Finally, pneumatic integrity
- Simon Rennie
- Jun 8
- 2 min read
The title "Pneumatic Integrity" was given to me for a seminar back in 2006. Such a serious subject, yet it started as a joke – or a challenge. The initial use of the word pneumatic instead of the more reasonable term – spiritual – may well have been part of the tongue-in-cheek assignment.
However, the scheduled teaching day was already in the diary, and now I had a fresh subject to prepare for. My original notes contained a fairly significant bell chart/diagram /graph, showing the development of ministerial confidence. We start hesitantly, with a steep learning curve, growing in our presentational skills and spiritual content. The danger is that at some hard-to-detect peak, we start to slide into overconfidence. Our time in preparation decreases, especially in prayer and direct connection with God. To use the analogy of a push-bike, we start to free-wheel. Our teaching assignments may well increase,
but our personal spiritual development is being ignored. In my most recent book, School of Ministry, I address this, along with other aspects of pneumatic integrity. Basically, summed up in a deliberate mixed metaphor,
We need to bring fresh bread because no one wants yesterday’s papers.
There is a danger in assuming Bible knowledge can gather dust and still be of value, whereas spirituality is more like Wilderness Manna – it has a very short shelf life.
Though the handout attached to this subject has nine paragraphs, the topic has TWO clear areas,
That our character needs to match our charisma gifting. The integrity that our words match our heart and behaviour. The integrity that our public life matches our private and personal life.
That our Christian existence is continually fuelled by God’s residing presence. In the same way that the Bible contains words that are God-inspired, or God-breathed, our spirituality also needs to be infused with God’s breath and shaped by His eternal truths.
To conclude, using words originally shared by Jesus, we must worship/minister/operate ‘in spirit and in truth’ – that’s at the heart of pneumatic integrity. It’s about personal discipline, and if you’re in ministry (of some description), our personal disciplines must include the honesty and spiritual content of our public ministry.
It is a challenge! Whether leading worship or bringing a sermon, are we simply regurgitating someone else’s thoughts, or copying a worship session we saw on YouTube? Pneumatic integrity is asking, “Is there any God fruit sprouting in your garden?” And if not, then you have nothing of God’s Kingdom to share. That’s why pneumatic integrity is so vital. It brings life to your life and much-needed transferable life to those around you. Paul’s words at the beginning of 1 Corinthians 13 are clear and harsh – without love, the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are rendered null and void.
No integrity, no ministry.
As the Christian news feeds regularly name disgraced church leaders, some of whom have been living double lives for decades. There’s never been a time so apt to pursue pneumatic integrity. To guard our attitudes, question our motives, audit our thoughts, and reconnect with the God of new beginnings.
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