The Forbidden Book
Steve Farrell
Tuesday, March 14, 2006

When your business is socializing America, it is vital that access to the truth about America's founding be denied to every student of American history, culture and law.

And the best way to do that is to eliminate all references to God and morality in public dialogue under a 'high and holy' appeal to religious freedom.

High and holy, is it? Just ask the martyred dead. Or have we forgotten that but a few centuries ago, in Europe, hundreds and hundreds of thousands were burned at the stake simply for reading the Bible or for calling sin "sin." And ditto under modern communism, except the number is in the tens and tens of millions, with billions enslaved.

Just what were and are these tyrants, ancient and modern, hiding from the people?

Much - beginning with Moses' charge to "proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof" and Christ's teaching that "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Truths that make us free? What truths? Here are but a few:

The Forbidden Book clearly indicts and provides numerous examples of not just the common man but also kings and priests held equally accountable before the moral and civil law - the mighty more so, for "unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required."

Thus, in this book, David falls, Saul falls, Solomon falls, Sampson falls, Eli falls (literally), Judas falls - even the entire nation of Israel falls.

Next, the Forbidden Book extends equality before the law to equality before God, promising and inviting equal access to Our Heavenly Father with this liberating, democratizing invitation: "If ANY of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to ALL men liberally, and upbraideth not."

In the same vein, the Forbidden Book's Ten Commandments teaches us that "the stranger within our gates" [any foreigner] possesses the very same rights as do citizens, counseling the leaders of nations that there ought to be "one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for your own country" - introducing the idea of universal, inalienable, God-given rights - and since this inalienable right was first mentioned in connection with the right to worship, providing our first hint, as did America's Founders in their Bill of Rights, that this right, the right to worship without interference from the state or anyone else, is the greatest of all.

Then comes the Law of the Harvest, "Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. ." A warning to all, rich and poor, men and nations (and those under oath): justice will be served, if not in this life, then in the next. An encouragement that penalties ought to be commensurate with crimes, that economies, ought to permit men to be rewarded according to their labors (rather than according to some socialist scheme), and that freedom fighters, ought never forget that every sacrifice is worth it, for if not freedom in this life . freedom in the next - helping us better comprehend Forbidden Book reader Patrick Henry's inspired battle cry, "Give me Liberty, or Give me Death!"

The Forbidden Book moves on to denounce government by kings and or any system that exalts man or the state as a god over man. On the other hand, it introduces the first representative, mixed system of government on record (The Law of the Judges), which included democratic elections, mixed forms of representation, local governments, family rule, fixed Higher laws, and impassioned pleas to "choose you this day," rather than the tyrannical "Obey or else!"

There is a reason: Man, the Forbidden Book teaches, is a moral being from the beginning, endowed with the godlike ability to choose between good and evil - this being mankind's lot throughout mortality - with the sum of man's choices equaling the measure of who he or she is in eternity.

The Forbidden Book praises some of the greatest contributions for good in the history of the world as the "widow's mite," or ordinary men laying down their lives for the truth or a friend. The beggar Lazarus will be in heaven, the selfish rich man who ever refused him aid, begging refreshment in hell.

Thus, the tables of injustice would be ultimately turned; for man is eternal, and God, who knows and sees all, is both a just and merciful being.

Are we beginning to see why kings and comrades tremble at this book? There are more reasons.

Witness such courageous characters as Daniel refusing to obey the King of Babylon's command not to pray in public. Witness the softening of that king's heart following Daniel's fiery furnace and lions den miracles. Witness King Nebuchadnezzar's liberating, empire altering repeal of the prohibition that forbade free religious expression in private and in public, to one that favored religious liberty in both settings.

As to free religious speech in public, men are, after all, the Forbidden Book teaches, social beings; and the test of a man's faith, it repeatedly teaches, comes not in how many prayers are said in private (as important as secret prayer is), but how a man lives his religion in public among his fellows. Thus, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me", says the Forbidden Book.

There are other stories that stand as liberating symbols for all mankind.

