I’ve had a hard time following Adam S. McHugh’s Introverts In The Church. Not that it’s a difficult read, but that I’ve had to read it with only one eye—the other one being injured in an ridiculous display of getting lost in my thoughts. On a leisurely stroll through the parking lot, I must have not noticed the large tree branch that crossed my path and abruptly found it’s way into my eye socket. This kind of spaciness is not new to me, and according to McHugh it’s quite normal for those with my condition—introversion.
My catharsis began upon reading the author’s tendency to “relish times of solitude, reflection and personal study. I enjoyed people, and I found satisfaction in depth of relationship and conversation, but even when I spent time with people I like, I looked forward to moments of privacy. I found crowds draining (p. 12).” Sounded familiar, so I continued intently, learning:
“Introverts are energized by solitude. We are recharged from the inside out, from the forces of our internal world of ideas and feelings (p. 35).”
“We need to filter information and experiences…Our thinking precedes our speaking, which means we will often pause as we reflect and carefully choose our words…Though we are capable of engaging in the world, we are most alive in the reflections of our minds (p. 38).”
“Many introverts are more oriented toward ideas than they are interacting with people. We may be thinking about people, but we are often doing so while removed from conversation with them. Introverts treat our ideas like friends, devoting the same energy and time to them. Likewise, we consider books and authors as mentors (p. 41).”
Then McHugh rattled off bullet points like a machine gun, describing me to a ‘T’ (p. 42):
- Appear calm, self-contained and like to observe
- Tend to think before we speak or act
- Experience our minds going blank in groups or under pressure
- Don’t like feeling rushed
- Have great powers of concentration
- Dislike small talk
- May prefer written communication
I had to look over my shoulder. For a moment I felt both exposed and confirmed—like I was in Recovery.
But McHugh’s intent with the book wasn’t merely to validate my weirdness, he has a legitimate concern—evangelicalism in general and our churches in particular are bastions of extroversion, where introverts are often marginalized, deemed ineffective or worse, unfaithful. But McHugh is unmoved, being:
Convinced that introverts are an important ingredient in the antidote to what ails evangelicalism. Our slower pace of life, our thoughtfulness, our spiritual and intellectual depth, and our listening abilities are prophetic qualities for the evangelical community, calling us to a renewed understanding of God and a fresh reading on the abundant life Jesus came to give us (p. 31).
He defends:
Yet because of the extroverted bias in many churches, introverts are leading double lives. We are masquerading as extroverts in order to find acceptance, yet we feel displaced and confused. We are weary of fighting our introversion, and we long to live faithfully as the people we were created to be (p. 31).
I turned the last page exhaling an “Amen,” proudly raising a fist of solidarity into the air, motivated to rally my fellow introverts towards some underground revolution…
…then I remembered I was an introvert, so instead I just found a quiet space, rubbed my swollen eye and picked up another book.
I enjoyed this read. Thankfully, I have seen your tremendous contribution to the church. Your art, graphics, written words and style helped create a culture. And, when you decide to talk that’s pretty cool too.
Couldn’t help but smile as I read this. You know Paul wrote about introverts also? Yep.
1 Cor 6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
That’s greatness!
Especially like that last line.
“…then I remembered I was an introvert, so instead I just found a quiet space, rubbed my swollen eye and picked up another book.”
1 Cor 12:18-20
But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
I agree with Josh. Praying the introverts in the church would not grow weary, and would instead be encouraged that God has gifted and equipped them with unique ways to serve the bride, His body.
So with that in mind, when can we expect the return of the pub?!
I’m married to one of these introverts you speak of, and I find your lot to be highly valuable, very necessary parts of the church. There’s often wisdom on your tongue, because you think before you speak, and you don’t say anything that you haven’t thought through to be a necessary comment in the first place. Moreover, I find over and again a strength and stability in the introvert and all you’re doing is just being. Cool how God put all that together.
I am laughing to keep from crying at this post.
You introverts rule the church, at least from my point-of-view.
Both my pastor and my group leaders are trying to walk with me and mentor me. It is intensely difficult because they are introverts and I am an extrovert. They keep telling me, “to meditate, quiet time, think things through, etc., etc.” when in fact I can shoot from the hip, I love being around people and can make quick judgments on people (and usually correct).
Just this morning, someone asked the group if they felt like Hebrews 4:12-13 felt out of place in chapter 4. I was sleepy and didn’t have my introvert-filter up and running just yet so obviously I wrote a 350 word response. I just now went back and replaced the response with, “What do you think verses 12-13 mean?”
Among pastors, I really feel like a fish out of water. I would hear other pastors preach about their introvertness and it feels like there is something wrong with me being an extrovert called to one of the offices of Christ. Thankfully, the Scriptures hold the truth in that we are to be good stewards of the gifts that we have so that in everything God is glorified through Christ Jesus and to him alone be the glory forever and ever (1 Peter 4:10-11).
In all of this, my mentors’ exhortation of “be of few words” cannot be ignored. For that, I am grateful.
God help me.
There’s this little gadget in our brains with the techy name reticular activating system (RAS) that, in a way, produces responses to things you experience. Theoretically, introverts have higher activity levels in the RAS than extroverts. This means that social contact lights up the introverted brain and burns through energy like that scene in Weird Science where they make Kelly LeBrock. Social contact isn’t a very big stimulus for extroverts so they can handle a lot of it. Oddly enough, the RAS works the same way with saliva. Drop some lemon juice on your tongue and see how social you are. The easily stimulated introvert will produce more saliva than an extrovert. That’s why us dorks drool around beautiful women and well written fiction.
You had me at Weird Science, thanks Collin
Sheesh. I totally, completely, undeniably relate. Consider this another proudly raised fist.
(seriously, thank you for this post)
[...] Thanks to Lisa for this great post: Introverts Unite! [...]