Hindi Ako Naparito Para Makipag-away

Lahat naman siguro tayo nakapag-take na previously ng personality test: marahil dahil nire-require ito sa work, or dahil interested ka lang malaman kung anong personality mo, or baka napagdiskitahan mo lang dahil wala kang magawa sa panahon na 'yon. Ako, nakailan na din akong personality test. And napapansin ko na nagbabago yung resulta in time as I grow older. For sure nagva-vary lang yung results depende sa kung ano yung mga tanong at kung paano ko sila sinagot. Nagbabago din yun base sa biases ko about myself. For sure, kapag iba ang sumagot nung personality tests para sa atin base sa obserbasyon nila, magugulat tayo sa laki ng diperensya sa resulta. Hehehe.

Well, hindi ko sinulat itong blog para i-test yung reliability ng mga personality tests na available. Hindi din ako nagsulat para sabihing huwag na kayong mag-personality test dahil hindi sya accurate and permanent determiner ng personality mo. Lalong hindi ako nandito para i-criticize yung specific methods ng psychology dahil hindi ako psychologist and hindi rin ako magpe-pretend na psychologist kaya kumalma kayo. Hehehe. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Ed Caluag, "hindi ako naparito para makipag-away." Nandito ako kasi blog ko ito. HAHAHAHA! Aside from that, nandito ako para mag-bigay linaw sa kung paano ba dapat natin vinu-view at ginagamit ang personality tests as Christians.

Personality Tests

According sa www.verywellmind.com, personality tests "can help you learn more about yourself and better understand both your strengths and weaknesses." And this is done through answering a series of questions para madetermine yung behavior mo, yung social preferences mo, and others. Then base sa mga sagot mo, made-determine na yung personality mo along with your strengths and weaknesses. Pwede kang mag-agree or disagree, pero bawal umiyak kung ayaw mo yung results. Mag-retake ka na lang. Hehehe.

Madami nang personality tests na nage-exist today. Yung mga pinaka-common na personality tests (at least sa pagkakaalam ko) eh yung Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Test, tapos yung DISC Test, and yung 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire. I-Google nyo na lang kung trip nyong mag-test. Kung ayaw mo itong mga ito, pwede ka ding mag-tanong ng personality mo sa may manghuhula, pero hindi ko nire-recommend kasi nga hula lang sya. LOL

So, Anong Mali Sa Personality Tests?

Actually, walang mali sa psychology tests gaya ng personality test. These are helpful tools para ma-assess natin yung mga sarili natin. Halimbawa, nag-take ka ng DISC test tapos na-figure out mo na dominante ka pala base sa exam. Then you could use the test para ma-check yung sarili mo kung "sobra kaya akong dominante?", or kung "hindi kaya ako marunong makinig sa sinasabi ng iba?", kung "nagiging dominant ba ako in a good way?", or kung "nabi-build ko kaya yung kapwa ko sa pagiging dominante kong tao?" Hence, taking personality tests is a good way to measure kung paano tayo nagfa-function with our personalities and to assess kung ano yung strengths and weaknesses natin. So, thank God for personality tests and psychology!

I believe God created us with personalities; and our personalities make us unique and interesting. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:27): with morality, personality, dignity, etcetera–and we're supposed to use these in our service to Him and His kingdom. We're meant to glorify the Lord with them always (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Total Depravity

However, dahil sa fall ng man, the totality of our being has been corrupted by sin (Romans 3:23; Psalm 14:2-3). And sadly, inalis din ng fallen na man ang Diyos sa psychology and other sciences for the love of sin. Now, non-Christian psychologists evaluate yung personalities and habits ng man like as if walang mali sa kanya, like as if sin is not an issue, like as if man just needs conditioning ng mind and then everything would be better for him, like as if He does not need God for anything. Nauwi ang man sa foolish thinking (Romans 1:21-23) and man's totality have deeply been corrupted–even yung personalities natin.

Like for example: some can be very critical and technical. Magandang magamit yung forte nila to identify yung problems sa isang institusyon, programa, or process. But then, at the same time, pwede silang maging sobrang critical and legalistic na wala nang ibang tama or magaling maliban sa mga sarili nila–to the point that they could harm others na with false judgments o 'di kaya mauwi sila sa self-righteousness instead of building their neighbors up.

