The Institute (協会)

Speaking as an introvert, I don't know that we can glean a whole lot from that one aspect of personality. True, I think it is fair to say that introverts tend to reflection and extroverts to action, but neither personality type does one or the other exclusively.

Many of the most missional pastors/thinkers around are introverts: Tim Keller, Greg Johnson, George Stulac, Nelson Jennings, just to name a few.

I think when you get into the extremes of each personality, you get problems with the kind of thing you are talking about. Like I said, I'm an introvert, but I also have a passion to live missionally. My introversion, though, makes me want to have a good theoretical base for my missional superstructure.

Just an introvert's thoughts. Of course, blogging about it might just prove your point.

Todd said, "Many of the most missional pastors/thinkers around are introverts." I'm assuming you mean within that one denomination, right? Is that true of others of the most missional leaders around the country like Matt Chandler, Erwin McManus, Jonathan McIntosh, and others who are not in more introverted circles to begin with? Is that true of "many of the most missional pastors" in the U.S and the U.K. who are church planters to unchurched people?

Good stuff!

Yeah, true, I was thinking more in terms of the PCA. Truth be told, I don't have a whole lot of experience outside our fairly small circles. In college, though, I knew Tim Conder pretty well, and he is definitely an introvert. Not to mention super-missional and an Emergent Village guy.

I would be pretty opposed to any assumption that extrovert=activist (only) and introvert=reflection (only). The body of Christ needs both, and the individual members of the body of Christ need to do both.

I wouldn't be able to speak to many traditions outside of our own, but the feeling I get from most of the missional guys I have encountered outside our tradition is that they aren't particularly extroverted. Sure, they are active in evangelism and mercy, but they generally seem to be a pretty contemplative bunch. That strikes me as either introverted or striking a good balance. Here I'm thinking about guys like McLaren, Bell, Eugene Peterson, Driscoll, etc. I could be wrong, though.

Also, speaking again as an introvert, I have no problem whatsoever saying that the church has been emasculated and that men need to act and speak like men.

Yep, great points.

Todd also said, "Also, speaking again as an introvert, I have no problem whatsoever saying that the church has been emasculated and that men need to act and speak like men." You're kind of a rare duck in my experience. I get mostly push back from introverts when we talk about this stuff. You're a for real, rare duch;)! A male duck, that is.

I'm an introvert, and I think the church has been emasculated heavily (but I don't think we all need to go out in the woods and slay a grizzly with our bare hands to make that right, which was the major take-home point that I got from "Wild at Heart.") Maybe introverts are less likely to like missional theology, but somehow I doubt it when you've got guys like Keller and Peterson turning out really thoughtful stuff on the subject. There are plenty of non-missional extroverts at my church, although they tend to not be heavily theological as much as they are simply oblivious to the needs of the world around us.

The Body of Christ needs all of us, and perhaps more introverts should be in their offices writing books to help shape and train the extroverts who are out there talking to people. Introverts like talking to people and sharing the Gospel, too-- we just usually need time to "recharge" before and after doing it. Did you catch Oscar Muriu's speech at Urbana '06 on the Global Church? (you can watch it at here to get a better explanation of what I'm trying to say.

I think there's something to this. Recently, I started seeking out the few extroverts we have in our Reformed church to be involved in our intention "Greeter Ministry."

It occurred to me that the vast majority of my congregation sits and waits for others to reach out to them, even those who've been around a long while or who teach.

The vast majority may be approachable, but are not approachers in and of themselves.

I'm a short white guy. I'll never play in the NBA but that doesn't mean I can't play the game at all.

I'm an introvert. I tend to prefer solitude, but I have a life (at least, I did before seminary) and I can be missional.

Also, I'm still trying to figure out your connection between introversion and the feminization of the church/passive Christians. Does that mean all women are introverts? Come on Anthony, you can do better than that...

While I am in ministry leadership and constantly interacting with folks in the community. . . I find that people simply wear me out!

All that stuff about being alone and reading etc... resonates. I have to find it (in measured amounts) and fight it all the time.

Oh, and my 7 kids both complicate and make my life worth while. They wear me out too. . .

