This bulletin is about the nuts and bolts of being a Christian!

Well, kinds, as most of my bulletins usually are. Some time ago Robert and I were working on something and one of the nuts got lost. Since it was "after hours" for my town hardware store and since I live far from the big hardware stores, we made do with a nut that was tight but not the right threading. I was surprised to find that many people don't know that other than sizes bolt/nut pairs also come with specific spaced threading. In consequence, just because you have a nut the right size, it doesn't mean it is the RIGHT nut for the bolt you have. Kind of like screwing the wrong size lid on ajar in the kitchen - most ladies know while the size might be right they don't always conform to a standard and the lid will go on crooked or simply pop off partway on.

As you may realize, if it is not the right match then either one of two conditions will happen. The nut will either be too loose and will just barely sort of grab at the threads on the bolt, or it will be too tight and you will have to force the thing on there with some elbow grease. The outcome is bad either way. You could snap the bolt (Robert's favorite threat, and yes he did grumble and whine the whole time we put the wrong nut on). You could simply strip the whole thing, and destroy the bolt. You might, if the metal is softer, force the nut to conform to the bolt... sorts. This is the best case, but still it means whoever is "harder" won, but usually both are ruined or at least altered.

You might find it just won't stay together and while it appears to be tight, once you put some stress on it the fool thing wiggles right off. Washers may help, especially lock washers since they put a tension on it, but really you are just kidding yourself. It will appear to work for a while but I guarantee very quickly you will be looking for the right nut to do the job and hoping you haven't ruined the bolt forever. It is simply not a good idea.

Mixing worldly wisdom with Godly wisdom is a lot like that, but I was actually thinking about a pair of Christian brethren. One might be bolt upright, and wanting to be in agreement with another. The other, well, they might just be a nut. A close to the truth nut, but not quite there. Now, for the sake of "unity" we force them together. What happens?

Pretty much the same thing. If they are only loosely in agreement, as soon as any stress comes along they will fly apart, each following their own way. There is no reliability there. If one forces the other to conform, because one is harder than the other, the softer one will harbor a little resentment to being forced to change and, if that one doesn't "strip" all beliefs and just give up. again when trials come they won't hold up, one or the other will snap. If they compromise for a firm fit, then really neither one is "right" and they fail together. They may even both come to conform to the compromise, and be ruined forever. The "tension" of a truce or alliance is not gonna hold, either. It is simply not a good idea.

Well then Randy how do I solve this problem? You go to the hardware store, no matter how inconvenient it is, and get the right parts. Someone has designed what you are working on, and they engineered the right solution. They know what nut you need, or what bolt you need, whatever the case. It's like magic, when two of the same get together how closely and tightly, securely they fit. Perfect!

My two Christians - they need to not compromise, nor force the other. They both need to check themselves with the template and conform themselves to that. If they do, when they come together their unity won't be an issue. It will be a fact. If you're bolted to the truth, just be patient and the right nut will come along. Just ask my wife.

Randy