John 3:16 NKJV
Genesis 1:27 NKJV
Listening Series
To date, many multiple intelligences have been identified in the human brain. While that means we’re making great progress from just using an intelligence quotient (IQ) as a means of identifying intelligence, I don’t believe in the future we will identify even more types of intelligence than those we’ve currently identified.
In 1983, Howard Gardner identified 8 kinds of multiple intelligences. Through the years, those have been tweaked to 9, and another study shows 12. For our purposes, a good working list of types of intelligences to date is: Logical Mathematical, Linguistic, Spatial, Body Kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intra-personal, Naturalistic, Emotional, Existential, Creative, and Collaborative intelligence (https://psychology-spot.com/types-of-intelligence/).
We have come a long way from identifying one Intelligence Quotient as a factor (i.e. Albert Einstein’s I.Q.) and in today’s world we realize that multiple factors are important.
In theological terms, God created us all to be unique. Whoever said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it’s stupid” is correct. It’s a great quote and while Albert Einstein’s name has been associated with that quote, there are some who dispute that (https://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/04/06/fish-climb/amp/). How mortals measure a man is only an attempt to explain how our brains works.
Only God knows the full measure of a man. Scripturally, John 3:16 comes closer to identifying what God has for man than anything. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
God loved the world.
He sent His Son.
All who believe will not perish.
All who believe will have everlasting life.
As far as the perfect man, it was Jesus.
According to Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
God created man (male and female) in His image, then came the Fall in Genesis 3. That brings us back to John 3:16.
We are still created in the image of God and God created every person to be different and to think I unique ways. To help us on our journey, God gives believers Spiritual Gifts.
In addition to our own God-given intelligences, we have Spiritual Gifts to help us as we listen to God.
So, here’s the point. If your main area of intelligence is Logical Mathematical, God is probably going to speak to you in a logical way.
If you are (Visual) Spatial, God is going to communicate with you visually.
If God gave you a high degree of musical intelligence, He will speak to you through music.
All of that makes sense, but there are other layers. It also makes sense that we all have multiple intelligences. If someone is a Naturalist and they also have a high degree of Body Kinesthetic (working with their hands), God would use both kinds of intelligences to speak to that person.
As I see it, as that person spends time in nature carving wooden animals from an old tree stump, God will help them create something beautiful.
I am Visual Spatial and I know (because I’ve been tested by psychologists in Seminary) that I have a high degree of Emotional intelligence. I also have Logical, Kinesthetic, and Creative intelligences that help me write. To a lesser degree I have musical intelligence. God uses all of those kinds of intelligence to speak to me. I get visual pictures filled with feelings. God helps me to see how to create with words, pictures, simple images, and even music to express the images He gives me.
Your multiple intelligences will be different than mine, because your ‘mix’ was uniquely created by God. God will use your brain, and match that up with His Spiritual Gifts and He will speak to you through every tool He gave you.
I believe it is a miracle, and we WILL call it good!
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Identification
If you do not already know what your Multiple Intelligences are, take time to think about it. Pray about it. Think about what your Spiritual Gifts are as well. How does God use those to speak to you?
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney.com
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