I guess being worn out is ok. . . people wear me out: that's my definition of being an introvert.

I think there's something to your post, Anthony. It may over-reach a bit, but I know for certain that my natural shyness has been one of the most significant obstacles that I've had to face in my ten years of ministry. I have to deal with it on nearly a daily basis, and I don't always win that battle.

Chas?? Huh?? You said, "Also, I'm still trying to figure out your connection between introversion and the feminization of the church/passive Christians. Does that mean all women are introverts? Come on Anthony, you can do better than that..."

Please quote where I suggested a link?

Matthew said, "Did you catch Oscar Muriu's speech at Urbana '06 on the Global Church?"

Nope, what's it about?

Anthony, the last sentence in your original post (the one in parentheses) is where I got that impression.

perhaps I over-analyzed or misunderstood (wouldn't be the first time for either), but could you clarify?

thanks boss!

I've thought about Personality Theory in relation to Christianity a good bit. I think churches would do well to take it into greater consideration when hiring/firing.

But some questions to consider:
1) How much of temperament is due to the Fall?
2) How much can be changed due to sanctification? How much of it is malleable, period?
3) Are these even biblical categories?
4) If the call to be on mission is an essential part of a Christian's identity (which I believe it is), then shouldn't we be looking for ways that "sentness" manifests itself in both introverted and extraverted people? Reducing biblical obedience to one personality type seems awfully reductionistic. But hey, if you're shrinking from mission and calling it introversion, then repent.

I enjoy personality theory because of the insight and vocabulary it gives to our differences. But I think we're guilty of not always examining its presuppositions.
I just read a book called "Jesus & Personality Theory" which was an abysmal, bizarre attempt to make Jesus fit into OCEAN, the Five-Factor model. The book "scored" Jesus and Paul on the scales. Somehow, rating Jesus as "average" just doesn't seem right.

Jesus was the perfect human being. As such he transcends our human categories and was able to be whatever was needed at the moment. If the situation called for extraversion, he was there, and vice-versa. Not without struggle, of course, but do we really think we could come up with a type for him?

was going to post but steve summed up my thoughts exactly.

"If the call to be on mission is an essential part of a Christian's identity (which I believe it is), then shouldn't we be looking for ways that "sentness" manifests itself in both introverted and extraverted people?"

Amen...

Speaking as an extroverted former-engineer-turned-seminary-student, Anthony, you're onto something with considerable explanatory power. This is a great question: "If a church has a young guy who loves to study the Bible and theology but can't talk to strangers, should he be encouraged to pursue ministry?" Too often, the answer is 'Yes!' The loving thing to do for this young man is to let him tag along with a real pastor and let him see that most people care more about WWE than NPP. Where is the job market analysis? Is there a dearth of theology nerds in the Reformed camp? If I were a Pentecostal leader who found a young buck itchin to learn Hebrew, seminary might make sense. The Reformed world needs more entrepreneurs than managers.

This is a topic I've been wrestling with for some time.

I've been in many churchs that were full of extroverts who were not missional and declining. So I don't think intro/extro neccesarily mean missional or not.

That said, most of the reformed churches I've been in are freaky ones where everyone tends to be introverted and studies their Bibles and books more than they love people.

I'm an introvert though. But it took me several years of trying to be an extrovert before realizing that introversion is fine as long as you aren't sinning passivly.

It's not that I don't like being around people, it's just that being in large social groups gets very overwhelming very quickly. I feel at a loss to connect with anyone in such a situation beyond a totally surfacy, fake way. Apparently extroverts can connect in genuine ways; great. Just don't be the legalistic extrovert who wants everyone to be carbon copies of themselves.

As a missional introvert, I can connect with many people that extroverts are going to have a hard time with (mainly other introverts and often the marginalized folks as well).

I do have to watch that I'm not being passive. I also have to ensure that I properly assert myself enuogh in some situations (otherwise the more extroverted types don't realize I'm attempting to provide needed leardership; fellow introverts generally don't have a problem with it).

All that said, yes, many introverts sit in their sins of passivity and claim it's just their personality.

