Manson’s Grip vs. The Master’s Call

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that observes that 2/3 of all church plants fail within the first year. That’s why they usually switch to plastic ones. No watering required.

Before I share today’s article – which was inspired by a recent documentary on Netflix – a few important updates. These are actually answers to some of your questions.

1. My new book is now back in stock at ChristianBook. (It’s listed on the book landing page below.)

2. We continue to drop new podcast interviews on the New Testament story, and they don’t repeat each other. The interviews appear on the book landing page at the bottom. And there are more coming.

3. Podcasters who are interested in booking an interview can send an invite by email.

4. Some of you who are pastors and conference hosts have asked me to speak on “The Untold Story.” Go to the Speaking Page to send an official invitation.

5. Pastors, churches, schools, and Bible study groups continue to buy the book in bulk. Anyone can do that. The bulk discount option is on the book landing page also.

6. Some of you are planning to use the book in a group, and you’ve asked me for guidance on how best to use it in a group setting. I plan to tackle this question next month (May). So keep subscribed; I’ll be unveiling how to use the book in groups then.

7. We’ve added the typos readers have found so far on the book landing page. If you see any more, please let us know so we can correct them for the next printing.

Here’s the book landing page for the above: TheUntoldStory.net.

Now for today’s riff.

Manson vs. the Master: Reclaiming True Devotion

In the shadowy corners of American history, a manipulative cult leader named Charles Manson commanded an alarming level of devotion from his followers.

His “family” members surrendered their autonomy, abandoned their moral compass, and committed horrific acts in his name.

The new Netflix documentary on Charles Manson and his devoted followers got me thinking about devotion to Jesus, the true Master. Especially when I saw the mind-bending lengths that Manson’s young followers would go to show their submission to him and his will.

The Devotion of Manson’s “Family”

Manson’s followers displayed what appeared to be complete devotion:

• They abandoned their previous lives and identities
• They followed Manson’s commands without question
• They were willing to commit violence and even murder at his direction
• They viewed him as a messianic figure with special knowledge and power

Yet this devotion was built on manipulation, lies, fear, drug use, and psychological control.

Manson exploited vulnerabilities, twisted Scripture, and used isolation to maintain his grip.

The “love” his followers felt was ultimately hollow—a performance of devotion to a deeply flawed and malevolent man who sought only to fulfill his own disturbed desires.

An Uncomfortable Mirror

The New Testament presents a different picture of devotion in terms of means, but it’s one that’s just as total and radical.

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)

Jesus calls for a complete devotion that is without manipulation or dishonesty. Yet it’s just as utter as what was present in the followers of Charles Manson.

Consequently, there’s an uncomfortable truth all Christians must confront: many who profess faith in Christ today reserve for Jesus the kind of lukewarm, part-time devotion we would never see in Manson’s followers.

Manson’s followers gave him everything. They didn’t hold back. They didn’t compartmentalize their devotion.

They didn’t check in once a week for an hour or two to hear from him. They lived with and for the man, even though he was an autotheistic demagogue.

And they would do anything he told them to do without hesitation.

The Call to True Devotion

The sobering reality is that a false messiah inspired more complete devotion than many believers today offer to the true Messiah.

My point here is what’s behind my book Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom.

But instead of using the Manson family as an example of utter devotion, I used the radicalization of terrorist groups, which at the time I penned the book, was constantly in the news.

The incredible story of the radical devotion of the first-followers of Jesus is also told in a fresh way in The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: Revised and Expanded (March 2025 release).

So what might it look like to give Jesus the devotion He deserves?

Perhaps it means examining where we’ve compartmentalized our faith—keeping Jesus in the “Sunday morning box” while living the rest of our lives according to the same values of most people in the Western world.

Perhaps it means honestly assessing what truly commands our deepest devotion and passion—our careers, our comfort, our social status, and our security.

Perhaps it means taking Jesus at His word when He says, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

The call to follow Jesus is not a call to mindless devotion to a charismatic leader. It’s an invitation to full-hearted commitment to the One who gave everything for us – the One who deserves our believing allegiance, complete devotion, and who promises that in losing our lives for His sake, we will truly find them.

The question remains: If Charles Manson could inspire such misguided devotion from his followers, what level of authentic devotion does Jesus Christ—the true Messiah—deserve from us?