FREEDOM

You all know that I have a great fondness for Victor Frankl because I quote him so much. In the world of psychotherapy he is a voice for personal responsibility that is refreshing when others see people as nothing but the result of heredity, body chemistry, environment and conditioning. He sees people as being capable of making free choices and the necessity of being responsible for those choices. His experiences in 4 Nazi concentration camps convinced him of this.

"Freedom . . . is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the east coast be supplanted by a Statue of Responsibility on the west coast."

Or as the Apostle Paul said, "For you were called to freedom, brethren (and sisters); only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; but through love be servants of one another" (Galatians 5:13).

Or as the Apostle Peter said, "Live as free men (and women), yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God" (I Peter 2:16).

Grace & Peace;
Tom