Men need to be called to be men. There's nothing macho about that. I attend Mars Hill in Seattle and swallow Driscoll's (an intovert for the curious) sermons on men hook, line, and sinker.

Introverts the sugar in the gas tank? Hmmmm....to apply that would put me in the rather uncomfortable position of arguing that someone whose letters were powerful, but his speech contemptible and weak, is both the "sugar in the gas tank" and also the apostle to the Gentiles. (see 2 Cor. 10:10)

I would also have to guess that one of my dearest friends--happiest of all when reading a thick theological tome--is also sugar in the gas tank because he is introverted--despite being one of the most effective preachers and evangelists I've ever known.

Maybe it's time to stop using personality types as an excuse for our disobedience to Him, eh?

Speaking as an introvert, I don't think your characterization is fair.
Not because I think your analysis of reformed types is wrong, (we are more likely to be reformed, in my experience) but because I know many missional introverts who are doing great things for the Kingdom. The two A29 churches local to me (Raleigh, NC) have introverted types on staff, in fact, the Mercy Ministries pastor at one of them is more introverted then anyone else I know.
Just some thoughts from my experience.

Chas, yeah, ahhh, I've gotten a lot of push back over the years from introverts about masculinity discussions. It's been weird.

It's a good question Anthony, and it's funny, because I've been reading the book Good to Great that they mention in that USA Today article you linked to. The deal seems to be something like this - extroverted types can run a business or organization on their own strengths as long as they're in charge, but once they are gone, the engine stops churning. The long term success cases the book cites have been introverts who take the time to figure out what they can be good at and surround themselves with the right people to make it happen.

I don't know, I think trying to run a church with all extroverts or all introverts is a recipe for disaster, but with all the churches I've visited or been a part of, nothing presents itself as the pattern.

I think the bottom line is the reformed world could use a lot more extroverts in order to take it to the streets, while the evangelical world at large could use some more introverts to give it some structure (and to steer it away from the WWE).

As far as masculinity goes, I don't think either type has the market cornered, at least not in terms of the raw materials.

J.Cartwright, Why must the evangelical church be steered away from the World Wrestling Entertainment,Inc.?

This is all really weird to me, because I ENTIRELY felt the opposite was true. Among reformed groups, the pca at least is wildly leadership-oriented and (maybe now misinterpreted) extroverted. I grew up Lutheran, where the church is wildly background service-oriented, billions of 'inner parts.' If you stepped up to lead, people would look at you funny, then after a couple minutes hang there with gaping mouths that someone stood up so they didn't have to! Then you'd drink a beer. The pca? Man, my last church had like 20 people in seminary. I guess through this conversation, I'm learning it may not be an extroverted / introverted difference between the churches, but more of a leadership / inner part difference. I always felt Lutherans and Presbyterians would make a good tag team on Royal Rumble.

Abraham said, "The Reformed world needs more entrepreneurs than managers."

This is sooooo true. Here's the problem the Reformed world does not produce entrepreneurs. Why would an entrepreneurial type want to be in a community where "circle-the-theological-wagons" is the motto?

It's so interesting. Some of the most innovative and creative thinkers regarding missional living, who are helping to lead evangelicals in general, DO NOT come from Reformed circles. Actually, in my youth ministry experience creativity, imagination, and innovation aren't nurtured in kids and many churches are churning out some of the most boring, missionally disconnected people in the whole church. I'm not sure why this is. . .

Whew, Jeff, really? You should get out more:)! Hang out with some evangelistic Baptist and Pentecostals and you'll see even a greater difference. (A church full of seminary students may not be a good sign. They can often inadvertently impede the leadership training and development of local lay people who live in those communities. Lay leaders don't have to be developed when there's lots of eager free labor around. What happens when the students leave? Just a random thought.) I know an introverted pastor with tons of introverted students at his church. I've been in a church before that was very, very large and full of introverted dudes. All of the programs appealed to introverts: lots of teaching without discussion, absolutely no challenge to love people outside the walls of the church, drop your kids off at various student programs and drive away, etc.

