain amount of pressing that needs to be done. Pressing to reach outside of myself and even just greet others in a nice, cordial way. So, that's where I'm at right now. :-)
Sorry, I put this in the wrong thread... Pray for me!! I must have been way tired last night....
God bless us!!
This discussion is locked.
