Cult Madness
The purpose of this Web site is to share the Truth that is found solely in the Good News of Jesus Christ. It has been said, "If you want to know the counterfeit, get to know the real thing." Cashiers in banks are taught how real money feels, not how counterfeit money feels. As they get to know the feel of the real bill, it is easy to spot the counterfeit when it comes along.
A personal relationship with Jesus Christ is the real thing. As we get to know Him through the pages of the Holy Bible, we can easily spot the counterfeit when it comes along. The Gospel of John says, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31,32 NLT).
Those of us who are past members of the Manson cult didn't know the truth found in the Holy Bible. We didn't know the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Those at Jonestown following Jim Jones, at Waco with Koresh, and the recent Heaven's Gate (Higher Source) didn't know the real Jesus Christ of the Bible (who millions of believers follow today). This Jesus is not only a man whom we follow, but the Holy Scriptures bear out that He is God, all God and all man, coming to the Earth to die for the sins of all mankind. This is the God of the Bible.
How Ignorant Can We Be?
It takes much more faith to believe in a demonic cult, following some man and his philosophy, than it does to have a simple faith in the Jesus Christ of the Bible. As a former Manson follower, following him for a year, I believed that he was a god or a guru, that a black and white race war was coming, that we would start this war with our murders, and escape to a bottomless pit in Death Valley. (This can all be read about in my book, Will You Die For Me?)
Deceptive cults have beliefs that take much more faith to believe than the simplicity of faith in Jesus Christ, His death on the Cross for us, and bodily resurrection. For instance, David Koresh convinced his people that a Holy War was coming, that an enemy was out there, that he was the Messiah, and he was spouting a strange false teaching of the book of Revelation -- 80 people died. Koresh was similar to Manson in many ways, but Manson was no teacher of the Bible. I never saw Manson pick up a Bible, but he did have some crazy ideas about Revelation 9 from the Beatles.
How about Jim Jones? I don't recall a lot of his teachings, but he followed the Bible closely and was much more deceptive. How ignorant could you be to follow a man thousands of miles away from home into a mosquito infested jungle? This took much more faith than simply going to the local church to worship on Sunday. And what a communion service Jim Jones had, serving cyanidespiked grape punch where 912 people died. The Prophet Hosea said, "My people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge" (4:6). This was the lack of knowledge of the truth, the Word of God.
Then, there was Marshall Applewhite and the 'Heaven's Gate' cult. Can you imagine how much faith it must take to believe he (Applewhite, also known as 'Do') was an alien in a human body and that the Earth was about to be recycled? Can you imagine believing Applewhite's teaching that the only chance to depart Earth before this catastrophe was to evacuate with him by committing suicide? On top of all this, Applewhite taught that this suicide pact was necessary to get to the next level of consciousness and that they were going to get there by a rendezvous with a spacecraft (U.F.O.) that was apparently following the Hale-Bopp comet. Tragically, 39 people died believing a foolish tale like this.
Yet, several things are always the same with a cult. Their story is made up by a man, sometimes people die and through close examination, a cult is very bizarre and unreliable. The philosophy never lines up with the mainstream belief of Jesus Christ, the God of the Holy Bible. For instance, UFO's and committing suicide are not the truth taught in the Bible and are not accepted as part of Christianity.
The Scripture says, "Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don't understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT).
Why Would Anyone Join a Cult?
There is no sane or rational reason for someone to completely yield control to another individual or group. To do so is actually quite insane. Our hearts and prayers go out to the many victims of the cults, together with their families and friends.
These are some of my reasons, from experience: 1) Lack of Identity a strong Spiritual identity, and solid goals were missing in my life, 2) Lack of Direction idealistic (behavior and thoughts based on a conception of things as one thinks they should be, and a striving to achieve one's ideas), but no meaning in life without Christ, 3) Lack of Spiritual Meaning a need to fill the void only God can fill, 4) Lack of Acceptance a feeling of unconditional love was missing, not knowing God's love, and 5) Lack of Love anger and rebellion against the authority of God and parents, stemming from fear and frustration.
