LIBERTY- THE GIFT AND THE PRICE

by Reverend Bill Banuchi

"'Count off seven sabbaths of years--seven times seven years--so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan. --Lev. 25:8 –10

The year of Jubilee was established in the Levitical Law to be celebrated every fifty years.  This was a time of restoration, a time for things that have gone out of balance to come back into balance. All debts were canceled, slaves were freed and land was returned to its’ original owners. It was a neat system to maintain fairness and mercy among the people. There was only one problem. It didn’t work! We have no record of the Israelites ever carrying it out.

But we bring one very important principle from this Levitical provision that helped to guide American peace and prosperity:

On the Liberty Bell on display in Philadelphia is inscribed the words from verse 10

“Proclaim liberty throughout the land.”

Let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time in a land far away there was a group of godly people who followed what they believed was the will of God to establish a great nation in a foreign land. These God-fearing people dreamed of a land where they could worship their God openly without fear of government oppression. They wanted their children and grandchildren to grow up in a country that taught religious morality, and publicly acknowledged that God was the one in whom they placed their trust. They truly believed that they could come to know great peace and prosperity if they were able to freely follow God.

For a very long time the nation prospered and did become great, greater even than the dreams of those first settlers. The land produced abundantly and the nation grew rich in peace and prosperity.

God smiled on the country and blessed the people who lived there. In fact, the country was so blessed that the people came to see their nation as God's gift to the world. Somehow God was able to touch nations in a way never done before through these people. These people were truly blessed, and they became a blessing to others.

Over time, however, their devotion to God and His plans and purposes for their lives was overshadowed by other concerns.

Fathers ceased to carry out their responsibility to teach their children about the faithfulness of God, and how God had delivered them through the years.

As a result, time-tested patterns of living were discarded. Belief in God came to be thought of as superstition, or something for old people, children and the uneducated.

Cities flourished and grew. Government agencies were established to care for the poor so that the wealthy would have no need to care for the poor, personally, while still assuaging their guilty consciences.

And yet God had so blessed these people that even the poor in this nation were wealthy by the standards of the rest of the world.

However, over time this nation began to forget that it was God who was their provider. In their pride and arrogance they came to think that it was by their own intelligence and wisdom that they had achieved so much. They came to believe they no longer needed God.

The country became disconnected from its strong religious and moral roots.

Economics became the god of the age. Money came to matter in places where it never mattered before, such as in the court system, and in medicine.

In some ways, the society was going in two directions at once.

Material prosperity gave the country outward signs of vigorous health. But underneath the surface of this vigorous economy, the once great nation was in social, moral, and spiritual decay.

Like a tall oak tree infested by carpenter ants, it looked majestic on the outside but was being slowly destroyed from the inside.

Just when the nation reached its peak of prosperity, a few voices on the edge of the crowd cried out that the nation must turn back to God.

Few, if any, people listened. “Look at how well we’re doing. God must love us. This great nation would never fall. God would not let that happen,” seemed to be the popular opinion of the times.

Hardly anyone noticed the irony that while they were kicking God out of their daily lives on the one hand, they were still expecting his protection and provision on the other.

The nation I have been describing in case you haven’t already guessed it is………. of course……. the Northern Kingdom of Israel from its founding until the eighth century B.C. When Jeroboam II was king, and had been king for three prosperous decades.

The prophet Amos was the one who called to the people again and again to "Come back to God and live! (Amos 6:6). The words of the prophet fell on deaf ears. Nevertheless, Amos had spoken the truth. By the end of the eighth century, the ten tribes that made up the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell in battle to the Assyrian Empire, and were taken into captivity. The freedom this great nation once knew was gone.

This great nation was gone!

I have told the story of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in a way to illustrate the many parallels between their history and that of our United States. We too, live in a nation founded on godly principles.

The question is, will we repeat the sins of Israel? One thing is for certain, we will never be able to claim we didn’t know. Here it is in black and white. God made the warning clear by recording the historical events of the nation of Israel.

Those who don’t know their history are destined to repeat it. How true! How foolish it is for those who know history and repeat it anyway!

The lesson of history teaches us that our liberty is only secure to the extent that we acknowledge our trust in The Lord and diligently seek to please him in all that we do, not just in the church building on Sunday morning, but also in our homes on Sunday night, and in the work place on Monday morning.

We must, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land.”

Since that first Independence Day we have been proclaiming liberty throughout the land, and God has given us here in America a land of Jubilee when compared to the other nations in the world. 

Even when one considers the injustices that we have perpetrated on one another all of us are probably much better off today than we would have been had we stayed in our country of origin.

This liberty that we celebrate on the 4^th of July is freely given to us, because we were either born into it, or have come from another country to enjoy it. Though it may be free to us, it was never free. Someone paid for it so that you and I can have it.

As Christians we should have a greater appreciation for liberty, because we have the example of Jesus Christ who paid the ultimate price for our liberty. The picture of the cross should be a reminder to us of the great price that was paid for our freedom from sin and the consequences thereof.