"Some of the most innovative and creative thinkers regarding missional living, who are helping to lead evangelicals in general, DO NOT come from Reformed circles".

and then some do. . .

Each year many of us attend the CCDA conference. this group of folks has adopted the John Perkins model of urban ministry which includes moving into low income communities in a missional lifestyle but creates a thousand ways to "minister" outside of traditional evangelism etc...

Each year the single largest denom represented (as far as I can see) is the PCA. Sometimes having 200 or more people at the dinner. The PCA represents many of the teaching workshops and has a huge impact on the thinking and teaching process of the group but has virtually no visible presence on the leadership platform stage.

Hmm, Joel I don't think we mean the same thing by the word "missional" because I would not probably CCDA there at all. Also, Perkins was not originally from a Reformed context. Many Reformed types typically have to adopt/adapt something creative that someone else contributes. This may not be bad but it is interesting.

Although, CCDA has lead to many good programatic approaches to ministry that have helped many people get help through various programs missional may not be the best way to described that activity. CCDA has started some awesome programatic ventures over the years and continues to do so and they are needed GREATLY!! Also, the younger evangelicals in missional churches are avoiding para-church organizations run by the baby-boomers and working, instead, directly with other churches in their area. Many missional churches tend to shy away from programmed ministry super-structures launched and led by boomers. They don't need organizations like CCDA.

However, just because people are involved in "urban ministry" programs--especially in race/power dynamics of middle-class whites lording (as some black guys I know lament) ministry over lower-class--what many black pastors I know refer to as "plantation churches" and "plantation ministries," does not necessarily create a Christian culture of living a missional lifestyle.

Many bohemian, evangelical whites continue to believe that they are the greatest blessing to black folks and the lower-class black folks need white middle-class white to move into their neighborhoods to bring "blessing."

Joel you may want to take a look at this article: http://www.reformedblacksofamerica.org/blog1/index.php?itemid=300

It's called the "Mis-education of the Reformed Negro." There are many black reformed guys who are very cautious about the white power dynamics in so-called "urban" ministry. I've seen a lot of stuff over the years in many of those circles that has disgusted me. Some have argued that lower-income blacks have been a sort of ministry petting zoo for left-leaning, democratic-leaning, Jim Wallace-loving, bohemian, evangelicals. That might be too strong for these guys to say but I too have witnessed some VERY painful things when blacks in those circles attempt to lead. I'm surprised that one of the guys I know is still going to church after what a few white "urban ministry" types did to him (and I've seen the same pattern, over and over again for the past 12 years). The white power-dynamics through me for a loop in the power play.

Many blacks I know would call it "patronizing and perpetuating a white power dynamic" before they would call it missional (but that's a perspective from some guys I know who are mostly interested in recapturing black leadership in black communities and attempting to bring the black middle-class back to black neighbors and the proven most effective means of liberating lower-class blacks from nihilism). There are lots of good conversations going on out there by black leaders attempting to strengthen the black churches that one every other corner in most black neighborhoods across American's urban centers. You may want to check out the "friend on missional" website to learn more about what missional is.

Let me know what you think of the "Mis-education" article. You can e-mail me if that's better.

Oh yeah, and I'm working on an econ book list for ya too.

Anthony, I posted a link. It's about global dynamics of churches and the body of Christ, but I think it's relevant to this discussion.

In my understanding of the Myers-Briggs use of "introverted/extroverted" descriptors, it is referring more to what energizes you. This does not mean that an extreme introvert does not have the ability to be missional, and like you pointed out Anthony, that can be wrongly used as an excuse for passivity.

A good friend of mine is an introvert, but you'd never be able to tell. The guy is incredibly missional, outgoing, and very people-oriented. But with too much of it, he has to spend a day or two by himself recharging. It's hard for him, but he does it.

Another friend of mine (not a Christian) is VERY extroverted, is energized by it, and thrives in groups. But he is ridiculously passive, avoids conflict, and requires friends to pursue him for relationship without reciprocating.

I think passivity is much more obvious in introverts, and is probably why they are noticed Reformed circles, but I imagine that many of the Baptist and Pentacostal extroverted brothers of ours also struggle with passivity expressed in an extroverted way.