Some can be very flexible and adaptable naman sa iba't-ibang situations kaya madami silang pwedeng gawin at masarap silang kasama kasi game sila sa kahit anong activity. But then, dahil sa compromising sila at adaptable, they easily entertain even yung corrupt practices kahit alam pa nilang mali at the same time.

Yung iba na "emotionally intelligent" naman can be good empathizers, pero they would want to avoid conflict by not telling the truth kahit may mali sa ginagawa ng kapwa nila or by simply being nice towards others na wala sa lugar. Tapos later on, tsaka nila ilalabas yung sama ng loob nila sa ibang tao without confronting yung tao na may issue sila with. Empathy is a sin kung hindi sya nagre-rejoice sa truth (1 Corinthians 13:4-8): remember that.

Isa lang ang personality ng man sa mga naapektuhan ng fall. Yung pinaka-nadamage ng sin sa life ng man is yung affection nya sa Diyos na lumikha sa kanya. Naging hostile ang man sa Diyos gawa ng fall (Romans 8:7-8), and man hated the law of God and obeyed his own will. Sumamba sya sa diyos-diyosan na sya ang may gawa (Isaiah 2:8) tapos hinanap nya yung identity nya sa kanila at sa iba pang creatures. And he says to himself na walang Diyos (Psalm 14:1) so he could justify himself sa love nya for his sin and hatred for the God of the Bible and His righteousness.

And for this very reason, we justify our corrupted personalities and call them good. But the Bible warns us about this:

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20

By This Standard

Therefore, when it comes to personality tests, the real problem is seen sa pagi-interpret natin sa results and sa pag-gamit. Because of sin, we look at personality test results and say, "Ah, dominant yung personality ko. You should accept me kasi talagang ganito na ako." But then, may righteous na dominance, may evil na pagpa-practice ng dominance.

How do we know kung tama tayo sa practices natin? By what standard do we call something as "good" and "righteous"? We cannot be our own standards because we are not infallible and all-knowing and perfect and good (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Isaiah 64:6; Isaiah 55:8-9). We can think na we are, pero kung magiging honest tayo sa mga sarili natin we're definitely not.

It's only by the perfect Law-Word of God (Psalm 19:7) that we know what is good and righteous and well-pleasing to the Lord (Psalm 119:1-3). It's only by the Word of God that we know what is bad and evil and dishonoring to God (Romans 3:20. God's Word is truth and is infallible (2 Samuel 22:31; John 17:17). Therefore, we must assess our personalities by this standard and by this standard alone.

Yung corrupt na heart ng man na nagmamahal sa sin ang pinaka-problem ng man (Jeremiah 17:9). Walang holy and righteous na use ng knowledge, devices, technologies and tools (like personality tests) kung nabubuhay tayo sa sin and unbelief. Unless i-change ni God yung hearts natin to love Him and His commandments (Ezekiel 36:25-27), we'll end up corrupting everything we touch–kahit good pa yung purpose sana ng mga bagay na ito (Titus 1:15). Hence, Scripture tells us that we must be born again to see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

And God's Word calls us to become Christ-like (Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 Corinthians 11:1). Our sanctification, through the power of the Holy Spirit, should transform us to love the Law of God and be conformed to the image of God's Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; Romans 12:2) that we may be able to bring glory to our Heavenly Father.

There's no other measure ng character, ng morality, ng obedience, ng good works, ng love towards God and neighbor aside from Jesus Christ who perfectly fulfilled the perfect law of God. He is the standard; hindi yung personality tests mo ang magde-define kung sino ka, hindi yung tropa mong astig or mabait sa tingin mo, at lalong hindi yung artista sa TV na ina-idolize mo–only Jesus Christ. Iisa lang ang hulmahan ng morals and mind ng man. Christ is the ultimate standard.

You found out na judgmental ka base sa personality mo? Then, know that the Bible calls us to judge righteously. Nakita mong base sa personality mo eh sociable ka? Then huwag mo syang gamitin for lying and gossiping but use it in a God-glorifying manner like sharing the Word to the lost. Nakita mong dominante ka? Then be dominant like Christ: gentle, bold, truthful, humble, wise and loving. You learned na adaptable ka, then maging cautious ka not to dishonor the Lord by negligence sa Law Nya.

Therefore, if we are using personality tests as excuse for sin and as justification for our corrupt behavior, I say we need to repent! I pray that the Lord would open our eyes to recognize the filth and sin that we are in and to find the glorious hope of repentance, regeneration and salvation that is only found in Christ (John 14:6).

Grace to you, beloved.