In the same way the cross symbolizes our spiritual liberty, the Statue of Liberty standing in New York Harbor is a symbol to us of the price others have paid for our temporal political liberty, from the early missionary explorers, to the brave young boys who died in the War for Independence, who littered Gettysburg’s field with their bodies during the Civil War, and who are fighting today in Iraq and Afghanistan so that oppression would never reach our own shores.

Liberty was freely given to you, but it doesn’t mean it was free. Somebody paid for your temporal freedom just as surely as Christ has paid the price for your eternal freedom.

I paid a relatively small price: four years in the Air Force during the Viet Nam War, but some of my friends like Terry Brazile who I used to play softball with, paid with their lives. Why? So that my children, and theirs may freely enjoy the gift of liberty. But freedom has never been, is never, and will never be free.

When 56 men came together to sign The Declaration of Independence they understood the price they may be called upon have to pay. They knew this wasn’t just a photo op as they signed one the world’s most famous documents. As far as they knew they were signing their own death warrants. Understand, this wasn’t a document they signed at the end of the War to declare their victory. They came together and signed this document at the beginning of the conflict, not the end of it.

They knew that if they lost the war -and they had every reason to believe that they would- they would be executed for treason.

In fact, the only recorded conversation during the actual signing was a brief discussion between Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, and Eldridge Gerry of Massachusetts about who would die most quickly by hanging because of the size and weight of their bodies.

As it turned out, five were captured and tortured by the British before they died, twelve lost their homes to the enemy, two lost their sons, one of them had two sons captured, and nine of them died in the war they had declared.

We are today enjoying the liberty they pledged their “lives, their fortunes and their sacred” for.

No, freedom is never free.

Someone else just bought yours. It was purchased at a great price.

Little did John Adams how prophetic his words would be when he wrote to his wife, Abigail on the passing of The Declaration and said,

“The second Day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in American History. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns bells, bonfires and illuminations (fireworks) from one end of the continent to the other from this time forward forever.

You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not, I am well aware of the toll, treasure and blood it will cost to maintain this declaration, yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means…even though we may regret it, which I trust in God, we shall not.”

Where would we be, in fact where would most of the civilized world be today if those men had not been willing to pay the price for the liberty we enjoy today?  Let me suggest that our nation would look more like China or Africa today.

Thomas Jefferson, one of the least godly of all our founders said this,

“God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath?

Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.

Now if Jefferson said that, and he was one of the least godly imagine what the others were thinking.

For over 200 years men and women have paid the price for the freedom we enjoy today,

From Lexington to Yorktown, through the Spanish American War, The Civil War, World Wars 1, 2, the Korean Conflict, Viet Nam War, Desert Storm, and now in our new war against terrorism, and all the other military operations we fought to preserve freedom. Our freedom was purchased with the lives of thousands upon thousands men and women who loved us in giving their lives for us.

Now the question remains, what will we do with this priceless gift?

It reminds me of the story of old Ben Franklin when he was walking out of the meeting house where the Constitution had just been drafted. A lady approached him and said, “Dr. Franklin, what have you given us?” His answer was chilling. He said,

“A Republic Madame, if indeed you can keep it.”

That’s the question that challenges us today –can we keep it?

Thomas Jefferson tells us that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. We have not been vigilant and our liberty is being stolen right from under our noses. Let me give you a few examples:

The first right given to us by the Declaration of Independence, the right to life is being taken away.

It’s taken away from 3,500 babies every day.

We all remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001, when over 3,000 innocent civilians were killed by terrorists, but we forget that every day we are experiencing another World Trade Center tragedy, all over again, because every day 3,500 innocent civilian babies are being killed by terrorists wearing surgical masks.

Innocent civilians like Terry Schiavo, who was deprived of her most basic right when it was judged that the quality of her life was of no use to society. At least a pet can bring comfort to his master justifying laws against cruelty to animals, but Terri Schiavo’s usefulness was just not there. In fact, she was just a burden to society; so it was time to starve her to death.

There is a clear example of the loss of one’s most basic right, the right to life.

The Courts told the Professional Golfer’s Association that they couldn’t have the freedom to choose who can compete in their games – a loss of the freedom of association.

You don’t have the freedom to pay your first tithe to your God because the Government takes its cut first and it’s a lot more than 10% –a loss of your free exercise of religion.

Many residents don’t have the freedom to do what they wish with their property. The town government will tell you what you can or cannot do --a loss of freedom to your own property.

In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that anyone’s property can be taken by any local government for any reason it deems beneficial.  So if a major retailer wants to come into your town, and set up shop on your property, all it has to do is influence the local officials with economic incentives and your property is no longer yours! –A loss of the freedom to property.

A Landlord is told who he must rent apartments to –a loss of freedom.

An employer is told who he must hire – a loss of freedom.

The list goes on and on.

Even churches are told they can’t expand or build new houses of worship because the town government has control –a loss of freedom, and a clear violation of the First Amendment that says the Government shall not prohibit the free exercise of religion.

What must we do to preserve our freedom?

First- we must turn back to The Lord.  The History of Israel during the time of the judges is there to teach us what to do.

