Table and Temple: Flipping, Setting, or Walking Away?

Table and Temple: Flipping, Setting Them, or Walking Away?

Ever walked into a room, looked around, and thought, “Not today”? Maybe it was a family gathering turned political debate, or a tense meeting where the air was thick enough to cut with a chainsaw. In those moments, do you flip the table, set the table, or avoid it altogether?

Now imagine Jesus entering the temple in John 2:13-22. He expects a sacred space of prayer, but instead, He finds chaos—money changers, livestock, and rampant injustice. And then… tables go flying.

Not metaphorically. Literally. Jesus, whip in hand, starts clearing house. This is not the “gentle Jesus” of stained-glass windows. This is righteous disruption. This is table-flipping Jesus.

When Jesus Flips the Tables – Righteous Disruption (John 2:13-22)

If we modernized this scene, the disciples would probably be wide-eyed:

Peter is halfway to flipping his own table to join in.
Thomas is questioning, “Are we sure this is the right move?”
Judas is calculating how much money just hit the floor.

But Jesus isn’t throwing a tantrum. He’s clearing space for God. The temple had become a marketplace of exploitation, and Jesus wasn’t having it.

So, when should we flip tables? Before you start flipping furniture at your next meeting, ask yourself:

Am I angry for myself or for the oppressed?
Am I flipping this in love, or just venting?
Does this create space for God, or just more division?

Jesus didn’t flip tables for personal offense. He did it when power was crushing the vulnerable. If our “righteous anger” is more about self-righteousness, we’re missing the point.

When Jesus Sets the Table – Radical Presence (Luke 22:14-20)

But here’s where Jesus really messes with us. Fast forward to the Last Supper. Instead of flipping the table, Jesus sets it. He washes feet. He breaks bread. He pours wine—for friends, doubters, and even His betrayer.

If I were Jesus, I’d probably serve Judas a plate with a side of passive-aggressive side-eye. But Jesus? He serves him a meal. Because some things only change through relationship.

Is this a moment for transformational table connection?
Have I really listened, shared or just assumed?
Do I have something nourishing to offer?

When Jesus Walks Away – Contemplative Withdrawal (Luke 4:24-30)

And then there’s the moment in the temple. People are furious with Jesus for ignoring his own tribe, prioritizing outsiders, the financially under resourced, and they drive Him to the edge of a cliff. But Jesus walks away, calm and centered.

Before you storm out of a tough conversation, ask:

Is avoiding this conversation an invitation or a temptation?
Is there a more opportune time to sacrifice my energy?
Is it time to walk on?

Enneagram Responses – Flip, Set, or Flee?

The Enneagram reveals our natural tendencies in conflict:

Ask yourself: Is it an invitation or a temptation to Flip, Set, or Keep on Walking:

For the Style 1 (Good Reformer):Discern whether your action is truly motivated by justice and not self-righteousness.
For the Style 2 (Loving Helper):Reflect on whether you’re setting the table out of genuine love for the other, or out of a need to be needed.
For the Style 3 (Effective Connector):Reflect on whether your actions are driven by a desire for success or recognition, or if you’re acting out of a genuine commitment to justice, presence, or healing. Are you “flipping tables” to prove your strength or to make a real difference?
For the Style 4 (Original Individualist):Learn that sometimes disengaging isn’t about rejection but choosing the right moment for intervention.
For the Style 5 (Wise Investigator):Understand when walking away is a form of wisdom and when it’s just isolation.
For the Style 6 (Loyalist):Examine whether you’re stepping away out of fear or anxiety, or if it’s a conscious decision to disengage for the sake of personal or communal safety.
For the Style 7 (Enthusiast):Consider whether you are stepping away to avoid discomfort or because you’re genuinely realizing the situation isn’t one to engage in.
For the Style 8 (Strong Challenger):Ask if your actions are rooted in power dynamics or creating space for healing and transformation.
For the Style 9 (Ambassadorial Peacemaker):Recognize if avoiding tough conversations is your default, and challenge yourself to lean into presence even when uncomfortable.

The Invitation: What’s Yours to Do?

Jesus flips tables and sets them. He disrupts injustice and engages enemies with love. So, what about us?

If you’re always flipping tables, maybe it’s time to sit down and listen.
If you’re always sitting at tables, maybe it’s time to stand up for justice.
If you’re avoiding tables altogether… you’re missing the feast.

The goal isn’t to stay stuck in one response—it’s to move in harmony with Jesus. He clears space not to destroy but to restore. He invites us to the table, not to win, but to transform.

Which table is Jesus inviting you to flip, set, or walk away from today?
(John 2:13-22, Luke 22:14-20, Luke 4:24-30)

For the Enneagram Harmony Nerd. We are still writing more!

Harmony Scenario: A Group in Conflict and the Invitation to Harmonize

Imagine a leadership team navigating chaos in the political climate or engaging in a justice-oriented mission with resistance. The group is divided: some embrace the change, others are skeptical, and some actively oppose it.

How the Harmony Triads Might Respond:

1/4/7 – ©iEnneagram Harmony: The Pathfinders
- The 1 provides moral clarity and ensures the change aligns with values.
- The 4 deepens emotional awareness and empathy for resistance.
- The 7 envisions hopeful possibilities, keeping the momentum alive.
  Invitation to Harmony: Hold justice, emotional truth, and joyful vision without getting stuck in frustration, despair, or bypassing discomfort.
2/5/8 – ©iEnneagram Harmony:The Catalysts
- The 2 listens deeply, engaging with concern and care.
- The 5 analyzes objectively, ensuring decisions are well-informed.
- The 8 leads with courage and makes tough decisions.
  Invitation to Harmony: Integrate love, wisdom, and strength without people-pleasing, detaching, or dominating.
3/6/9 – ©iEnneagram Harmony: The Orchestrators:
- The 3 communicates vision clearly, keeping the mission on track.
- The 6 builds trust, ensuring people feel heard.
- The 9 fosters unity, maintaining peace amidst disagreement.
  Invitation to Harmony: Weave faithfulness into the process without over performing, getting stuck in doubt, or avoiding conflict.

Jesus as the Model of Trinitarian Harmony

In moments of tension, Jesus flipped tables (8), sat with sinners (2), withdrew to pray (5), challenged religious leaders (1), inspired vision (7), navigated emotions (4), communicated kingdom impact (3), built trust (6), and moved toward peace (9).

What does love require here?

Does the leader need to disrupt injustice (flip tables)?
Does the leader need to hold presence with the hurting (sit at the table)?
Does the leader need to step back and gain wisdom before acting?

Your Turn:
Have you faced or witnessed a leadership moment like this? How did you (or the leader) move toward harmony—or get stuck in the tension?

Join Us in June

You can join us in June for four days of the Third Way © iEnneagram Harmony Model, Pathfinders, Catalysts and Orchestrators—deep dive in Harmony and Discernment

Click here to work toward certification or simply retreat for your soul’s sake. Either way, expect a third way.