I. INTRODUCTION
Core Questions
The geography of my investigation for this and the remaining three modules is named by a single, simple question:
- What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the 21st Century?
The complexity of this terrain is exposed by questions like these:
- How do we disciple in a postmodern age? Are the tools available to local church pastors decidedly modern? If so, what problems (gaps) must be remedied?
- How do we disciple in an age of “truthiness?”[1] When countless (and questionable) spiritual truths are espoused in books, broadcasts, and blogs, how are we to sort through it all? If Jesus is truth, and becoming his disciple is a commitment to living in truth, how do we stay true?
- How do we disciple in an age of extremes?[2] How do we personally embrace and teach others the three-fold purpose of Christian learning: to love God extremely, to love others extremely, to love ourselves extremely?[3] How do we pursue excellence in conversation with God, our families, fellow disciples, and our culture—all at the same time?
- If Jesus identifies discipleship as love, how are we to mature and by what measure can we know that we are successful? How does Jesus define love, and how should our discipleship curriculums respond to his definitions?
Life Science and Life Art
I am intrigued by the idea[4] that life bears two realities: science and art. Life Science (LS) would be a more modern way of thinking. The book of Proverbs and the absolute of Deuteronomy 28:1-2: “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God” are biblical examples. LS is managing the numbers of your family budget, burning as many calories as you consume, and taking one day in seven as a Sabbath. Discipleship, therefore, must include basic, intellectually-based, empirical wisdom, or “common sense.”
Life Art (LA) aligns more to the postmodern way of thinking (feeling). The book of Ecclesiastes and the mystery of Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” are biblical examples.[5] LA is giving wildly to the poor and to your beloved, living to eat (not just eating to live), and knowing how to live a Sabbath. If LS is knowing who to kiss (your spouse), LA is knowing how to kiss. Therefore, discipleship must include a free-spirited, emotionally-centered, passionate, and intimate response to simply being alive.[6]
Emotional Intelligence
All of this leads to the focus of my module one study: Emotional Intelligence. In recent years we have witnessed an “unparalleled burst of scientific studies of emotion.”[7] Psychologist Daniel Goleman believes this is a course correction away from an unhealthy tact toward cognitive analysis alone. He argues, “We have gone too far in emphasizing the value and import of the purely rational … in human life.”[8] Goleman, the most famous figure among several prominent social scientists, psychotherapists, and neuroscientists, has set out with his lesser-known colleagues in an attempt to redirect “intelligence” theory toward emotion. Paradoxically, he refers to the current interest in emotional studies as “an emerging science.”[9] While the biological/neurological elements are certainly scientific, the practical application, I suggest, is better called “an emerging art,” or Life Art.
I will argue in this paper—drawing from an array of theorists and practitioners—that the essence of Emotional Intelligence is an important and useful component of Life Art. Therefore, I will argue it is a critical lens for an effective view of Christian discipleship. I will demonstrate that Jesus had Emotional Intelligence in mind (and heart) throughout his teachings. And, like Goleman, I will argue that “we have gone too far in emphasizing the value and import of the purely rational … in discipleship.”
II. A SURVEY OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Theorists and Practitioners
There is no monopoly on the definition of “Emotional Intelligence.” The following chart demonstrates its evolution throughout the Twentieth Century.[10] A fuller treatment of its development can be found in The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace.[11]
· 1920-Edward Thorndike first talked of a “Social intelligence”
· 1940-David Wechsler, the father of IQ, discussed the “non intellective aspects”
· 1966-Leunen published a paper on emotional intelligence and emancipation
· 1974-Claude Steiner published his first article on Emotional Literacy
· 1983-Howard
· 1986-Wayne Payne used the phrase “emotional intelligence” in an unpublished thesis
· 1990-Peter Salovey & Jack Mayer announced their Emotional Intelligence theory
· 1995-Daniel Goleman published the first of his emotional intelligence books
Emotional Intelligence continues to be explored and explained from several perspectives. Here are some of the major streams of thought.
Well-Being[12]
Clinical psychologist Reuven Bar-On defines emotional and social intelligence as “an array of emotional, personal, and social abilities and skills that influence one’s overall ability to succeed in coping with environmental demands and pressures.”[13] His primary evaluation tool, the EQ-i, diagnoses “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats” [14] in 15 components of emotional health, or “well-being.”[15] Among these components are Self-Regard, Empathy, Social Responsibility, Impulse Control, and Happiness. Bar-On’s evaluative term is “emotional quotient” (“EQ”), which measures a person’s relative health in each area. Steven Stein and Howard Book, co-authors of The EQ Edge,[16] skillfully explain how to use EQ-i in each of its various components.