There is that provocative account of that young man, Joseph, who though a slave, a prisoner, and a member of a despised race, interpreted Pharaoh's dream and, as a result, ascended out of a fixed class of unfavorables to the position of virtual ruler over all of Egypt. And why? Not merely because Joseph interpreted a dream, but because he was true in ALL things, including strict obedience to the law of chastity. This made him in Pharaoh's eyes, discreet, wise, and inspired. Yet the Forbidden Book had other lessons in mind as well. Providentially, Joseph's actions would save the world alive (the ENTIRE world, Israelites and non-Israelite) - and prior to that - humble the House of Israel for its many sins.

Yes, the 'chosen' people, the book teaches, are sometimes the worst of the lot, often outshined by Syrians and Samaritans and Canaanites and Romans in faith, obedience and charity. "I have not found so great faith, no, not in all of Israel," said Christ regarding an 'outsider,' and it wasn't the first and only time he said such a thing. The long-haul prediction for the world, "many that are first shall be last; and the last first," for many outside of the faith had "the law written in their hearts" all along.

Being "chosen," then, becomes not something associated with birth, or race or nationality, or membership, but, firstly, worthiness.

Thus the Forbidden Book recounts one, John the Baptist, rebuking a group of fellow Israelites as a "generation of vipers," who ought not think to say within themselves, "We have Abraham [as] our Father: for . God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

Stunning reversals, frightening lessons, penetrating fairness - all in the Forbidden Book.

The Forbidden Book also introduces the idea of Higher Law. "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye", Peter boldly requires of a court bent on his destruction. And, then again, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways mine, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

To those who have ability, The Forbidden Book, invites humility and consecration: "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant," not your master. In fact, the book admonishes us to "call no man master," but God only, for the rest of us are part of a common brotherhood, under God. As to those nations that ignore this counsel and enslave their fellow man, the Forbidden Book's long haul prediction for them: war, pestilence, famine, and dissolution.

The Forbidden Book moves on to introduce the concept of private property, commanding that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer, forbidding theft and covetousness, and yet inviting all, the more prosperous included, to humble themselves and reach out to the poor - not through the coercion of taxation, however, but through wise and inspired acts of love, charity and family solidarity.

The Forbidden Book defends the sanctity of life and forbids murder - and yet recognizes intent and specific circumstances in the commission of crimes, introducing the concepts of premeditated murder, non-premeditated murder, manslaughter by criminal negligence or recklessness, manslaughter by non-criminal negligence or accident, killing in self-defense (which is no crime at all), and other reasonable variations according to intent and circumstance.

Capital punishment is introduced for murder (for restitution for murder is impossible); whereas simple crimes of theft are not accompanied by imprisonment, but by a demand for restitution - and then some - thus restoring honor, dignity and freedom to individuals for paying back their debts to their victims with interest. Likewise, sins and crimes committed "through ignorance" are treated differently than those committed "presumptuously," or in bold defiance of conscience and known duty. Thus, judge and jury, priest and parishioner are invited to be reasonable and merciful, rather than cold agents of the law.

Pretty gruesome reading!

Consistent with ignorance of the law concerns, the Forbidden Book led the way in insisting upon written law, and education in that law, so that accountability would be tied to knowledge, and active and vigilant citizenship would be possible.

Consistent with its appeals to a merciful judgment before the law, the Forbidden Book introduces the concept of vicarious atonement, wherein an outside agent - Christ - pays for the sins of repentant souls, thus balancing the demands of the Law of Justice, with the Law of Mercy, giving men a new start if they accept the terms of the Great Mediator. Relating the principle to crime, the Forbidden Book inspired a movement in early America's legal system to reclassify thugs as sinners, who like all the rest of us, can correct their sins and be fully forgiven rather than forever marked, denounced or locked up - if they pay the price, meaning, genuine signs of repentance (such as public confession, full restitution to victims, and personal reform).

Thus the Forbidden Book applied moral pressure not just on the criminals, but on victims, legislatures, and judges to balance justice with mercy, to judge men on earth as we all hoped to be judged by God in Heaven, to turn prisons into models of education and reform rather than models of cruelty and isolation.