These are only a few of my personal reasons for once joining the Manson cult, which by no means excuses my actions. My choice to join a cult caused me to no longer be part of greater society. Complete isolation resulted as I exchanged my wonderful blood family for a lie. Brainwashing took place as my thoughts, perceptions, and beliefs changed to those of Manson. Complete control was given over to him so we could reach his higher plane, all the time being controlled by his thinking. As a result, seven innocent people lie dead, and for me, life in prison because of my sin.
Today, there are still those who follow Manson even after seeing the deadly results and even though most of his faithful disciples of old, like myself, denounced his beliefs years ago. There are Branch Davidians, who hold Koresh as a martyr for the cause, still believing his false teachings, even after the fiery death of he and his followers. It has been reported that dozens of Marshall Applewhite's followers remain even after his predictions didn't come true.
Behind every cult leader is demonic thinking. We can either agree with the thoughts of the God of Creation found in the Bible, or we can believe in thoughts contrary. Where do these contrary thoughts come from, those that are not inspired by God, those that bring death and cause much destruction?
As Christians, we believe these thoughts come from a rebellious fallen archangel named Lucifer, some people call him Satan. He brought his rebellious thoughts upon all mankind through what we call the fall of man. In Genesis 3 of the Bible, we are told that the serpent (Lucifer/Satan) deceived Adam and Eve, and as a result, spiritual death passed upon all mankind.
The only way to be rescued from spiritual death is to place your faith in Jesus Christ, His death for us on the Cross of Calvary, and His bodily resurrection. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the way to this higher plane, and not by UFO, or some other lie. This is the way to eternal life, living with the Lord forever. This is the simple Gospel of the Bible, the real thing. This is the true heaven's gate, not one that is opened by a comet, but by Jesus Christ dying on the Cross of Calvary for you and me. We don't have to believe some strange tale, just the simple Good News of the Bible. Won't you receive Him today?
Characteristics of All Cults
A. EXTRA-BIBLICAL AUTHORITY
Cults usually claim the Bible as authoritative. However, they always give equal or greater authority to another book or another person's revelations.
The Bible teaches that it alone is the only verbally inspired and infallible revelation.
B. DENIAL OF JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE ALONE
Cults make salvation to some degree dependent on the works of man.
The heart of the Christian Gospel is that Christ paid for sin (called the blood atonement). Therefore, man cannot contribute anything to his salvation.
C. DEVALUATION OF CHRIST
Cults do not make Jesus equal with the Father and Holy Spirit.
Every Christian group exalts Jesus Christ as the God-man Savior.
D. THEIR GROUP IS THE EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY OF THE SAVED
Only the cult's members are the "inner group." Cults generally believe their group is the fulfillment of prophecy concerning end times.
The Christian view is that the saved are the "body of Christ," i.e. all who believe in Christ with a true faith.
An Exhortation
"Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from what we believe; they will follow lying spirits and teachings that come from demons" (1 Timothy 4:1 ,2).
The chief evil spirit, a supernatural being subordinate to, and the foe of, God, and the tempter of human beings is Satan. He is falsely depicted as a man with horns, a tail, and cloven feet, but in fact, Satan is a very wicked and vicious supernatural person out to steal, to kill, and to destroy us through the lies of his minions--the demons.
His destruction is being carried out in the lives of millions, not only through the many cults, but today, there are almost two hundred occultic rock groups serving Satan and mocking the Cross. These groups have increased fourfold since the '80s, due to the demand of the youth. We are seeing the largest Satanic cult movement in the history of mankind rise up right before our eyes.
The search for spiritual things is increasing as the world grows progressively less stable. It's time to rise up, match, and surpass this movement by our fervor for Christ by shining forth God's love. People are looking for the spiritual answer, and we're responsible to have the answer upon our lips.