Attitudes[17]
British practitioners Tim Sparrow and Amanda Knight maintain that our attitudes about life are the key to Emotional Intelligence. An “attitude is an evaluative position that we hold about a thing, a person, an idea, or perhaps an organization.”[18] When various stimuli (conversations, life circumstances, problems, opportunities) come our way, it is our attitude that informs our response, for good or ill. Our attitudes govern our interpretation of life. Our interpretations govern our actions. The authors argue that both thoughts and feelings pour into our experience, and we must choose what we will do. We need to remain aware of both intellectual and emotional inputs in order to act effectively.[19] Often, by not taking our emotions into account, we develop an unhealthy attitude, which produces a less than optimal action/reaction. Ultimately, all human beings are “in control of, and responsible for our actions.”[20] Therefore, Sparrow and Knight can say that “choicefulness” is equivalent to Emotional Intelligence.[21] Emotionally mature human beings have the capacity to be aware of their attitudes, and, thus, make choices to improve negative ones or to act freely of such.
Cognitive Abilities[22]
John Mayer and Peter Salovey have developed a cognitive approach to Emotional Intelligence. Their definition: “[T]he ability to monitor one’s own and other’s feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.”[23] They view Emotional Intelligence as a set of skills to be discovered, learned, and mastered. Salovey has co-authored a book with David Caruso entitled The Emotionally Intelligence Manager.[24] This manager is aware of his and others emotions on an intellectual level. He is intelligent in “integrating” emotions and developing “strategies” for their use. He will “identify,” “use,” “understand,” and “manage” them for the corporate good.[25] This tactical approach differs from Bar-On’s state of “well-being” or Sparrow and Knight’s awareness of “attitude.”
Competence
Daniel Goleman has written extensively, and famously, on Emotional Intelligence. His bestselling Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, popularized the field of study.[26] Other works (some co-authored) include Primal Leadership: Realizing The Power of Emotional Intelligence, Working With Emotional Intelligence, The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace, and Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. Goleman uses the term “emotional competence,” which means emotions can be “learned” like any other “skill.” [27] He explains how discoveries in neuroscience show us that the actual physiology of the brain can be altered through training.[28] He writes, “The human brain is designed to change itself in response to accumulated experience.”[29] Therefore, when Goleman speaks of Emotional Intelligence as “being able … to rein in emotional impulse; to read another innermost feelings; to handle relationships smoothly,”[30] these are skills to be developed. Just as we can increase the stamina of the heart or strength in the quadriceps, we can develop our brains, the seat of cognitive and emotional life.[31]
A special word is in order for Goleman’s newest (October 2006) book Social Intelligence. Across the board, Emotional Intelligence theorists deal with “intrapersonal” and “interpersonal” intelligence.[32] Social Intelligence effectively and extensively deals with the latter. The interconnectedness of our brains from biological[33] and sociological standpoints is compelling. Even our physical health can improve or decline in response to the positive or negative emotional “contagion”[34] of those around us. “We must reconsider the pat assumption that we are immune to toxic social encounters.”[35]
Goleman insists that we must develop “forgiveness,”[36] “compassion,”[37] and “empathy”[38] if we are to combat our social ills and encourage social strength. And, because these are competencies to be learned and developed, we should be about “building a society’s capacity” in these areas.[39]
Universal Morality[40]
Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel examine what they call Moral Intelligence. They claim it differs from Emotional Intelligence, yet the “four principles” of their moral intelligence theory include: “integrity,” “responsibility,” “compassion,” and “forgiveness,” which closely approximate the concepts in the Emotional Intelligence field.[41] They deal with “moral viruses,” which are defined by statements such as, “I’m not worth very much” and “Most people can’t be trusted.”[42] They also write about dealing with “destructive emotions,” such as “greed, hate or jealousy.”[43] Moral intelligence is the ability to understand and practice a set of widely held moral truths that pertain to both intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships.
Beyond The Field
A number of writers on organizational dynamics, who are not in the Emotional Intelligence community, nonetheless have much to say about emotional and social intelligence..[44] Here is a sampling from my reading this term.
- Patrick Lencioni claims “absence of trust” and “unwillingness to be vulnerable” is the foundational reason for “team dysfunction.” This leads to “fear of conflict” and “lack of commitment” and “avoidance of accountability” and “inattention to results.”[45] Interpersonal intelligence (emotional acumen) determines the health and success of group life.