We can’t say we don’t know what to do in such times as these, because God has given us very clear and specific instructions in His guidebook for living, the Bible.

The book of Judges covers a span of about 400 years during which time Israel fell away from God seven times, and seven times they called upon God and seven times God lifted them up out of the mud and mire and put a new song in their mouths and gave them a firm place to stand.  Seven times they found that because they had forgotten God they had lost their liberty and come under servitude of surrounding nations.  Out of desperation they would call upon God to save them, and God would.

I have to confess that sometimes I wonder if God was being an enabler to the nation of Israel. He just kept picking them back up each time they fell down in apostasy. Each time he rescued them they would celebrate and praise him like crazy, but then another generation would grow up to forget what he ever did. And the cycle would simply repeat.

I’m afraid that’s where we are today in America. This present generation doesn’t know the delivering power of God. We’re too far removed from the suffering of real war and economic deprivation to appreciate the saving hand of God Almighty.

I believe today we stand right in the middle of Deut. 6:10 where Moses warns the people,

“ When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you a land with large flourishing cities you did not build, house filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant –when you eat and are satisfied be careful that you do not forget The Lord. Who brought you up our of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

It’s been said that those who do not study history are destined to repeat it. Here we are folks; hundreds of years after Israel did the same thing, we are forgetting God, and we too will fall into the hands of our oppressors unless we turn to the Lord, as a nation; unless we once again acknowledge The Lord in the land, and come back to God.

It is my prayer that God will raise you all up like the men and women of Issachar who the Bible tells us were

“men who understood the times to know what Israel ought to do…”

It is imperative that Christians apply the principles of God’s Word to bring America back to God.

II Chron. 30:9 "If you return to the LORD, then your brothers and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will come back to this land, for the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him."

We must Acknowledge The Lord in the Land or be overrun by the enemies of God.

Who are the enemies of God?

We’ve all heard President Bush refer to an axis of evil, but the truth is we have an axis of evil right here in the homeland.

They are:

1.     The Secular Humanists who are attempting to expunge every vestige of our Christian heritage from public view. They must remove God from His rightful place of authority over American life so that they can place themselves in that very same seat so that our motto would no longer be, “In God We Trust,” but would rather be In Us We Trust.”

2.     The Radical Homosexual Activists

Recently, I put out a press release expressing sorrow over one town’s observance of Gay Pride Day. I received death threats, I was called every name in the book, condemned and told I was going to hell by people who don’t even believe in Hell.  Our web site Guest book is filled with hatred and bigotry, and it didn’t come from us.

When the tube is squeezed you get to see what is inside, and unfortunately we got to see it, and it wasn’t pretty.

The radical homosexuals will continue their march until they have conquered every stronghold of decency and morality in our nation. Their vision is for a pagan hedonistic America, and their vision is coming to pass!

The abortion industry is selling the murder of babies every day. They are offering baby sacrifices to the god of Molech daily.

The pro-gambling forces are looking to exploit the poor of our land, and the Government is complicit in destroying lives of millions of Americans out of a motive of institutionalized greed.

There it is folks, there’s our future -the book of Judges.  Let’s study it and learn from it, and humble ourselves and repent and turn from our wicked, self-sufficient ways, then God will hear from heaven forgive our sin and heal our land.

The challenge is clear. Are we willing to pay the price to preserve liberty for the generations to follow, for our children and theirs? Are we willing to fall on our faces in repentance? Are we willing to stand on our feet to talk about politics and religion when the popular thought is that religion and politics are the two things you don’t talk about?

Regardless of what happens in America my liberty was bought and paid for on a hill called Calvary over 2000 years ago. I am forever, and eternally free. And because I am eternally free I can lay down my temporal life for my brother, for my community, for my nation.  Threatening me death is stupid! How can you threaten me with Heaven?

Will we do it as a Church? The continued liberty of Americans depends on it.

It’s time we realize that God is calling for us to present ourselves as living sacrifices. He’s not asking for much –just all we’ve got.

Are we willing to say “yes” to Him, to speak out, speaking the truth in love, to be silent no more?

Will we be engaged in leading our communities into righteousness by serving on the school board, the town council, the PTA and anywhere else where people gather to determine the future of our children?

First, we must give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us.

Say “yes” to Christ to secure your eternal liberty.

Say “yes” to active civic participation to secure your temporal liberty.

For liberty is a wonderful gift that was paid with a price.

“We have given you a Republic, if indeed you can keep it.”

Statue of Liberty
Words and Music by Neil Enloe

In New York Harbor stands a lady, with a torch raised to the sky,
And all who see her knows she stands for liberty for you and I
I’m so proud to be called an American, to be named with the brave and the free,
I will honor our flag and our trust in God, and the Statue of Liberty,

On lonely Golgotha stood a cross, with my lord raised to the sky,
And all who kneel there live forever, as all the saved can testify.
I’m so glad to be called a Christian, to be named with the ransomed and whole;
As the statue liberates the citizen, so the cross liberates the soul.

O the cross is my statue of liberty,
It was there that my soul was set free,
Unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged cross
Is my statue of Liberty.