Let our voices ring forth that deliverance comes by the blood of the Cross. We overcome the Devil by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, not being afraid to give our lives. There is a world out there dying while we selfishly gratify our flesh. It's time to sharpen our voices into a bold and powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. Time is short, and the harvest fields are white, but the laborers are few. Won't you labor with us!
Manson's Right Hand Man Speaks Out
Christ Is Coming "Very Soon"
The evidence for the soon return of Jesus Christ is overwhelming. It could be any moment. One scholar lists 167 converging clues just in the last few years of this millennium. The following are eight:
1. Israel's rebirth.
As Jesus prophesied, the Jews were scattered during the Jewish-Roman war in A.D. 70 (Luke 21:24). Also prophesied to occur before Christ's return, the nation of Israel was miraculously reborn on May 14, 1948. Israel is called "God's time clock."
2. Plummeting morality.
Studies show a shocking breakdown just since mid-century (2 Timothy 3:1-4).
3. Famine, violence and wars.
Like birth pangs that intensify, Jesus said that the days just before His coming would see increase famines, violence, and ethnic wars, a clear picture of our planet (Matthew 24:6-8). One of six people on earth suffer from hunger. Violence is epidemic, and a study of wars since 500 B.C. shows a recent, dramatic increase. Of 82 world conflicts since just 1990, all but three have been civil or ethnic.
4. Increase in earthquakes.
A recent study shows a dramatic increase in worldwide earthquakes, just since the decade of Israel's rebirth. Like increasing birth pangs, in the 1940s there were 51 above Richter 6.0; the 1950s, 475; the 1980s, 1,085; and in the 1990s at the current rate, a projected 1,540 (Matthew 24:7).
5. Explosion of travel and education.
Two key conditions described about 2,500 years ago for the Second Coming are that "travel and education shall be vastly increased" (Daniel 12:4, Living Bible). In all of history, the vast increase in travel has come just since mid-century with the explosion of both ground and air transportation; in education, with the advance of science and computers.
6. Explosion of cults and the occult.
Counterfeit spirituality is everywhere with cults and false Christs (Matthew 24:24), psychic phenomena, spiritism, Satan worship, witchcraft, nature worship, and the New Age movement (1 Timothy 4:1).
7. The New World Order.
Increase centralization of world financial and political power is prelude to the soon coming world power system in the hands of "Antichrist," who will be the incarnation of Satan and who will deceive most of the world (Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24:15, Revelation 13).
8. Increase in both apostasy and faith.
The Bible predicts in the last days, "A form of godliness, although they have denied its power" (2 Timothy 3:5). Today many churches deny the eternal truths of Scripture and power of the Holy Spirit, replacing them with ungodly, temporal, and "politically correct" values. But also, a prophesied outpouring of God's Spirit is causing hundreds of millions worldwide to come to true faith in Christ in record numbers, virtually unnoticed by the media.
The Escape Plan
Christ will soon come and rescue His people from the approaching "Great Tribulation" (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). He will later rule and bring peace on earth--after He judges the world and every person (Matthew 25:31-46).
God's judgment is, indeed, coming on a world in rebellion. He cannot deny His nature. His attributes of perfect holiness and justice demand judgment for sin, of which we are all guilty. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23 ).
The result of sin is death, or separation from God. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Wages are something we earn, or deserve.
But "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Is "love" in conflict with "judgment"? Answer: God's wisdom reconciled the dilemma--The Son of God would take all our judgment upon Himself! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
To escape God's judgment, we each must receive His free gift of forgiveness and love, "But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord " (Romans 6:23). A gift is something we do not earn, or deserve.
How to Receive Him
In any gift exchange, there has to be giver and receiver. God has already given us the gift, His Son; now we must receive Him. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).
We receive Him by faith. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).
We receive Him by personal invitation. (Christ speaking) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him" (Revelation 3:20). Do you hear His voice?
The following is a suggested prayer: "Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross for my sins to save me from eternal death. I open the door of my life and receive you as my Savior and Lord. I give you my life. Help me to be what you want me to be. Amen. "