Jesus Is Lord Ministries
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 TEMPERAMENT THEORY:
THE CHOLERIC

The Choleric is the most powerful (and destructive) temperament. The world’s worst and most feared criminals and dictators were probably Choleric. However, when this individual meets Jesus and is truly born again and uses their strengths for the glory of God, they make some of the best leaders in Christianity. I think the Apostle Paul was Choleric. Before his conversion he  used his temperament strengths to advance Judaism and himself and to terrorize Christians. Afterward, he was the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul is a good example that spiritual rebirth does not change the temperament of a person. The person is transformed in the sense of their temperament strengths being used for a different purpose as they feed on the Word of God and grow in Christ. The Choleric is a Choleric before and after his conversion experience.

Cholerics are very tough-minded. Once their mind is made up, they seldom change it, even if they are wrong. Seldom will a Choleric listen to the opinion of anyone else. They want total control over themselves and everyone around them. They believe they know what is best for the people around them and how they should behave. They have a severe problem with anger;  “the angry temperament.” They seldom express other emotions such as love, compassion, tenderness and warmth. When others do so, they find it to be repulsive and unnecessary. They view these emotions as foolish.

Cholerics believe no one else can do a task as well as they can. They tend to overload themselves and are very susceptible to burnout. They also are quite capable of adapting their behavior to the circumstances in order to achieve their goals. They are quite capable of adopting any type of behavior. I hear quite often from Cholerics, “I don’t know who I am” because for years they have been whomever they needed to be, to accomplish whatever they wanted to accomplish. Unlike the Melancholy, who is capable of seeing the pitfalls of a project before it is undertaken, Cholerics refuse to see any pitfalls. The Choleric will forge ahead, regardless of the cost.

The Choleric is extremely selfish (the needs of others seldom count), perfectionistic (even their flaws are perfect), and even if proven wrong they will not accept it (theirs is the only true and right way). YET, when the Choleric is brought under the authority of Jesus Christ, great good can be done for the Kingdom of God.

Remember, there are three areas of the temperament; Inclusion (social interaction, surface relationships and intellectual energies), Control (decision-making abilities, willingness to take on responsibilities, and the need for independence) and Affection (the need for love and affection and for deep personal relationships).

Inclusion Strengths: being open, friendly, confident, outgoing, optimistic, tough-minded, task oriented, perfectionistic with a good mind for envisioning new projects,  and an extrovert of a highly selective nature.

Inclusion Weaknesses: Hot-tempered, a people user (although everyone uses people to some extent, the Choleric in Inclusion “carries the flag.” They think of themselves as people motivators), easily frustrated in their attempts to “motivate” people, harbors anger, can be cruel and abusive.

Control Strengths: tough-willed, a good leader, capable of making intuitive decisions, capable of taking on responsibilities, usually done in a efficient, well-disciplined military fashion. They possess the will power to carry things through to completion.

Control Weaknesses: anger, cruelty, capability of undertaking any behavior to keep control. They associate with weak people and then resent their weaknesses. To them, the ends justifies the means; so they are capable of very poor behavior. They are highly susceptible to burn out.

Affection Strengths: being open, optimistic, outgoing, express a great deal of love and affection, and approach only select people for deep relationships.

Affection Weaknesses: extremely self-centered (although they do not appear this way), indirect behavior, reject people, reject the love and affections of people (they will accept love and affection only according to their terms), are usually cruel to those who reject their manipulation for love and affection.

What a wonderful temperament, WHEN it is submissive to the Lord Jesus Christ. As with any temperament, notice the difference between living in one’s strengths verses living in one’s weaknesses. God desires that Christ be formed in you, so only your strengths remain. As was written about the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:34, “whose weakness was turned to strength”, so God desires for you. Live in the strengths of who God made you. You will be blessed and a blessing to those around you and to the Kingdom of God.

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