Perhaps I have been too immersed in home repairs recently, but it occurred to me that as we minister to people we encounter people who need both nails and screws removed. The nails are those things that happen: giving in to temptation, getting wounded by an unkind word, taking offense at someone. To these we can apply repentance and forgiveness like a hammer’s claw and pull them out swiftly.
Pastors and the church generally are good at nail removal. And we like problems that have a quick solution. Over this last year, I have pulled many nails from the planks that were once the garage floor. I have developed some nail removal skills. Unfortunately, many Christians have screws that need removing.
A screw is a lie and point of bondage that has slowly been twisted into the very being of a person. Sometimes it has been screwed in by a parent or authority that has repeatedly told a child they are stupid or a worthless. Some people have screwed lies into themselves by cursing themselves for not being all they dreamed of being. Some have let bitterness, jealousy, and anger get screwed into their hearts.
If we yank out a screw like we would a nail, we rip a hole in the wood. It takes time and patience to remove screws without tearing a hole in the soul of a person. A screw needs to be backed out through the constant application of truth and love. Although God can dramatically apply his power drill to such screws, I believe he usually chooses to back the screw out in the context of a loving community that faithfully speaks God’s truth to the afflicted person.
We all need to recognize what has been screwed into our lives by the enemy, our bad experiences, and our sins. Go it alone Christianity must be rejected if we are to get “unscrewed”—we need the ministry of others. We must also be those who have patient and tenacious love to back out the screws that pierce the hearts of so many.
