🕊️ Reason to Believe (17) True Freedom Lies on the Edge — But We Must Choose a Side
True Freedom Lies on the Edge — But We Must Choose a Side
✨ Key Quotation
“The state of true freedom, as I see it, is to stand at the center between God and the devil,
to give oneself to neither goodness nor selfishness.
But such freedom cannot last; it inevitably splits.
As Martin pointed out, we must choose.
One way or another, we will be servants—on one side or the other.”
— M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie, p.127
📖 Core Idea
M. Scott Peck shatters the illusion that we can remain neutral between good and evil.
He explains that while we may stand for a time in the space between, that space is not stable—
sooner or later, we will choose, and that choice determines our allegiance.
📚 Psychological & Philosophical Background
📌 1. Neutrality Is Not Sustainable
Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote:
“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose.”
But that space is brief. Freedom exists there—but not indefinitely.
Peck affirms this: that so-called “freedom” between good and evil quickly collapses,
because our lives move in one direction or another.
📌 2. Moral Neutrality Is Itself a Choice
To remain neutral in the face of good and evil is itself a passive form of allegiance to one side.
As Elie Wiesel warned:
“Neutrality always helps the oppressor, never the victim.”
Peck echoes this idea:
“Even when we think we are making no choice, we are already choosing.”
🧾 Theological Foundations — Are We Ever Truly Neutral?
📌 1. Jesus' Teaching
“No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and money.”
— Matthew 6:24
Jesus makes it clear: there is no middle ground.
You will serve something—whether you realize it or not.
📌 2. Paul’s Theology — You Are Always a Servant
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves,
you are slaves of the one you obey… either of sin, which leads to death,
or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
— Romans 6:16
Paul teaches that humans are never truly independent.
We are always under the influence of someone or something—
the only question is which master we are serving.
🎯 Application for Young Adults
📌 1. “I’m just neutral” Is Often a Cloaked Decision
Phrases like:
-
“I don’t care about politics.”
-
“I’m undecided about faith.”
-
“I see truth on both sides.”
These can sound humble, but they often mask a deeper truth:
we are simply avoiding choosing—out of fear, apathy, or pride.
But in doing so, we’re letting life carry us in a direction not chosen by conviction, but by passivity.
📌 2. True Freedom Comes From Choosing to Belong to God
Being God’s servant might sound restrictive,
but Scripture teaches that this is the only path to real freedom:
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
— John 8:32
God doesn’t enslave us—He liberates us from sin, ego, and the tyranny of self.
💡 Final Reflection
“Satan said, ‘I will ascend to heaven.’
Jesus said, ‘Not my will, but Yours be done.’
One chose pride. The other chose obedience.
One led to destruction. The other, to life.”
True freedom is not standing still in the middle—
it is having the courage to lean toward the light.
📘 References & Citations
-
M. Scott Peck, People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, Simon & Schuster, 1983.
-
Matthew 6:24; Romans 6:16; John 8:32
-
Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
-
Elie Wiesel, Night
-
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
-
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics
#FreedomAndFaith #ScottPeck #PeopleOfTheLie
#SpiritualNeutrality #MoralChoice #Matthew624
#Romans616 #YoungAdultFaith #ChooseASide
#GodOrSelf #ChristianEthics #ScrewtapeLetters
#PassiveFaith #GospelClarity
Comments
Post a Comment