What kind of a citizen should a Christian be?

Be subject to governing authorities, recognizing that government is instituted by God. You resist them, and you resist what God has appointed, and you will suffer the consequences. Do this, not from fear, but because you answer to a higher authority than the government: God Himself. Pay the taxes you owe, and deliver respect and honor to those governing over you. Special could run the gamut from rebellion or something anti-government or bringing down “the man” to some July 4th anthem about how wonderful America is to it’s my country, warts and all.

How are Christians supposed to deal with people in the real world who wrong them?

Don’t pay back evil for evil. Do what everyone around you would claim is the honorable thing. In other words, don’t be what you hate in others. Take the high road and give God room to deal with the ne’er-do-wells around you. Even better, look to do something good for your enemy. Special could be about getting even or paying someone back or, flip side, refusing to lower oneself to get someone back or how hating others just messes you up.

If the church is supposed to be full of God’s love, why do we have so many denominations?

It’s all about how we are to genuinely love each other. Let God’s word work in us to root out stupid stuff, and then blast out love to other church members. In fact, outdo each other in showing honor to others. In doing so, you are serving God. Ponder how you can stir each other to grow in Christ. And don’t miss church, like some habitually do. I suppose the special could be any one of a zillion songs about love, or how love gives or thinks of others more than oneself.

I became a Christian two years ago, so why is it that nothing really seems to have changed?

We live the Christian life best when we’ve died to ourselves. Paul told us earlier that we’re to be led by the Spirit. Same concept. Don’t just conform to the crowd; let God take hold and be transformed. It’s really a whole life commitment, not just one hour on Sunday. A special about being sold out for something, being all in on something or someone would work.

Is there a master plan afoot, or is life and history just a series of unfortunate events with the incidental nicety thrown in to keep us guessing?

Yes, there is a master plan, and it’s God’s, and He’s is working it to perfection in ways that we aren’t even capable of grasping as mere humans. Paul explodes into worship here in v33-36. It’s almost as if he himself is overwhelmed at the inspiration God has given him to pen. God needs no advice, makes no mistakes, never apologizes, and what he does stands forever. If there is glory to be had, it belongs to God. I don’t know what special works here, but if you can get a choir of angels to assist, that’d be great!

What should a Christian’s perspective be toward Jews?

The short answer to that is R-E-S-P-E-C-T. (Should be a song with that title out there, shouldn’t there?) We shouldn’t write the Jews off as lesser because God’s not done with them, any more than He wrote Gentiles off during Israel’s heyday. Jews are still getting saved here and there, despite a partial hardening they are enduring as a people. God’s intent with all the Gentiles getting saved is to make Jews jealous. And a time’s coming when they will return en mass to believe in Christ. And how sweet will that be? God’s doing something in history with the Jews, so we Gentile Christians should not be haughty or condescending. Keep doing what we’re supposed to do—believe by faith in Jesus, the only way to get salvation, and share with everyone, including Jews.

If God has rejected Israel for rejecting Jesus as Messiah, why is the US so pro-Israel?

From the thousands of years of persecution, it seems God has moved on from his covenant with Israel. But has he? And if he has, what’s to keep him from getting disenchanted with any of us? We find here that Israel is still in the game, even though most are super opposed to Jesus. Even now, God continues to save some Jews—the remnant—the same way he saves Gentiles—through faith, not works. Bottom line is that God is true to his word, even though things might look a little grim for a season here and there.

If Jesus was the Messiah, why don’t most Jews believe in him—after all, he was Jewish?

Israel was offended that people not Jewish could become the people of God. As such, they lost sight of the great purpose God created the Jewish nation—to be a light to all the other nations, that whoever would believe could be saved. It’s easy to bash the Israelites, of course, but we can be so like them. Christians can be very comfy with our salvation and our relationship with God, but lack any fervency to play it forward. Should we not rise to the challenge to share Christ when we live in a city 96% of which is not Christian? I mean, we can’t walk outside without running into lost people.

Is going to heaven really as easy as Christianity makes it sound?

Yes, God may have elected, or chosen, you, but he has also included your free-will decision to place your faith in Jesus Christ as part of the process of salvation. Paul returns to that concept in this text, lamenting that his Jewish brethren still are trying to make nice with God through their works when Christ has already done it all for them. Salvation is amazingly easy to acquire once you bag trying to get it on your terms.

Isn’t it wise not to tell my insecure wife about an occasional online, and totally innocent, chat with an ex?

It’s about making a vow to confide in and not hide from our spouse. Such openness is the key to purity in a marriage. Why? Sin causes shame, and shame leads us to keep secrets, hide from each other (ex: Adam and Eve in the Garden, post-fall), and secrets begin to eat away at intimacy. As intimacy erodes, we will naturally look for it elsewhere.