- Max De Pree says we must provide an atmosphere of “hospitality” in our organizations. We must help one another “feel authentic and needed and worthwhile.”[46] “[B]eing cared about as an individual”[47] is an essential desire of people in our organizations.
- In a remarkable new book, Mavericks at Work, the authors write of the importance of “not just encouraging people to learn new skills but encouraging a diverse group of people to sit in a room, try new things, mess up, get embarrassed, and learn how to bounce back—together.”[48]
- Margaret Wheatley says, “Although we live in a world completely revolutionized by information, it is important to remember that it is knowledge we are seeking, not information. Unlike information, knowledge involves us and our deeper motivations and dynamics as human beings.”[49]
- In the church world, Bonem and Patterson say we must be “pulse takers.” We must “[k]now what others are thinking and feeling …”[50]
- Leonard Sweet writes, “A mature soul has learned to read the energy fields of others. Some people give off low vibrations; others are high-wattage. Some people suck energy out of you; others plug you into the energies of the universe.”[51]
- Andy Stanley, pastor of
- Wayne Cordeiro, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, encourages us to be responsive to heaviness in our relational world—and to act promptly in healing those endangered relationships. He believes the Holy Spirit uses our emotions to redirect our energies toward people, especially family.[53]
These examples—from the business and church world—show a collective awareness of the need for a sort of emotional intelligence, supporting the specific work of the Emotional Intelligence community. There is a substantial recognition that the health of our relationships largely determines the quality of our lives and organizations. Hence, Jim Collins supports his claim that “getting the right people on the bus” is of paramount importance with, “Whether someone is the ‘right person’ has more to do with character traits and innate capabilities than with specific knowledge, background, or skills.”[54] Largely, this is a kind of emotional and social intelligence.
Assessment and Training
The Emotional Intelligence community of theorists also includes practitioners. Tools designed to assess a person’s intrapersonal and interpersonal health are available from a number of organizations. Three sites in particular, http://www.eiconsortium.org/measures/eqi.htm, http://www.equniversity.com/Assessment/index.asp, and http://www.emotionalintelligence.co.uk offer helpful options to (a) become certified as a assessment administrator and (b) take a personal or team assessment.[55] The Emotionally Intelligent Manager includes a nice assessment tool in the appendix section [56] as does Moral Intelligence.[57]
I took an individual assessment using the Bar-On EQ-i this term from EQ University. The test can be taken online, requires about 30 minutes, the resulted are emailed to you, and a trained assessor reviews your results over the phone, all within 48 hours. I found the tool to be helpful in assessing my own emotional “well-being.”[58]
Beyond diagnosis (which is part of the remedy), nearly all the Emotional Intelligence books include helpful steps to improve and grow areas of concern. The EQ Edge is particularly thorough in providing “exercises” for the 15 components of the EQ-i. “Self-Assessment” questions and “Self-Assignments” are given for each area. The assignments often include journaling, experimentation with new techniques in conversation, and meditation/focused thought on particular problem areas.[59] For the purposes of this paper, I will simply say that there is no shortage of Emotional Intelligence skills training, and it is readily available on the web and in print.
Critique
While I will argue for the use of Emotional Intelligence as an effective way to better understand Christian discipleship, there are four important cautions.
- Emotional Intelligence organizations have produced an array of tools designed to measure an individual’s emotional and social health. Sparrow and Knight aptly point out that “it is misleading nonsense to reduce somebody’s emotional intelligence to a single figure.”[60] Choosing the best tools is critical.[61] And after selecting a tool for yourself or your organization, respecting the limitations of the assessment is important. Just as IQ tests or spiritual gifts inventories can inappropriately and less-than-perfectly “define” a person, equating a person’s relational and personal success with a “score” on a brief exam is problematic. These tools should be used to assist the process of growth more than grading the emotional effectiveness or value of people.
- Peter Drucker offers stern words for consideration: “Don’t start with personality. Don’t start with the usual silly questions such as does he get along with people, or does she have initiative? These characteristics may be meaningful in describing a personality, but they don’t tell you how people perform.”[62] The danger of “touchy-feely” decision-making is real. A person’s “emotional quotient” may not tell the whole story of well-being, emotional health, or job performance. Just being a “good guy” does not mean a person is qualified to effectively serve in a particular area of an organization or church. Spiritual gifts (talents) still matter.
- In Moral Intelligence, Lennick and
- As we have seen, Emotional Intelligence literature is closely associated with business and management literature. If this human science is corrupted by business leaders to control people and expand financial profits, danger lurks. If this human science is corrupted by church leaders to control people and expand pastoral power, danger lurks. Is our use of these psychological discoveries helpful or hurtful? We must use this emerging science with wisdom and humility. A greater awareness of people must be used to help them fulfill God’s purposes for their life.
