A mass mailing of “Spiritual Glue” from “Faith Inkubators” was sent to
every LCMS congregation in the United States. Many LCMS congregations
in
Detroit suburbs are now using this new confirmation program. The back
of
the glue card lists 50 locations where pastors can attend meetings to
learn about “Faith Inkubators.”
This writer examined the teacher’s manual titled “Presenter’s Notes
Catechism II” for the second year or second book in the “Faith
Inkubators” series. It contains 16 lessons. The notes for the 16
lessons are in about 120 pages, which contain a wealth of information
and
ideas on how to teach and present the material with direct and detailed
instructions for every activity. The manual begins with a lesson for
each of the petitions of the Lords prayer, then lessons on baptism, the
Lord’s Supper, and ends with a review of ten commandments.
There is no question that important truths of the Bible, the
catechism,
and the Lutheran Reformation are published in this material. There is
also no question that “Faith Inkubators” is the most insidious
combination of truth and lies for Lutheran Catechism training this
writer
has ever witnessed. Faith Inkubators artfully integrates techniques
from
transcendental meditation, seances, regression tapes, astral
projection,
new age philosophy, mind control-leadership training, dialectic
processing, social activism, gospel reductionism, Reformed theology,
psycho-drama, sociometrics, journaling, group dynamics, moral and
religious relativism, out-come based education, and values
clarification.
Faith Inkubators uses “Lutheran words” but redefines Christianity into
a
virtually unrecognizable new world order globalist religion. Why are
so
many LCMS District Presidents, Pastors, and LCMS staff works delighted
with the program? “Faith Inkubators” meets and surpasses all the goals
of the Church Growth/Leadership Training movement which now grips vast
portions of the LCMS.
Without saying any more about the program please examine quotations
from
the “Presenter’s Notes” under the following categories for yourself.
There is no intent to reproduce the whole manual, also please remember
that these notes are not exceptions but typical of the entire 120
pages.
Turning Religion into Personal Experience
This material tries to rightly balance prayer, thoughts, feelings, and
actions in a relationship-based, back to the basics approach.” Lesson
1,
page 2
Holy Spirit Review:
Have your High School youth poised to bring out wine, and turn this
prayer journey into a communion service. Let students smell, touch,
and
drink the beauty of the wine with all their senses. Kneel together or
hold hands in a circle.....” lesson 6 page 4
“There is a power that can see you through any weakness; a light that
cannot be extinguished by the deepest darkness. And that power is only
a
prayer away. So, what does this mean? Lesson 8 page 3
“Conscience Chatter:
Now pray the Lord’s Prayer with the most creative endings, and vote one
to use next Sunday. Lesson 10 page 3
Bake a loaf of bread, and use the delicious smell and taste as part of
your experience. End the closing prayer with a quiet candlelight
communion service using your fresh bread. Lesson 12 page 1
To create a learning event that helps students review the Ten
Commandments and experience them as God’s good and gracious will for
their lives. Lesson 13 page 1
Trinity:
Opening Prayer (Suggestions for Every Lesson)
Ask students to focus on the cross for a moment, then close their eyes.
Tell them that prayer is a two-way street; it is both talking to God
and
listening.” Lesson 1 page 3
Ask students to take a moment and focus on one object or work from the
visuals of the week. Play the music of a favorite praise song softly
in
the background as you ask them to relax and empty their minds of all
distractions....” Lesson 3 page 2
Ask students to take a moment to relax and empty their minds of
distractions. Remind them that prayer is both a talking to God and
listening, and ask them to get in touch with their breath and
heartbeat.
Lesson 2 page 2
Prayers Cells
Some of the People quoted and referenced
Sacraments
God desires to express who God truly is for each one of us. Lesson 11
page 2
By water and the power of God’s Word, you have been claimed by Christ.
You belong to God. So what does this mean? Lesson 11 page 4
We are taken up into the real presence of God by the power of the
Spirit.
Lesson 12 page 2
Explain your practice with wine/juice, the frequency of communion at
your
church, and other practical maters. Lessons 12 page 3
The bread and wine are more than mere symbols. They are living symbols
to all who believe, for the living Christ comes to commune with our
hearts when we ask him in faith. Lesson 12 page 6
Real Presence:
Sacrament:
Ten Commandments
Group Definitions and baptismal font send off Blessing
In every lesson students are asked to write their one group definitions
for faith, grace, indulgence, and etc. Lesson 2 page 7
End every group time with a trip to the baptismal font for send-off
blessing. Dip a finger in the water, make a sign of the cross on their
foreheads, and remind them that you belong to Christ and to each other.