Regardless, these are incredibly helpful ways to discuss this problem (and it is most definitely a problem). I dream of the day when the church is known as well for it's bold and dynamic leadership as it is now for it's meek softness.

Thanks Anthony. these are themes that I am aware of but still trying to understand. Let me get schooled by the article and I'll get back. . .

anthony -- ok, got through that. Interesting. Let me ruminate for a minute. But while I am doing that direct me toward your definition of "missional" . . .

whoops, skip that. found it above.

Ant,
Wow! Anthony that was awesome. I am going to quote you on this one. Your take on "plantation churches" and the "lording of the middle-class over the low income blacks" stuff was brilliant.

I too have grown tired of the "baby boomer" leadership and their theology. It is true that CCDA at the core is still very much a white led network. This is why I think the UYWI conference is a breath of fresh air because it is coming from a different paradigm where the ethnic church is seen for it's beauty and the leadership is predominantly of color.

I have found this gathering (UYWI) to be much more encouraging and more "truthful" to the future of the global church which will be folks of color.

When I go to CCDA I have felt a baby boomer vibe through the years as well and it is a totally different feel at UWYI because of the leadership that is there. They have even expanded from just a "youth" focus and now are talking about ethnic church planting and ethnic entrepeneural (spelling is bad)tracks.

All this to say I think you are dead on with the dominant culture domination of the non profit worlds and CCDA is definitely a product of that.

Although I would say that you and Joel (because I know Joel well!) are probably closer to agreement than you think when it comes to this subject.

Anyway thanks man! I have already copied your response and put it in a word doc for future reference.

Holla!

So it's taken me a while to post. I had to think a while!

Like Todd, I’m an introvert and I also resist “any assumption that extrovert=activist (only) and introvert=reflection (only).”

If we’re going to use Myers-Briggs, then I think this discussion needs to be more nuanced since introversion/extroversion represent only one of the four preferences. The interplay of all of the preferences seems to tell us more than any one preference. See www.personalitypage.com for suggested careers listed for introverted types. It is a lot broader range than the list linked to above. Here are a few:

Accountants, Carpenters, Clergy, Computer Programmers, Counselors / Social Workers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, Interior Decorators, Lawyers, Medical Doctors, Military Leaders, Musicians and Artists, Police, Scientists, Writers, Professors

My thought is that if we surveyed all the missional folks out there we would find a lot of introverts. I have no idea if it would be more than extroverts but I think it'd be up there. I’m reading “The Irresistible Revolution” by Shane Claiborne and just finished “Intuitive Leadership” by Tim Keel and get the impression that both of these guys are introverted. As they unfold their thought processes that led them to what they’re doing, they showed introversion at work. Something didn’t sit well with them. Questions were raised internally. They pondered and asked more questions. Then they started moving. Their reflection on how ideas (Biblical ideas) impacted life or ought to impact life led to a change.

From what I know of William Carey, he was definitely an introvert. He sat there hammering on shoes, thinking, pondering, and then going to India where he translated the Scriptures into various Indian dialects, translated Hindu writings into English, started educational institutions, and participated significantly in the movement to abolish widow-burning.

I think it’s a little overstated to say that introverts are sugar in the gas tank. Any strength taken to an extreme is a weakness and comparing the weaknesses of introverts to the strengths of extroverts is a bit one-sided.

Both are necessary for the mission of the Kingdom when they are working to complement each other.

JK

Anthony
People follow leaders not causes. Pastors/leaders in a church tend to attract people like them or who at least resonate with them, the message, and the way they deliver the message. I think we can all appreciate the differences God has created in our personalities. However, our strengths become weaknesses when they become too strong and we stop developing balance in our personalities, not to mention our tendency to think our preferences are "right" which makes everyone else wrong. Perhaps we need to tap into the reasons for a plurality of elders and educate people more about the church's function and purpose. After all, it's not about me.

I think there is a key thing in the description of an introvert that is being overlooked.

"I prefer to know just a few people well"

Being an introvert is not the same thing as being shy. It is about energy. Where extroverts feel energized by being around lots of people, introverts have the opposite feeling.