III. JESUS: EMOTIONAL INTELLITENCE PRACTITIONER
I will argue in this chapter that Jesus had a kind of emotional intelligence in mind (and heart) as he taught his followers what it meant to be his disciple. My evidence is twofold. First, a brief evaluation of some notable New Testament passages will indicate the importance of emotional intelligence. Second, a comparative examination of Jesus’ life and teachings, against a prominent Emotional Intelligence tool, will demonstrate striking similarities.
Some Notable New Testament Passages
Mark 12:31
“Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:31)
| Jesus | Applied EI, Goleman |
| “Neighbor” | Interpersonal, Social Intelligence |
| “Yourself” | Intrapersonal, Emotional Intelligence |
A prominent teacher (rabbi) asks Jesus (also a rabbi) to clarify the most significant piece of his (Jesus) discipleship curriculum. Emphatically, Jesus, quoting Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18, establishes loving your neighbor and loving yourself (along with love for God) as the three-fold thesis. Social Intelligence (interpersonal health) mirrors love for your neighbor. Emotional Intelligence (intrapersonal health) mirrors love of self. The field of Emotional Intelligence appears to address two-thirds of Jesus core discipleship philosophy.
John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
How do we measure one’s development as a disciple of Jesus? A disciple is recognized by his or her capacity to love others. Interpersonal health is the evidence of growing maturity in the way of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
Men and women influenced by the Spirit of Jesus will bear certain characteristics. These eight “fruits” resemble the intrapersonal (Emotional Intelligence) and interpersonal (Social Intelligence) qualities defined by the Emotional Intelligence community. If these qualities mark a disciple of Jesus, then Emotional Intelligence testing is a near match. Take the Bar-On EQ-i inventory, for a comparative example.
| Galatians 5:22-23 | Bar-On EQ-i[65] |
| “Love” | Manifest by all factors? |
| “Joy” | “Optimism” |
| “Peace” | “Happiness” |
| “Patience” | “Stress Tolerance” |
| “Kindness” | “Empathy” |
| “Goodness” | “Empathy” |
| “Faithfulness” | “Social Responsibility” |
| “Gentleness” | “Interpersonal Relationship” |
| “Self-Control” | “Impulse Control” |
1 Corinthians 13:2, 4-5
“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith than can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing….Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:2, 4-5)
Here, Paul does two things. First, he distinguishes between knowledge (what I would term Life Science) and love (in this context, Life Art). Cognitive excellence without emotional excellence is “nothing.” Second, the characteristics of “love” (synonymous with Christian “discipleship”) show remarkable proximity to Emotional Intelligence.
| 1 Corinthians 13:2, 4-5 | Emotional Intelligence (not Bar-On) |
| “Patient” | “Flexibility”[66] |
| “Kind” | “Kind regards”[67] |
| “Does not boast” | “Relative regard”[68] |
| “Is not proud” | “Empathetic Accuracy”[69] |
| “Is not rude” | “Social Cognition”[70] |
| “Is not self-seeking” | “Awareness of Others”[71] |
| “Is not easily angered” | “Emotional expression and control”[72] |
| “Keeps not record of wrongs” | “Forgiveness”[73] |
Beyond these four examples, I submit (without specific notation) that many core discipleship passages in the New Testament argue for some kind of emotional intelligence: interpersonal and intrapersonal. When James asks, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?”[74] he demands a discipleship of relational love. Intellectual assent to certain theological positions is not enough. Empathy motivating empathetic action is the answer.[75] Sparrow and Knight rightly point out that “[e]motion stems from the Latin word ‘movere’, meaning ‘to move’. Our emotions prompt motion. [76]
Comparing Jesus with Bar-On EQ-i
It is useful to compare the teachings of Jesus with one of the major contemporary Emotional Intelligence models to demonstrate the potential usefulness of Christian discipleship’s embrace of this new research. I have chosen the Bar-On EQ-i inventory.[77]
| Jesus by Example | Jesus’ Teaching | Bar-On EQ-i |
| “I am he”[78] | “Wipe dust off your feet”[79] | Self-Regard |
| “Yours be done”[80] | “Cut it off”[81] | Emotional Self-Awareness |
| “Get behind me, Satan”[82] | “Let your yes be yes”[83] | Assertiveness |
| “I do not accept praise”[84] | “Hate his father”[85] | |
| “Quiet! Be Still!”[86] | “Holy Spirit will teach you”[87] | Self-Actualization |
| “Moved with compassion”[88] | “Which of these … was a neighbor?”[89] | Empathy |
| “Who touched my clothes?”[90] | “I was hungry”[91] | Social Responsibility |
| “See how he loved him”[92] | “Mary has chosen what is better”[93] | Interpersonal Relationship |
| “Everything is possible for you”[94] | “What were you arguing about?”[95] | Reality Testing |
| “My time has not come”[96] | “Seek first his kingdom”[97] | Flexibility |