Don’t let anyone leave until all are blessed!
Lesson 2 page 7
Closing Prayer Journey (Transcendental meditation and astral projection
with back ground meditations tapes at the end of every lesson)
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 1 page 4)
Now thank God for a heritage of faith that dares to use life
and breath
to speak out and live for truth. Thank God for all who have risked
life
and freedom for God’s truth. Pray for the Spirit’s power. Ask God to
use these young men and women to effect a change, first in their
hearts,
then in their homes, then out into the community and the world. End
with
your own joy and thankfulness to be associated with such fine young
people and your anticipation of the great things they will do for the
world in Jesus’ name.
Lesson 1 page 4
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 2 page 4)
Use the meditative prayer tape provided to take students on a prayer
Journey. Play it in stereo or turn one channel off and narrate it
yourself...Have them close their eyes and relax, using the breathing
and
movement exercises from the Closing Prayer Journey outline in Lesson 1.
With bodies relaxed, float them back in to one thousand, two thousand
years to a rocky, dusty hills side in Palestine. (The read the script)
“You are a little child, walking hand in hand with Jesus....”
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 3 page 4)
You are floating ahead in time and space, behind and beyond
time, being
propelled faster, faster toward a blinding light. Now, the person from
your past stands, hand outstretched, calling your name. They greet
you,
and you turn together toward the light. You hear a shout. Then a
trumpet and suddenly the voices of heaven saying, read Rev. 11:15 here.
And now, floating in over a sea of glass comes the song: read
Rev.
15:2,4 here.
And now the light swirls about you, and a great crowd cries
out: read
Rev. 19:6-7 here. And another voice: read Rev. 21:4 here.
And from the throne comes a voice like thunder: read Rev.
21:5-7 here.
And you feel the grip of your ancestor loosening as you release
the hand
next to you. And you watch the vision fading. But the words “Holy,
holy
holy” remain on your lips and burned onto your mind. Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God almighty. You were. You are. And you are to come. May I
know
you as holy treat you as holy, live your name holy, until I stand again
before your throne.
End this prayer journey with candlelight, wine, bread, and wind
chimes
in a silent communion service. Instruct Guides to take their students’
hands, lead them to the elements, then take them away to where they’ll
be
discussing questions for the week.
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 4 page 4)
They kingdom come. Thy kingdom come. What are we asking for
when we
pray for the kingdom? We are asking for nothing less than the
presence,
power, and reign of God’s Spirit to fill us and spill out into our
world.
Some hold seances to get in touch with the spirits. Some
practice
witchcraft. But we are not seeking the presence of the dead. We are
practicing the presence of the living God. Some empty themselves in
meditation so that they are void of feeling and emotion. We empty
ourselves to be filled with the presence of the living God. Some look
for the kingdom of God in churches, in political systems, in bank
accounts. We want, in the next minutes, to taste the kingdom peace,
the
kingdom power, the kingdom presence in our hearts. The kingdom starts
with our seeking God’s Spirit’s presence.
Read Jer. 29:11 and Isa. 55:7 here.
Picture yourself in that spotless, clean room. There’s a knock
at the
door. You have prepared the room for the King. Now you walk to the
door
and open it. Jesus is standing with your-filled eyes and a broad
smile.
He is so proud, so happy that you have opened it. Do you invite him
in?
Ask him in your own words. The spirit has helped prepare the room of
your heart. And now you pray “your kingdom come. Your kingdom come.
Your kingdom come to me.” End this prayer journey with a short word of
thanks for the privilege and honor of sharing the kingdom message with
such a fine group of young men and women, and close the experience in
Jesus’ name.
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 5 page 5)
You are running through a steaming jungle, holding a baby.
Someone is
chasing you and shouting. Your heart is beating faster, faster. You
can
barely catch your breath, but you know if you stop they will kill you.