Out of the legal tradition of the Forbidden Book came a remarkable list of superior trial rights, to include:

The right to be formally and publicly informed of criminal charges.
The right to face one's accusers (in fact, witnesses were the only prosecuting attorneys, so to speak; and in capital convictions, the executors of the law).
The right not to be convicted on capital or other crimes except upon the testimony of two or more witnesses.
The right to witnesses for the defense.
The right to a trial before an impartial quorum of judges, a quorum that included (by some accounts) a mixture of lay and professional members (a predecessor to the right to trial before an impartial jury).
The right against forced self incrimination.
The right against courts using evidence or testimony obtained via torture or other means of extortion.

The right against courts using perjured testimony as evidence. Perjury was prosecutable as a crime, with the perjurer sentenced to the very punishment that the accused would have received.

The right against a 'stacked' jury (or quorum of judges). For instance, a unanimous decision against a defendant invalidated a trial. At least one of the judges had to defend the accused.

The right to hear each judge (in turn) give his rationale for or against conviction.
The right against secret trials and arrests. Trials and arrests had to be public, and in broad daylight.
The right to a speedy trial - capital trials had to be completed before the coming of the next Sabbath day.
The right against charges originating from the court, so as to favor impartiality and check concentrated power.
The right to appeal to a superior court.
The right to be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
Meanwhile, as to foreign policy, the Forbidden Book, George Washington-like, warns a free and religious people against security alliances and political entanglements with foreign nations, inviting the people to trust in the Lord for their security, to do so by putting their own national house in order, temporally and spiritually, counseling them to stop the 'short term, long term memory loss game' of looking back to Sodom, or Egypt, or Babylon, whence they fled.

As to environmental policy, wildernesses ought to be tamed, cultivated and put to good use with gratitude,  and man is to preside over the animal kingdom, not the other way around - the latter being the sign of a fallen people.

Wars are generally wicked, yet sometimes necessary and even miraculously won with the aid of forces beyond the veil.

As to family and sexual relations, the Forbidden Book commands men and women to marry and to have children. Sexual relations are good and right in their proper sphere (within the bonds of holy matrimony), and yet the book draws a clear line, forbidding fornication, adultery, homosexuality, incest, and bestiality as abominations. Prophetically, the Forbidden Book warns of plagues that have swept and will yet sweep the land or lands where sexual impurity reigns.

Further, the Forbidden Book teaches that husbands are to serve their wives as Christ served the Church, that children ought to honor parents, and that parents ought to provide for, bless and educate their children in light and truth and righteousness.

Interestingly, as if anticipating ridiculous, socialist-inspired arguments such as evolutionary theory - that deny the Heritage of Man as the literal offspring of God - the Forbidden Book teaches the commonsense biological law that that every species reproduces "after his own kind."

The book even commanded the people to wash their hands and clean their sheets before and after handling the sick or injured - preceding the lifesaving advice that came with the discovery of germs by thousands of years!

Remarkable, all of it - and we have barely scratched the surface of the value of this Forbidden Book. So, tell me, just what were the ancient Kings, and what are their modern day Bible-banning counterparts in the ACLU, the NEA et al. afraid of?

The answer: the truth. For "the truth shall make [us] free," and there are always a few selfish men, and a few revolutionaries who fear what an enlightened and moral people armed with such truths, convictions, and faith may do to their tyrannical, self-serving plans for mankind.

Such Bible-banners, whatever their motive, sinister, naïve, or sincerely aiming at good, as they see it, join the ranks of those who miss the mark with religion in public life - for in the name of protecting religious freedom they deny the rising generation the very bread of life, the very loaf of liberty, the very book that, as witnessed above, was at the foundation of so many laws and concepts of law that we now enjoy, or once enjoyed, as a free people here in the United States of America.

NewsMax pundit Steve Farrell is associate professor of political economy at George Wythe College, the editor of The Liberty Letters (LibertyLetters.blogspot.com), and the author of the highly praised inspirational novel "Dark Rose" (available at Amazon.com).