| “Give to Caesar”[98] | “Give them something to eat”[99] | Problem Solving |
| “Let’s go to the other side”[100] | “Do not worry”[101] | Stress Tolerance |
| “Forgive them”[102] | “Love your enemies”[103] | Impulse Control |
| “Zacchaeus”[104] | “Do not let you hearts be troubled”[105] | Optimism |
| “Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”[106] | “Sabbath was made for man”[107] | Happiness |
These relationships provide a striking reality: Jesus was thinking about emotional intelligence long before Daniel Goleman’s 1995 bestseller.[108] “And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”[109] is a compelling assertion that Jesus matured in love for his Father and with people. Jesus was emotionally and socially intelligent. His commission to the first disciples, to recruit more disciples, “teaching them to obey everything,”[110] can be faithfully understood to mean allegiance to a program of learning centered on love for God, themselves, and one another. They were called to become like their Master.
Summary
I’ve come to two conclusions in this paper.
- Emotional Intelligence is real, and it matters. Many of the theorists and practitioners in the Emotional Intelligence community are serious scientists who research and write carefully and persuasively. Interpersonal and intrapersonal health comprises a core foundation for living well as a human being. Whatever deficiencies may be found in one or another of the various models, the major point, that intelligence of the heart is of enormous importance, is simply compelling. The general purpose of psychotherapy is to help people live better lives—with themselves and with others.[111] Emotional Intelligence is an insightful way of understanding people and of facilitating their movement toward health.
- Emotional Intelligence illuminates a major portion of Jesus’ teaching on how to live well as human beings. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us to be “meek,” “merciful,” “pure in heart,” “peacemakers,” “salt,” “light,” to “settle matters quickly,” to “love your enemies,” and to “not judge.” Incorporating these relationally intelligent teachings into our lives makes us “wise.”[112] The parallels between the teachings of Jesus and the work of contemporary Emotional Intelligence theorists are notable. Therefore, I assert Emotional Intelligence provides a helpful window into Jesus’ vision of ekklesia: exceptional relationships forming the basis of extraordinary community.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bar-On, Reuven. "The Bar-on Model of Emotional-Social Intelligence (Esi)." Psicothema 18 (2006): 13-25.
Bar-On, Reuven Handley Rich. The Last Corporate Secret. New Braunfels, Texas: Pro-Philes Press, 1999.
Bonem, Mike, and Roger Patterson. Leading from the Second Chair : Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams. 1st ed.: Jossey-Bass, 2005.
Caruso, David R., and Peter. Salovey. The Emotionally Intelligent Manager: How to Develop and Use the Four Key Emotional Skills of Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004.
Cherniss, Cary, and Daniel Goleman. The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace: How to Select for, Measure, and Improve Emotional Intelligence in Individuals, Groups, and Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
Collins, James C. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don't. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
Cordeiro, Wayne. "Dead Leader Walking." In Leadership Summit. South Barrington, Illinois, 2006.
De Pree, Max. Leadership Is an Art. New York: Double Day, 1989.
________. Called to Serve : Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board. Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 2001.
Drucker, Peter F. Managing the Non-Profit Organization : Practices and Principles. 1st ed. New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins, 1990.
Goleman, Daniel. Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books, 1995.
________. Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships. New York: Bantam Books, 2006.
Lencioni, Patrick. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team : A Leadership Fable. 1st ed.: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
Lennick, Doug, and Fred Kiel. Moral Intelligence: Enhancing Business Performance & Leadership Success. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Wharton School Publishing, 2005.
Peterson, Eugene H. Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005.
Sparrow, Tim, and Amanda Knight. Applied Ei: The Importance of Attitudes in Developing Emotional Intelligence. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006.
Stanley, Andy. "Focused Leadership." In Leadership Summit. South Barrington, Illinois, 2006.
Stein, Stephen J., and Howard E. Book. The Eq Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success. Mississauga, Ontario: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd, 2006. Reprint, 2006.
Sweet, Leonard I. Out of the Question--into the Mystery: Getting Lost in the Godlife Relationship. Colorado Springs, Colorado: WaterBrook Press, 2004.