It doesn't mean that they (we...I'm an introvert) are boring, geeky people with our noses in books all the time, too scared to talk to folks. It means that the relationships are deep, take some time to develop and are very intentional because we are careful where we spread our energy.

I don't think it is fair to cast all introverts in the way you have - as a detriment to missional work. If you are looking at missional work in terms of the quantity of people reached and discounting the quality of those relationships, then I can see how that is possible. But, I don't think it is a fair account to missional living -- as though there is a one-size-fits-all approach to living missionally. Instead, I think you should look at their perspective and approach to relationship building as a gift, and look for ways to nurture, support, and use it to Kingdom's advantage.

I'm introverted and I vote.

Bro, I have to part opinions with you on this one--though my table is always open to you! I grew up in the PCA. I attribute much of what I've seen in the development of the denomination having more to do with what I call "victims, eye-witnesses, and far-off observers" (I can explain that later if you want) than the dichotomy of introvert/extravert.

Take Frank Baker for example. I’ve never met a more introverted man. But look at the way the Lord used him to build up Briarwood Presbyterian Church. Sure, Strong must have been a loner—I can’t see many of his friends wanting to come over to count the number of times that “is” shows up in the Bible. Still…

Take me, I’m an introvert. What that means is that I get intimidated by people, need alone time to recuperate, and am prone to be shy. But “Introvert” is only the first of my four MB Type letters. I am an iNtuitive Feeler. This means that no matter how much I like to be alone, I am driving by compulsion to care about the needs of other people. I feel their hurts and pains, struggles, disappointments, frustrations, and anxieties. As such, I am a crappy evangelist (oh, I try, but I am more aware of my failures than successes); but when it comes to prayer—watch out. INFJ types are driven (that’s the J) and that drive takes the shape of creativity and faith.

If Introverts are prone to be “self-focused”—extraverts are equally prone to be “bumbling self-conceits.” If Introverts think too much, extroverts can think to little—or better said, if introverts think “internally” too much then extraverts think “out loud” too much. I could keep going.

Take my 8 years at the Seminary. I believe the tenor of the student body has more reflected the personalities of the people recruiting them than the individuals behind the podiums. But I also think the guys with better EQ (emotional intelligence) are those who grow under the tender thumb of professors with high relational abilities. Introvert or extravert—I think the issue is whether one focuses on IQ at the expense (and/or neglect) of EQ.

Thoughts?

Anthony,
what you may have been trying to get at in this post is the field of social intelligence. Daniel Goleman, who wrote the book Emotional Intelligence (thanks Joel for reminding us of that) also wrote the book on Social Intelligence.

Whether introverted or extraverted, it seems to me that HOW you interact with people when given the opportunity is more crucial than temperament. Both E and I can manifest as jerks.

We could list just as many ways in which extraverts can be "sugar in the missional tank."
1. they speak/act before they think
2. they make it all about them
3. they're good at gathering crowds, but if they leave, things evaporate. (Good gatherers, bad builders)
4. they don't know themselves very well
5. they're not good listeners--too busy talking

If you think this is exaggerrated caricature, well, so is much of what was attributed to introvert above. (And I consistently test as an extravert, btw).

It's also worth pointing out that in the original MBTI, E and I also referred to the inner life. That is, what does your mind gravitate to: yourself, or other people, things, issues. So you may be a quiet extravert. Don't say a lot, but you're processing how to change the world.

MBTI also was originally designed for women in the workplace during WWII. It's concerned with behavior, work-style; I don't believe it claims to get at anyone's "essence" or that these traits are immutable. Our behaviors can change based on our context.

Just skimming 1 & 2 Timothy for some insight, and it appears that first and foremost the pastor's role is to teach/preach. The qualification "able to teach" appears in both epistles, and Paul tells Timothy, "devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching...Practice these things, devote yourself to them...Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this.." (I Tim 4:13ff.); "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim 4:2).

