Relationships & Peacemaking

Joel Belz on ‘Tender Toughness’ …

In a recent issue of World Magazine (do you subscribe yet? It’s fantastic!), Joel Belz had a fantastic column on ‘Tender Toughness: It’s the kind of authority you’ve wanted ever since you were a kid.’

I was blessed by the entire column, but consider just a few excerpts/summary statements from the article:

– (Quoting an editorial in the Wall Street Journal from fifteen years ago) ‘People want to be lightly governed by strong governments.’
– ‘Yes, that’s exactly what people want. We want our dad to be big and strong and able to do anything we can think of—except that when he deals with us, it has to be with gentleness and tenderness. We want a policeman on the corner tough enough to handle any neighborhood bully, but who would also hoist you to his shoulders to help you find your parents when you got lost in the crowd.’
– ‘You want a church that knows exactly what it believes, defends the truth vigorously, ferrets out and opposes error—and deals with you just as a shepherd deals with a baby lamb. Lots of muscle; lots of restraint.’
– ‘People want to be lightly governed by strong governments because that’s how God governs. The omnipotent ruler of the universe is also the one who invites us tenderly: ‘Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Yet again, I think that Mr. Belz is correct and insightful.

How I pray that I would grow in my ability to be this kind of authority figure for Sophia Grace. That I would model joyful submission for her as well (especially because Fred is such a servant leader!!). And that our family would be joyfully and willingly submitted to our church’s leaders so that their work and ministry is a delight and not a burden.

It’s so easy to skew toward one end or the other … too strict. Too lenient. Actually weak, pretending to be strong. Actually strong, not lovingly or gently doing our duties.

May God have mercy on us and help us!
Amen & Amen