________. Summoned to Lead. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2004.
Taylor, William C., and Polly LaBarre. Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.
Wheatley, Margaret J. Finding Our Way : Leadership for an Uncertain Time. 1st ed. San Francisco, California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005.
ADDENDUM: PRACTICAL OUTCOMES REPORT
Practical concerns
Eugene Peterson, in his extraordinary book, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, writes:
We have an abundance of educational courses for teaching right thinking about God in the community—Bible studies, catechetical curricula, Sunday School classes. And we have many imaginative programs for training in behaviors that are obedient to the scriptural commands to help and heal, form missions, and evangelize the world. But whoever heard of a class on love? And whoever heard of a love program? And the reason is that love cannot be reduced to what can be taught in a classroom or what can be formulated in a program.[113]
If he is correct, what shall we do with Emotional Intelligence?
It is hard to argue with Peterson’s assertions that people “are not admitted to the community by presenting credentials of love skills,” and that we should not conduct “periodic peer reviews on love.” It is easy to embrace his assertions that “knowledge does not turn into acts of love automatically” and “learning to love can’t be reduced to ideas about love.” [114]
At the same time, however, we can emphatically affirm his call that the
With Peterson’s cautions and affirmations in mind, I submit the “emerging science” of Emotional Intelligence can be a key piece in our “emerging discipleship.”
The practical problem of discipleship in the local church
I often cringe when someone asks, “Pastor, what is your church’s discipleship plan?” What should my answer be? I can innumerate our classes: spiritual gifts, personal evangelism, financial stewardship, basic theology, etc. I can refer them to churches that have had influence on my understanding of discipleship in years past: Willow Creek’s “seven-step strategy” or Saddleback’s “Purpose-Driven” model. I can point them to our upcoming sermon topics—which cover a wide range of vertical (God) and horizontal (people) topics. I can explain that we have a group reading John Ortberg’s The Life You’ve Always Wanted or Henri Nouwen’s Here and Now.
Do I have an answer? Do we have a well-organized plan? Should we?
Part of my discomfort lies in the nearly indistinguishable difference between Christians and “everyone else” regarding key factors of biblical lifestyle. Leonard Sweet reports “there’s only a 7 percent difference … between the sexual habits of non-Christians and conservative Christian teenagers who are involved in a church youth group.”[117] George Barna makes similar claims for the alarming ineffectiveness of Christian discipleship in an array of areas.[118] What’s up with our current discipleship strategies (mine included) when credit card debt, divorce, parental malpractice, materialism, obesity-by-choice[119], self-centeredness, and, ironically, low self-esteem seem all too prevalent?
Is Emotional Intelligence the solution?
Consider these questions:
- What would best release our evangelistic limitations? Beefing up our church members’ thin biblical know-how and sharpening their apologetic arguments? Or might it be better to facilitate their personal growth in empathy, listening, tender action, truthfulness, and conversational beauty?
- How can we best help people get out of financial debt, save for the future, and give generously to the church? Do we need more math classes? Do people need to understand what 10% of $52,000 is? Do we need more information on the benefits/liabilities of compounded interest? Or might it be better to talk about self-worth, impulse control, stress tolerance, and happiness? How about a vision for empathy-in-action for the poorest people in our world?
- Is it more important for people to correctly identify the three members of the Trinity or learn to live in the communal image of God as part of a caring, mature family?
- Do we need better placement of people by spiritual gifts testing? Or do we, as First Corinthians 13 argues, need people who are great lovers (i.e. emotionally intelligent) no matter where they serve? Does the technical team need a new soundboard or do they need to be better sounding boards for one another?[120]
I am not suggesting the demolition of “Life Science.” We need solid arguments, accurate information, and logical perspectives. We need to be Proverbial. But we also need “Life Art.” And I am suspicious that emotional and social discipleship is in great need of revitalization. If people don’t know how to love themselves and other people very well, what hope is there for excellence in discipleship?
Practical Action
1. I propose to develop a study group in our local church to review how other churches are/are not utilizing Emotional Intelligence assessment and training.[121] Is it helpful? Why? Why not?
2. I propose to sit with core leaders in our church and suggest an exciting endeavor: to rethink our discipleship priorities. The triple-thesis of Jesus—love God, love others, love yourself—will be the starting point. For the latter two, I will encourage the group to consider Emotional Intelligence. I envision a teaching series, assigned reading, group interaction, assessments, and an on-going training opportunity. We must artfully use the tools without turning them into a legalism of love (Peterson’s caution, I think).