Gun shots are heard in the distance. Explosions and balls of fire rise
in the air. The shouts are getting closer, closer. You come upon a
clearing to where you house used to stand, and all that is left is a
smoldering pile of rubble. The shouts and shots are getting nearer,
nearer. You lay the child down. She’s barely breathing. You begin to
weep and close your eyes. “God help me,” you cry, “God help me.”
Slowly the scene is changed. You’re walking through a back
alley in
Washington, D.C.> on a dark, frosty night. Snow is falling lightly as
you look up and see the Washington Monument half a mile away. A mother
and child clutching blankets sit against a building in the show. She
asks you for some food, not with words but with her eyes. An old man
digs through the garbage can nearby. Two prostitutes argue on a street
corner. You pass them and see through their heave makeup that they are
no older than you. How an elderly woman in rags pushes a shopping cart
up and asks you for money. You walk on, but she persists and starts to
follow. You run from the alley to the street, jumping over the
homeless
sleeping on the subway grates for warmth, passing streams of hopeless
eyes. She continues at your heals, demanding help and food. You run
and
run and run, finally collapsing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
You close your eyes and clutch your jacket, whispering a prayer, “God
help them. God help them.”
Slowly the scene is changed once more. You are waiting at a
stop light
near a group of peaceful protesters. Their skin is of a different
color,
and their sighs are printed with the blood-red word “Justice.” A
smaller
group of angry faces is heckling the crowd, swearing and calling them
names. Suddenly a scuffle breaks out. Fists fly and voices rise.
Shots
are fired and the crowd scatters. One of the protesters has been
wrestled to the ground. He’s being kicked again and again and again.
The light changes, and you drive on. Looking back, you see the angry
mob
close in around the man, and you whisper a prayer, “God help him. God
help him.”
And now you’re back in a safe, warm church. You’ll go home to
a good
dinner and a clean bed. And maybe you’ll pray the words “Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done” tonight while all around the world, in streets
and alleys, capitals and closets, the good and gracious will of God
will
not be done. With eyes closed, you take one more journey - this one
only
a few steps to the cross in this sanctuary. Christ is looking at you
and
saying these words, “Whatever you do to the least of these, by
brethren,
you have done unto me.” And you respond “But Jesus, what can I do to
end
war, to feed the homeless, to stop racism and oppression and a thousand
other ills? I’m only a youth.” And Jesus picks up a Bible and answers
with the words to the young prophet Jeremiah “ Do not say, ‘I am only
a
youth’, for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I
command you, you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you
to deliver you, says the Lord”. And the scene fades. And the clouds
surround you. And we’re back. Safe. Secure.
End this prayer journey with a short word of thanks for the
idealism of
youth, for the call God’s Spirit has issued to these young Christians
to
impact the world, and for the ways they will bring God’s kingdom and
will
to their homes, families and schools beginning today. Add a word of
your
own joy and thankfulness to be associated with such fine young men and
women, and close in Jesus’ name
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 10 page 4)
Think of yourself as floating out into space - swirling,
spinning,
dancing through the light of a billion stars out onto the edge of the
Universe. You pass dazzling red novas and skid through islands of
cosmic
dust. You whirl past black holes that not even light can escape and
skirt a million exploding galaxies. You’re surrounded by light, but
now,
beyond any light your eyes have every beheld, you sense the force of a
radiance that exists beyond human sight. And you close you eyes
tightly
so as not to be blinded by this other-worldly force, but the light
bursts
in behind your eyelids and encompasses your inner sight. Your own soul
feels drawn to the light and the warmth as an amazing brilliance fills
you and lifts you. And from within the light comes the sound of
thunder
and crashing waters and joyous voices in song and praise.
Continues with five more paragraphs of the same.
Closing Prayer Journey (Lesson 15 page 4)
You are sitting outside on a beautiful night. The stars are
shimmering,
and a warm breeze is blowing about you. You’ve just been watching
“Star
Trek,” and you wonder if there could possibly be other intelligent
beings
out there. Space is so vast. Could it be possible? Or are we alone,
spinning throughout he blackness of time? You think of the world of
the
Psalmist: “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament
proclaims his handiwork” and “When I look at thy heavens, the work of
thy
fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established; what is
humanity that thou art mindful of them? And the son of man that thou
dost care for him?” Suddenly, you see a shooting star. It appears out
of no where, and you count - one, two, three...
Continues on.
