"How the Gospels Should Have Ended" - D. Lancaster (FFOZ), The Gospels are God's 'Plan B'??? - response by Pastor Powell

"How the Gospels Should Have Ended" - rebuttal part 1 (of 2)

Daniel Lancaster of First Fruits of Zion thinks so.  In this pro-Torah fan fiction version of the Gospels, Lancaster imagines a better version of Jesus' story that sees him crowned King Messiah by a people who follow him back to Torah observance.  

Chief among the many questions this perversion of the Gospel story raises is this: It has not time for Gospel proclamation to the Gentiles.  No Great Commission, no giving of the Holy Spirit.  What does Lancaster envision instead for the Gentiles?  God's wrath, immediately poured forth after the resurrection of Jesus (killed by the Romans after God lets them slaughter the Jewish people who had trusted in Jesus).

In the end, FFOZ hopes that guilt over the "failure" of Jesus' generation to embrace the Torah (i.e. the better version of the Gospel story) will prompt people today to take up Torah observance as the means of "hastening" the return of Christ.  The hubris to think they can change the timing of God's plan is astounding.

To read the whole article: How the Gospels Should Have Ended - D. Lancaster

Sermon Video: Laban Confronts Jacob - Genesis 31:19-15

 

Jacob's choice to abruptly leave with his family and property without even informing Laban prompts Jacob's father-in-law to pursue him.  When Laban catches-up with Jacob he confronts him and both men air their grievances with each other.

In the end, the relationship between Jacob and Laban is beyond repair, especially when both men continue to insist they are in the right.  God intervenes to prevent the situation from ending in violence, but sadly not harming each other is the only thing they will commit to. 

The episode serves as a reminder of the consequences of schemes, deception, and grudges.  For Jacob, it serves as a stark reminder of what might await him when he is confronted by Esau.

Sermon Video: Jacob turns the tables on Laban - Genesis 30:25-31:18

 

In this chapter of his life story, Jacob's relationship with his father-in-law Laban deteriorates, eventually breaking.  Both men are to blame, as both seek to cheat the other.  In the end, Jacob is successful in obtaining most of Laban's wealth, and then leaves with his wives and children to head back to Canaan.

Sermon Video: Leah & Rachel: Sibling rivalry and cultural expectations - Genesis 29:31-30:24

 

In a soap opera worthy long-running tragedy, the family of Jacob is repeatedly convulsed by jealous rivalry between his wives who happen to be sisters.  That this was entirely foreseeable, by both their father Laban and husband Jacob, doesn't make it any less tragic for these women.

In the end, the passage sees Jacob fathering 11 sons with 4 wives, all whilst the sibling rivalry rages and everyone is negatively impacted by going along with cultural expectations.

Sermon Video: The Divergent Paths of Jacob and Esau - Genesis 27:46-28:22

The contrasting narratives in Genesis 27-28 of Esau's wives whom his parents dislike immensely and Jacob's journey to find a wife akin to how Rebekah was sought for Isaac are a reminder to ancient Israel, and to us, that the key difference in the course that any life takes is the role of God.  Both Esau and Jacob were flawed men (the Genesis narrative painting Jacob as significantly worse), but Jacob's path was contained within the promise of God's blessings, Esau's was not.  Why?  Grace.  God's grace.