The title of this post is an attempt at a cultural translation of John Piper’s section ‘Durable as Redwoods, Tender as Clover’ in his book ‘The Roots of Endurance.’
I posted yesterday about the effect joyful, confident Christians had on the not yet converted Olaudah Equiano. Like John Piper, I am convinced that faith in Christ should cause believers to overflow with great joy. Here’s what Piper says about deep seated theological conviction and tender-hearted joy:
One of my great desires is to see Christians be as strong and durable as redwood trees, and as tender and fragrant as a field of clover – unshakably rugged in the ‘defense and confirmation’ of the truth (Philippians 1:7) and relentlessly humble and patient and merciful in dealing with people…
It seems to me that we are always falling off the horse on one side or the other in this matter of being tough and tender, durable and delightful, courageous and compassionate—wimping out on truth when we ought to be lionhearted, or wrangling when we ought to be weeping. I know it’s a risk to take up this topic in a cultural situation like ours where some readers need a good (tender!) kick in the pants to be more courageous and others confuse courage with what William Cowper called ‘a furious and abusive zeal.’ Oh, how rare are the Christians who speak with a tender heart and have a theological backbone of steel.
…Oh, for Christians and pastors whose might in the truth is matched by their meekness. Whose theological acumen is matched by their manifest contrition. Whose heights of intellect are matched by their depths of humility. Yes, and the other way around!—whose relational warmth is matched by their rigor of study, whose bent toward mercy is matched by the vigilance of their biblical discernment, And whose sense of humor is exceeded by the seriousness of their calling.
I dream of durable, never-say-die defenders of true doctrine who are mainly known for the delight they have in God and the joy in God that they bring to the people of God—who enter controversy when necessary, not because they love ideas and arguments, but because they love Christ and the church.
