Democrats and Republicans are agreeing, not all of them but enough, that the IRS has to be held accountable for targeting conservative groups. About holding government accountable…
A man named Naboth owned a vineyard next to the palace of the king of Samaria, Ahab. Ahab wanted the property, made Naboth an offer but the offer was rejected. All on the up-and-up, so far. But when the king sulked, his wife said, “‘Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters, ‘Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.’” (1 Kings 21:7-10) And that’s just what happened. Big government rolled over the little guy. But Ahab and his wife Jezebel were held accountable. When the prophet Elijah confronted Ahab, here’s a surprise because his name is almost synonymous with evil, the king repented. God spared him for the time being.
The IRS’ admitted abuses, the big guy bullying the little guy, will be dealt with in a secular way. Prophets and preachers won’t be going to officials and preaching repentance, church and state kept distinct in our American system. When accountability has happened, we all should be better off. That said, there still is a religious dimension as the church watches the state practice accountability. Christians pray that government officials in their heart of hearts know repentance and personal forgiveness, whatever public judgments and consequences take place. After all, Christians follow the friend of tax collectors and sinners.
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