End this prayer journey with a short word of thanks for the
profound
gift of wisdom, strength, and power which is ours in the Scriptures.
If
you education or library budget can afford it, invite any students who
do
not won a Bible [to come] forward for a gift Bible at this time. Add a
word of your own joy and thankfulness to be associated with such fine
young men and women and close in Jesus’ name.
Skit of the Week
Social Action
WAR: Stopping war is a huge goal, but it starts in the home. Praying
and
working for peace in the world starts with living a peaceful life at
home. Lesson 5 page 7
Invite in a victim of a serious crime to talk to the class. Lesson 7
page 3
Interview a person from another faith perspective about how praise is
shown for God in their church. Lesson 10 page 3
Philosophy
Processing (At the end of every Lesson)
Dismiss the large group into small groups to process the topic with
their
Guides and worksheets. (There are also numerous references to
processing
during the lesson.)
Objective: “To create a learning event that helps students experience
the
means of salvation by grace through faith and understanding themselves
as
heirs of a rich Protestant heritage” Lesson 1 page 1
The Holy Spirit is not a theory, proposition, theological doctrine, or
teaching. The Spirit is no less than God’s presence among us. A quick
review of the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed might be in order
here
for your students, along with sharing your own experiences and thoughts
about seeking the Spirit’s presence into your life.” Lesson 4 page 3
What is a conscience? What is the relationship
between the still, small voice of God with your conscience? Put
students
in paires or small groups to write a paragraphs to share.” Lesson 9
page
3
In God’s presence we can experience fullness, forgiveness,
wisdom, and power like we’ve never known. So, what does this mean?
What
shall we do?
Lesson 14 page 4
The Lutheran Reformation began in the lecture halls and prayer cells of
the University of Wittenberg; it was an remains a thoughtful
confessional
movement.
Lesson 1 page 2
Peter Drucker Lesson 1 page 3
Ophra style Lesson 1 page 3
Martin Luther versus Martin Luther King: Well in advance of the
lesson,
invite an African American pastor to visit and talk about Martin
Luther,
Martin Luther King, and the legacy of protest which each gave to the
church Lesson 1 page 4
Martin Luther King: “Unless one has something worth dying for, one is
not
fit to live.” Lesson 1 page 6
Warren Quanbeck Lesson 5 page 3
Albert Einstein, Lesson 15 page 7
The sacraments are God expressing God’s true self to those who receive
them. Lesson 11 page 2
The understanding that the Spirit of Christ is with us
in
a special closeness when we take communion. Lesson 12 page 6
A gift of God’s grace which was commanded by Christ and
comes
to us “in, with and under” a physical element attached. Lesson 12 page
6
So behind each of the commandment is a hidden discipline and a hidden
promise. Without the promise there is only the condemnation of our
failure to practice the discipline of the godly life. With the
promises
come the joy of the hidden discipline.
Lesson 13 page 2
Tell students that instead of simply reciting a closing prayer, you’ll
be
walking into their imaginations on spiritual journeys this year. To do
this right, they need to be relaxed. First we’ll relax their bodies.
Lead them through a stretching exercise that wiggles their fingers,
reaches their wrists to the sky, stretches down their arms and moves
into
their shoulders. Instruct them to sit back, close eyes, and loosen
their
neck muscles by rolling their heads. Tell them that much of our stress
settles in the neck and jaw, so they should now loosen their jaws.
Spread the stretch down the back and into the hips. Continue the
stretch
down the legs, all the way to the ankles and finally, out the toes.
With
eyes closed and bodies relaxed, ask students to be aware of the heart
beating within their chests. Suggest that each beat is a gift of God.
“There’s another gift. And another. And another.” Next, ask them to
be
aware of their breath. Suggest that each breath is a gift of God.
(Anyone who has no pulse or breath is excused from the rest of the
exercise.) Now inhale slowly and think of the clean, fresh oxygen
moving
in to replenish ever cell in the body. As you inhale, whisper, “Spirit
fill me, Spirit fill me.” Exhale slowly, and think of the poison
carbon
dioxide being flushed out of every cell in the body. As you exhale,
whisper, “Spirit cleanse me, Spirit cleanse me.” Inhale slowly again
and
hold the breath in. “What if that was the last breath you’d ever
take?”