So maybe it's the (introverted) pastor's role to equip the saints for missional living with the word of God; and maybe that should be what most consumes his role in the mission. Because I suspect that if a pastor is spending the bulk of his time "visiting hospitals, working the room at parties and 'hanging out'" his preaching will be pretty worthless. And maybe that explains a good bit about a lot of the preaching I've heard since moving to STL.

Just wondering what you think about the phrase "Be doers of the word and not just hearers." Does this not apply to pastors?What about the "great commission?" Is that only for lay folks. I think it is clear in scipture that every believer has a mission that involves sharing one's faith and doing good works. "Isolated" teaching/preaching leads to dead churches.

The early church was very active in building community, and this was right along side of "the apostle's teaching." Acts 2:42-47

What I have found as a pastor is that I have to lead by example as well as use the word of God to equip. I cannot exhort folks to share their faith if I myself are huddled in my office spending 40 hours a week on a sermon. My urban world just doesn't lend me that in any way shape or form nor do I think it is wise.

Just my opinion though.

My comments were directed toward Justin McGuire by the way and him trying to make the case that pastors should spend a majority of their time studying/preparing for the sunday sermon.

Hey Aaron,

I think Timothy would be a "doer of the word" if he heeded Paul's exhortations which largely address his role as a preacher/teacher. Of course he'd do other things - Paul also tells him to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim 4:5) - so maybe the Pastor regularly takes his laptop and study materials to a local pub or coffee shop and does sermon prep there. And I didn't say that preaching and teaching (and preparation for same) should consume ALL of the pastor's time, just most of it. Also, doesn't preaching the Gospel on a weekly basis qualify as obedience to the Great Commission?

And thank you for reminding me of the community-building apostolic church in Acts. Yes, I think it's there that the 12 disciples said to the rest of the disciples, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (and, implicitly, not to visiting hospitals, working the room at parties and hanging out) (Acts 6:2b-4).

Aaron, it's always fun batting stuff around with you, brother!

In a general way, I kind of think this dynamic of intovert/extrovert may have some credence.

However, I also think that just as often there is a reverse effect to it. As an introvert myself, I have a huge passion for "making the invisible church visible" (the title of the PCA's conference on discipleship this year). Because I am prone to suffer the effects or consequences of not asserting myself more into ministering to people, and because I have witnessed the profound blessings of being obedient to the call of evangelism, mercy ministry, discipling others, etc, I have actually become one of our church's staunchest proponents and catalysts of our "missional" strategies.

Perhaps, if we find that our churches have a high percentage of introverts who prefer inwardness, those of us among the introvert set who are farther along in our sanctification and calling can make it our priority to reach back and bring the others along. For me it is truly rewarding to be stretched this way. If I share the gospel with three unbelievers this week, I think my faith is bostered something like 10 times more than that extrovert who can do this kind of thing as easily as blinking. Just some thoughts.

"Is there a correlation between introversion, passivity, and non-missional living?"

Respectfully: no. Passivity and non-missional living are the result of sin, not a God-given personality type. In many ways, introverts can be BETTER at missional living/masculinity. Both personalities (I and E) have strengths and weaknesses, pros and cons. Both are needed in the church. If introverts can tend to stay away from people, extraverts can tend to run people over. Where introverts can not reach out enough, extraverts can not listen enough.

"It seems to some people that missional living would actually exhaust a Christian introvert."

Only when the concepts of "missional living" and "masculinity" are reduced in scope can one personality be considered inherently better. To be missional is not the same to have tons of friends, and to be masculine is not the same as to work outside and drive a pickup truck. There are many different ways to be missional, and masculinity looks differently for different males. At some forms of mission, introverts have an inherent advantage; at others, extraverts do. Lets not exclude people for something they did not choose, cannot help, and comes from God.

To imply that 50% of the people in our churches (perhaps more in reformed churches) are "sugar in the gas tank" is, in my opinion, unhelpful to our unity and mission. "Push back" to this understandable.

I Corinthians 12
18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable."

I have an entire blog devoted to the topic of introverts in the church. I have linked to your post, and there has been some lively conversation around it. The introverts who are commenting are not taking very kindly to it! Go here:

http://www.introvertedchurch.com/2008/05/missional-and-introverted.html