The Tension of Faith
Dear Upper School Parents and Students,
We are living in a difficult tension these days, and everyone is feeling it. Our seniors, in particular, are navigating challenging emotions. They experience joy from “nearing the finish line” but are missing out on the nostalgic closure that typically accompanies the end of a high school career. Anyone in the working world feels this tension as well. We want the economy to flourish and for people to fulfill their unique callings. At the same time, we want to protect those most vulnerable in our communities – only recently a former colleague of mine’s mother passed away from this terrible disease. Looming even larger can be questions about God’s goodness and faithfulness. While we are not always granted the answers that we want in the moment, our Christian faith does prepare us for living in such a time as this.
The Bible is full of tensions that are both fundamental to the Christian faith, and yet seem confusing. God is just yet merciful. Jesus is fully God and also fully man. His followers are called to mourn for what is broken and rejoice for what is to come. Countless teachings have been presented on these deep theological ideas, and those authors, pastors and teachers unpack these concepts better than I ever could. But how we make sense of God’s Word does have implications for the way we live.
Early in my Christian walk, these contradictions were stumbling blocks to my faith. I wondered if I had to suspend reason in order to maintain my beliefs. More significantly, was I even a Christian if I had doubts about what I believed? Looking back, I realize that those questions actually strengthened my faith. Many of us have experiences like this, and these biblical paradoxes are not merely logic tests. They actually equip us for the relentless tension that exists as a part of life. From working with upper school students on a daily basis, I can tell you that their existence is a constant exercise in maintaining balance over competing forces:
If everyone applauds my athletic success, isn’t that what gives me value (particularly challenging for spring sports athletes right now)?
Is it dishonest to work closely with someone else on a homework assignment if the teacher didn’t explicitly say, "you are to work independently"?
Should I stay up late studying for a test or comfort my best friend whose boyfriend just broke up with her?
If someone tells me in private that they are depressed, should I hold this in confidence or try to find them help?
If I try something new and fail, does this mean that it was a waste of time? Could the time have been better spent honing a skill that I am becoming proficient at?
There are dozens more difficult questions like these to be navigated, especially in our present circumstances, and the answers are often very personal. This deliberation is a trying exercise for young people. They are navigating a world of competing interests while also detaching from their parents – for the first time in their lives preparing to exist outside of their parents’ home (whenever that time may come).
Despite much experience with adolescents, I do not have the answers either. Sometimes the right path forward is completely different for two seemingly identical students. Sometimes we get halfway down a path before we realize that it is headed in the wrong direction. There is one thing I can say with confidence, however. We serve a good God who provides His people with depths of wisdom in His Word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit. Take time to be in God’s Word and with your children while they are still under your roof. Prayerfully consider His teachings, and read/listen to many people, especially those smarter than I am. This investment will not return void!
Sincerely,
Wade Tapp