3. I propose we couple specific training in evangelism, spiritual gifts, personal finance, etc. with interpersonal and intrapersonal development. For example, evangelism would be about listening, not just talking. Finance would be about taking personal measure, not just measuring dollars and cents. Both Life Science and Life Art would be taught together in an effort to build strong disciples in the way of Jesus.
Life Science & Life Art: An Image[122]
[1] Comedian Stephen Colbert coined the term on his television program, The Daily Show. Directed most often at politicians, the term calls into question the loose use of the word “truth” in our contemporary culture.
[2] This idea stems from a discussion led by Leonard Sweet during our first advance in downtown
[3] Mark 12:30-31. All biblical references are from the New International Version.
[4] While no idea is truly original, this is an observation I made during our online asynchronous discussion this term. Leonard Sweet encouraged me to explore it further.
[5] Emphasis is mine.
[6] Popular writer John Eldredge has captured the sentiment of Life Art in his many books. Megachurch pastor Bill Hybels, a “modern,” has also recognized the importance of both LS and LA in his two books on evangelism. His first, Contagious Christian, proposes a mathematical formula for evangelistic success. His second, A Walk Across the Room, argues that following the Holy Spirit’s unexpected lead is the most important act in evangelism—a decidedly postmodern, LA position.
[7]Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (New York: Bantam Books, 1995), xi. A simple Google search will reveal countless books, assessment tools, and training seminars for anyone interested and becoming a student or teacher of Emotional Intelligence. This has become big business.
[8]Ibid., 4.
[9]Daniel Goleman, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships (New York: Bantam Books, 2006), 4.
[10]Tim Sparrow and Amanda Knight, Applied Ei: The Importance of Attitudes in Developing Emotional Intelligence (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2006), 5.
[11]Cary Cherniss and Daniel Goleman, The Emotionally Intelligent Workplace: How to Select for, Measure, and Improve Emotional Intelligence in Individuals, Groups, and Organizations (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001), 13-22.
[12] See Reuven Bar-On, "The Bar-on Model of Emotional-Social Intelligence (Esi)," Psicothema 18 (2006).
[13] Reuven Handley Rich Bar-On, The Last Corporate Secret (New Braunfels, Texas: Pro-Philes Press, 1999), 2.
[14] Ibid., 15.
[15] Cherniss and Goleman, 17.
[16] Stephen J. Stein and Howard E. Book, The Eq Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success (Mississauga, Ontario: John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd, 2006; reprint, 2006).
[17] Sparrow and Knight.
[18] Ibid., 26.
[19] Ibid., 27-29.
[20]Ibid., 41.
[21]Ibid., 64.
[22] Cherniss and Goleman, 17.
[23] Ibid.
[24] David R. Caruso and Peter. Salovey, The Emotionally Intelligent Manager: How to Develop and Use the Four Key Emotional Skills of Leadership (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004).
[25]Ibid., 146-150.
[26] Stein and Book, 1. A number of authors credit Goleman in this regard.
[27] Cherniss and Goleman, 27.
[28] Goleman, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, 1-49.The purview of this paper does not include the biological science of neurological anatomy. With the increase in imaging technology, our ability to understand the inner-workings of the brain has opened up significant opportunities of new understanding. See also Goleman, Emotional Intelligence, 13-29.
[29] Goleman, Social Intelligence, p. 152.
[30] Goleman, Emotional Intelligence, p. xiii.
[31] Goleman, and others, offer a variety of emotional training exercises, which we will examine later. These discoveries give profound meaning to Romans 12:2, “…be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
[32] Sparrow and Knight, p. 10.
[33] Goleman, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, 321-328., for example.
[34] Ibid., 244-249.
[35] Ibid., 318.
[36] Ibid., 308.
[37] Ibid., 317.
[38] Ibid., 57.
[39] Ibid., 317.
[40] Doug Lennick and Fred Kiel, Moral Intelligence: Enhancing Business Performance & Leadership Success (Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Wharton School Publishing, 2005).Lennick and
[41]Ibid., 7.
[42] Ibid., 70.
[43]Ibid., 72.
[44] My citations here are from books assigned by Leonard Sweet and Jules Glanzer for this term.
[45]Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team : A Leadership Fable, 1st ed. (Jossey-Bass, 2002), 188.
[46] Max De Pree, Called to Serve : Creating and Nurturing the Effective Volunteer Board (Grand Rapids, Mich.: William B. Eerdmans, 2001), 69.
[47] Max De Pree, Leadership Is an Art (New York: Double Day, 1989), 67.