It is not. God will give you another. And another. And another.
Each
breath is a gift. Every moment, every second, each breath and
heartbeat
is a gift form the Creator to you. You can use your breath to curse or
to bless. You can use your heartbeats to destroy or to build. It’s
your
gift from God.
Ask students to think of the image of one of their great-grand parents
or
another family member who has died. Maybe it is someone they know.
Maybe it’s just an image form a faded photograph. Have them close
their
eyes, then relax, using the breathing and movement exercises form the
Closing Prayer Journey in Lesson 1, keeping the image of their departed
loved one before them. Use the meditative prayer tape provided for
background music, or arrange for a percussionist with mallets and
cymbals
to help you set an ethereal mood. With bodies relaxed, have students
join hands and walk into a swirling cloud of imagination. Play the
tape
in stereo, or turn the voice channel off and narrate a Prayer Journey
something like this:
Instruct students to close their eyes as you lead them through
the
relaxation exercises from the Closing Prayer Journey in Lesson 1. Ask
them if they’ve every prayed from the depths of their souls for God’s
Holy Spirit or for the kingdom presence to be within them. Tell them
that you’ll be taking a journey into the mind of God now to taste and
glimpse the kingdom coming to reign inside them. Use the meditative
prayer tape provided or invite a local musician to play music softly in
the background as you pray. If you use the tape, either play it in
stereo or remove the spoken channel and lead the students through a
journey something like this:
Picture yourself in a dark, dingy, and cluttered room. The
shades are
drawn, for there are things you don’t want exposed in this room, the
room
of your deepest thoughts. What are those sins that must be washed
away?
What are the thoughts which need to be thrown before Christ can enter.
Think for a moment of a sin that has plagued you. As you slowly exhale
now, whisper or think “Spirit cleanse me. Spirit cleanse me.” You are
emptying the room of the ugly, the hidden, the dark sins of a guilty
soul. And now, the Spirit whispers in your ear: “If you confess your
sins, God will forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness.” You
fling the windows open. The fresh air bursts through with the Spirit’s
whisper: “As far as the east is from the west, so have I removed your
sins, says the Lord.” You are now pure in God’s sight. Completely
ready
for the visit from the king. As you inhale slowly, whisper or pray the
words: “Spirit fill me. Spirit fill me.” And slowly, from the other
side of the door, you hear the voice of King Jesus: “Behold, I stand at
the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I
will
come in...”
Write the following words on a large piece of newsprint:
Hunger, war,
racism, oppression, greed, political corruption. Ask students to focus
on one of these words for a moment and to ponder the will of god,
considering the great and noble goal of working God’s will into
existence. Affirm the students for their idealism and tell them that
this vision of [a] better world is a gift and challenge straight from
God. But any “kingdom vision” is only a day dream until it is put into
action. With this in mind, lead them through the relaxation exercises
from he Closing Prayer Journey, Lesson 1. Use the meditative prayer
tape
provided or arrange for someone to pick a guitar quietly in the back of
the room. Play the tape in stereo or remove the spoken channel and
lead
students on a journey similar to this”
Ask students to close their eyes and clear their minds. Use
the
breathing and movement exercises from the Closing Prayer Journey of
Lesson 1 to get them in the mood for this praise adventure. Use the
Prayer Journey tape provided or play a favorite praise song or hymn
softly in the background. When students are sufficiently relaxed,
float
them into Psalm 148 using words something like this:
Close with a word of your own joy and thankfulness to be
associated with
such fine young men and women.
Ask students if they believe there is intelligent life on other
planets.
Have them raise their hand if they do. Now ask them if they think
there
is any intelligent life on earth. With the smile on their lips, ask
them
to close their eyes and relax, using the breathing and movement
exercises
from Lesson 1. Use the meditative prayer tape provided or soft music
and
your own voice to float them into a prayer journey with something like
this:
“Jesus wants us to think of God as a close, loving Father. Or mother,
if
you wish. It means God is close.” Lesson 2 page 5
Call on a representative from MADD. Lesson 2 page 3
Wrestling with Absolutes: In a day of moral relativism, is there any
such thing as evil? If evil is defined as “immorality” and morality is
a
matter of personal choice, in there evil? Is there any absolute right
and wrong? Wrestle with the students on this. Lesson 9 page 3