[48] William C. Taylor and Polly LaBarre, Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win (New York: HarperCollins, 2006), 233.
[49] Margaret J. Wheatley, Finding Our Way : Leadership for an Uncertain Time, 1st ed. (San Francisco, California: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2005), 154
[50] Mike Bonem and Roger Patterson, Leading from the Second Chair : Serving Your Church, Fulfilling Your Role, and Realizing Your Dreams, 1st ed. (Jossey-Bass, 2005), 100.
[51]Leonard I. Sweet, Summoned to Lead (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2004), 106.
[52] Andy Stanley, "Focused Leadership," in Leadership Summit (South Barrington, Illinois: 2006).
[53]Wayne Cordeiro, "Dead Leader Walking," in Leadership Summit (South Barrington, Illinois: 2006).
[54] James C. Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap ... And Others Don't (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 63-64.
[55] EQ University includes a 30-minute phone session with a trained therapist processing your results and making recommendations for improvement.
[56] Caruso and Salovey, 213-251.
[57] Lennick and Kiel, 227-247.
[58] The cost of this assessment was $149. While fees vary, if a pastor or church leader became certified as a test administrator, group rates drop dramatically. EQ University trains test administrators for $1500-$2000.
[59] Stein and Book, 158-159., for example.
[60] Sparrow and Knight, 33.
[61] An hour with Google will unveil countless inventories. Some appear credible and others seem as if they were thrown together in an afternoon. Many want your money—in large sum.
[62] Peter F. Drucker, Managing the Non-Profit Organization : Practices and Principles, 1st ed. (New York, N.Y.: HarperCollins, 1990), 146.
[63] Lennick and Kiel, xxxiii.
[64] Ibid., 39.
[65] Bar-On, The Last Corporate Secret, iv.
[66] Sparrow and Knight, 146.
[67] Ibid., 83.
[68] Ibid., 84.
[69] Goleman, Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, 84.
[70] Ibid., 331.
[71] Sparrow and Knight, 123.
[72] Ibid., 156.
[73] Lennick and Kiel, 7.
[74] James 2:14.
[75] James 2:15-17.
[76] Sparrow and Knight, 25.
[77] While various theorists approach Emotional Intelligence from differing viewpoints, there is essential agreement for the human qualities at issue. Therefore, almost any assessment would provide a respectable representation for the others.
[78] John 18:8.
[79] Luke 10:11.
[80] Luke 22:42.
[81] Matthew 5:30.
[82] Mark 8:33.
[83] Matthew 5:37.
[84] John 5:41.
[85] Luke 14:26.
[86] Mark 4:39.
[87] Luke 12:12.
[88] Mark 1:41.
[89] Luke 10:36.
[90] Mark 5:30.
[91] Matthew 25:35.
[92] John 11:36.
[93] Luke 10:42.
[94] Mark 14:36.
[95] Mark 9:33.
[96] John 2:4.
[97] Matthew 6:33.
[98] Matthew 22:21.
[99] Luke 9:13.
[100] Luke 8:22.
[101] Luke 12:22.
[102] Luke 23:34.
[103] Matthew 5:44.
[104] Luke 19:5.
[105] John 14:1.
[106] Matthew 12:8.
[107] Mark 2:27.
[108] http://provost.syr.edu/lectures/goleman.asp is one of many sources reporting that Emotional Intelligence has sold over 5 million copies.
[109] Luke 2:52.
[110] Matthew 28:18-20.
[111] I am blessed, as a pastor, to work with a handful of skilled and caring therapists who have done much good for the people in and around our congregation. Above all, they are master “helpers.”
[112] Matthew 5:1-7:29.
[113] Eugene H. Peterson, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2005), 314.
[114] Ibid., 312-314.
[115] Ibid., 311.
[116] 1 John 3:11.
[117] Leonard I. Sweet, Out of the Question--into the Mystery: Getting Lost in the Godlife Relationship (Colorado Springs, Colorado: WaterBrook Press, 2004), 4.
[118] See www.barna.org for books and internet access to a plethora of data.
[119] Many weight problems are caused by difficult-to-control biological issues. This is not what I have in mind here.
[120] Summoned to Lead certainly influenced this metaphor, though I can’t place a specific reference as of this writing.
[121] Web searches reveal the use of Emotional Intelligence training in church and Christian educational settings. The Lutheran School of Theology of
[122] I came across this photograph several months ago but no longer remember the source. The “science” of the grocery list, nutrition, necessities coupled/contrasted with the “art” of human connection caught my attention. The Emotional Intelligence of infants?
0 comments:
Post a Comment